UWA PLUS
Tailings Water Balance – MINEM522
In this micro-credential the components of a water balance are discussed and methods for quantifying these components illustrated. Different types of water balance, from simple databases to complex probabilistic numerical simulations are described.
Choosing appropriate design events and dealing with extreme events is discussed with examples from documented tailings storage facility failures. Provision of adequate water storage capacity and ensuring adequate freeboard, particularly in light of potential changes to storage requirements due to impacts of climate change is covered.
This micro-credential has been designed for professionals working in the field of tailings management. It is best suited to practicing engineers, geoscientists or individuals with responsibility for managing water within a tailings storage facility to ensure operational safety and efficiency of the tailings storage facility as well as to provide adequate water for operations. It is the second of three micro-credentials in Tailings Operations and Water Management.
This micro-credential is one of a series of 12 micro-credentials (currently in development) which, if successfully completed, will lead to a Graduate Certificate in Tailings Management. * at UWA.
Future Tails is a five-year initiative funded by sponsors Rio Tinto and BHP to facilitate industry understanding of best practice mine tailings management.
Upon successful completion of this micro-credential, you'll receive:
- Two PD Points - stackable for academic credit towards the Graduate Certificate in Tailings Management*
- A Certificate of Achievement
- A UWA Plus Professional Development Transcript, listing all successfully completed micro-credentials
*In order to apply for the Graduate Certificate award you must have a Bachelor of Engineering degree or a degree in a related field and have met UWA’s English language competency requirements. Please refer to the Graduate Certificate in Tailings Management.
- Delivery mode
- Online access to learning material, on demand. Two online discussion forums will be held for students to discuss the learning material and share their own insights into the topics covered.
- Course dates
- Registrations close
- Effort
- 50 hours (including online learning, personal study time and assessments)
3 February 2025 - 28 March 2025
7 February 2025
- Academic lead
- Professor Andy Fourie
- Cost
- $1,100 inc. GST
- Critical information summary
- MINEM522 Tailings Water Balance [PDF 245KB]
What you'll learn
Participants will be able to:
Describe the components of a water balance
Calculate storage requirements for various design storm events and ensure sufficient storage capacity
Evaluate the decant pump requirements or spillway capacity when managing an extreme storm event
Quantify the inputs and outputs of water
Design for a zero spill operation and potential changes due to climate change
Why study this course?
As a result of the recent Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM), there is increasing demand for tailings professionals at the same time as the industry is experiencing a shortage of personnel with appropriate training. The GISTM will bring rapid change to the way the industry manages tailings and waste. This micro-credential and the subsequent micro-credentials will allow you to keep up with standards, technologies and guidelines dealing with tailings management.
Recommended prior knowledge
It is highly recommended that students take MINEM521: Tailings Operations before taking MINEM522: Tailings Water Balance.
Engineering numerical skills are required, as there will be some calculations that are essential to understanding the material.
What's next after this course?
This micro-credential is one of a series of twelve micro-credentials that are stackable towards the Graduate Certificate in Tailings Management*.
This micro-credential is one of three on the topic of Tailings Operations and Water Management. The other two on this topic are: (1) Tailings Operations; and (2) Tailings Dewatering Technologies. Topics
covered by the other micro-credentials include an Introduction to Tailings Management, Tailings Risk Evaluation and Tailings Governance.
The Calendar of micro-credentials can be found here.
*In order to apply for the Graduate Certificate award you must have a Bachelor of Engineering degree or a degree in a related field and have met UWA's English language competency requirements. Please refer to the Graduate Certificate in Tailings Management.
Apply
Applications are open.
- If you are not an employee of BHP or Rio Tinto, please click here to register and pay for this micro-credential
- If you are an employee of BHP or Rio Tinto and this is your 1st-3rd Tailings Management micro, your fee is covered by your employer. Please click here to register
- If you are an employee of BHP or Rio Tinto and this is your 4th-12th Tailings Management micro, please click here to register and pay for this micro-credential