Improving safety at mine tailings dams

Environment When tailings dams containing mining wastes fail, the resulting fast-moving mudflows can be destructive and dangerous for humans and wildlife. Similar processes occur when ash ponds at power stations fail. In a Perspective, Santamarina et al. explain that although the detailed mechanisms leading to tailings dam failures are not fully understood, failures can often be traced back to substandard management and operational practices. Better monitoring and characterization during operation will help to understand and prevent future failures. Science , this issue p. [526][1] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aax1927