Summary

This review discusses the use of rock fill in the construction of mine facilities. Rock fill is defined, and links to literature and descriptions of rock fill embankments at mines are given. Topics discussed include lift thickness, gradation, moisture conditioning, test pad size, and rock fill density.

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INTRODUCTION

This technology review discusses the use of rock fill in the construction of mine facilities, including foundations for plant buildings, heap leach pad foundations, mine haul roads, and embankments for tailings impoundments.

This review is based on work done by the senior author on the Cannon Mine tailings embankment, a 470-ft high rock fill embankment at the mine adjacent to Wenatchee, Washington. The second, junior, author was the original design engineer on the first phase of the embankment and tailings impoundment reservoir.

In this review, we provide links to mine facilities involving the use of rock fill and to general literature on the placement of rock fill for civil engineering purposes.