Guidelines for Open Pit and Waste Dump Closure

Guidelines for Open Pit Slope Design Series Edited by: Phil de Graaf, Geoff Beale, Trevor Carter

Sets out a road map to closure and potentially relinquishment of open pits and waste dumps.

Guidelines for Open Pit and Waste Dump Closure provides a benchmark reference for geotechnical and hydrogeological professionals, and other closure stakeholders, involved in assessing and implementing the closure of open pits and waste dumps. It defines a state-of-best-practice geotechnical and hydrological pathway that reflects current industry-wide experience; considers the perspectives of the operator, regulator and community; and encompasses closure planning, design, implementation and monitoring. + Full description

Written by industry experts and practitioners, Guidelines for Open Pit and Waste Dump Closure is the sixth in a series of books developed by the Large Open Pit (LOP) Project. Focused on the technical challenges related to geology, geotechnical engineering, water and geochemistry, it covers the key aspects that relate to closure of open pits and waste dumps, including planning, long-term physical and chemical stability and post mining land use (PMLU). The book also includes workflows that provide clarity on geotechnical and hydrogeological assessments relating to closure planning; definition of pragmatic objectives and measures of success; implementation and monitoring for open pits and waste dumps for closure; and how these may interact with adjacent land uses.

Drawing on global lessons learned on mine closure over a period of more than 30 years, this comprehensive guide uses industry experience to set out a road map to closure and potentially relinquishment of open pits and waste dumps. It will be invaluable for mine closure practitioners, corporate planners, mine management, mining engineers and technical staff, mine stakeholders and regulators.

- Short description

News

Sales in Australia and New Zealand only.

Developed and written by industry experts with extensive knowledge and experience, this book is an initiative of the Large Open Pit (LOP) Project.

Details

Hardback | May 2025 | $195.00
ISBN: 9781486315796 | 552 pages | 270 x 210 mm
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Colour photographs, Illustrations

Features

Defines geotechnical and hydrogeological programs that are appropriate for the prevailing site-specific conditions.
Provides a step-by-step planning process that is consistent with the knowledge base at each step in the mine cycle.
Provides practical guidance on approaches to evaluate and demonstrate that regulatory requirements for ‘safe and stable’ (physical and chemical) objectives can be achieved with appropriate PMLUs.
Helps stakeholders understand the questions that need to be addressed and hazards that need to be recognised in closure plan development, implementation and monitoring.
Facilitates better final outcomes for stakeholders and communities using a risk-based approach as the basis to evaluate remedial options.

Preface and acknowledgements
Introduction
Geoff Beale, Trevor Carter, Phil de Graaf and Carl Grant

1 Framework
Geoff Beale, Phil de Graaf, Trevor Carter, Carl Grant and Darren Murphy
2 Closure Reimagined
Derek Chubb, Phil de Graaf, Justin Dixon and Geoff Beale
3 Context, requirements and objectives
Carl Grant, James Otto, Darren Murphy, Daniel Limpitlaw, Harley Lacy and Garyn Rapson
4 Mine closure planning
Darren Murphy, Bjorn Weeks, Daniel Limpitlaw, Paul Mitchell and Carl Grant
5 Site characterisation
Trevor Carter, Geoff Beale, Phil de Graaf, Katie Hill, Dennis Becker, Paul Dittrich and Michael Etezad
6 Risk management
Justin Dixon, Phil de Graaf, Trevor Carter, Francisco Silva and Mark Hawley
7 Hydrogeology for open pit closure
Geoff Beale, Justin Dixon, Steve Skidmore, Martin Williams and Marc Rougier
8 Open pit closure design
Trevor G. Carter, Pete F. Stacey, John Read and Phil de Graaf, with specific section contributions by others
9 Waste dump and stockpile closure
Mark Hawley, Justin Dixon, Chris Waygood and Jose Martín Duque
10 Final closure plan
Martin Williams
11 Implementation
Geoff Beale, Phil de Graaf, Mathieu Desjardins and Joost Reidel, with specific section contributions by others
12 Monitoring
Bob Sharon, Geoff Beale, Phil de Graaf, Mark Hawley and Paolo Farina, with specific section contributions by others

Epilogue
Phil de Graaf, Geoff Beale and Trevor Carter

Appendix A – Assessment of seismicity and seismic hazard for closure design
Yusof Ghanaat, Ivan Wong, Rigo Rimmelin, Mehdi Serati, Trevor Carter and Phil deGraaf
Appendix B – Additional soil slope design considerations for open pit closure
Michael Etezad, Dennis Becker, Paul Dittrich, Geoff Beale and Trevor Carter
Appendix C – Additional rock slope design considerations for closure planning
Trevor Carter, Loren J. Lorig, John Read, Phil de Graaf and Pete F. Stacey

Glossary
Index

Authors

Phil de Graaf is a professional engineer with over 30 years’ experience in geotechnical design and implementation. He is an experienced practitioner in managing geotechnical risks relating to mine design, operation and closure. He has held technical and management roles with global consulting and mining companies and is founding Director of Giraffe Mining Consultants, providing independent review board advice to mining clients.

Geoff Beale has worked for 47 years in water management for the minerals industry and has worked in over 70 countries. He is well known for his wide-ranging experience with open pit and underground mine dewatering, environmental planning of mine sites and mine closure, and has been involved with many of the world’s largest mining operations. He has played a lead role in the design and implementation of closure programs for mine sites in various settings.

Dr Trevor Carter has been involved with mine closure studies and implementation for more than 40 years, both on behalf of the minerals industry and with regulators. He currently is an independent consultant with continuing involvement on a number of mining and hydropower review boards worldwide. Dr Carter has published over 90 papers in international journals and conferences, many related to mine closure, particularly with respect to risk-based relinquishment.