On Thursday, December 3rd, Giffin Koerth’s Geotechnical and Mining Principal, Richard Stahl, presented at the Toronto Committee Meeting of the Mining Insurance Group (MIG).

Richard presented on the unique considerations for stewardship of tailing dams, and how they differ from the well-established practices of conventional dams. The key differences between tailing dams and conventional water retention dams, and the significance of these differences, speaks to the risk management requirements and to the possible associated damages incurred as a result of failure.

Richard has been practicing geotechnical engineering in the mining/natural resource, energy, and heavy civil infrastructure areas throughout the Americas and Asia since graduating from UBC in 1987. Relevant to this white paper, Richard commenced his career in the mining group of an international consultancy, and was involved in investigating, designing, and constructing some of the largest tailings dams in BC and Alberta. Richard’s graduate studies at University of Alberta focused on tailings and tailings reclamation with respect to cost‑effectively stabilizing and reclaiming tailings to achieve dry‑landscape scenarios.