1028 risk at its source, through design decisions that minimize both the probability and, critically, the consequences of failure (World Bank, 2020). 2. INDUSTRY CHALLENGE AND SYSTEM-LEVEL OPPORTUNITY The central challenge of modern tailings management is not merely to design stronger containment structures, but to rethink the storage paradigm from a system-level perspective. From this viewpoint, the primary limitation of conventional surface TSFs lies in the concentration of risk: large stored volumes, high potential energy, and catastrophic consequences in the event of failure. The use of exhausted open pits as tailings storage facilities offers a unique opportunity to address this challenge in a structural manner. Open pits represent deep excavations bounded by rock masses whose geometry, structure, and mechanical behavior have been extensively exposed, mapped, and characterized throughout mining operations. Leveraging this existing infrastructure for tailings storage allows for: • Elimination of elevated embankment dams • Significant reduction in stored potential energy • Shifting system control toward hydraulic and geomechanical management From a system-level perspective, In-Pit TSFs should not be viewed as an isolated alternative, but as an integrated tailings management strategy capable of transforming a mining liability (the exhausted pit) into a functional asset within the mine closure framework (ICOLD, 2019). 3. OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE 3.1 General Objective To evaluate, from an engineering and risk management perspective, the use of exhausted open pits as In-Pit Tailings Storage Facilities, demonstrating their capacity to structurally reduce risk and improve tailings management performance in open-pit mining operations. 3.2 Specific Objectives • To analyze the geotechnical and hydrogeological mechanisms governing the performance of In-Pit TSFs. • To compare the risk profile of In-Pit TSFs with that of conventional surface tailings facilities. • To evaluate the effectiveness of hydraulic containment as the dominant design principle. • To identify key technical criteria supporting decision-making and early integration into life-of-mine planning. 3.3 Scope of the Paper The scope of this paper focuses on the engineering and technical aspects controlling the feasibility, safety, and long-term performance of In-Pit TSFs. The analysis covers all stages of the facility life cycle, including planning, operation, closure, and post-closure, within a risk-based design framework. The study is based on generalized engineering practices and representative conditions of hard rock open-pit mining. No site-specific or proprietary data are used, although the discussion is informed by operational experience and established technical literature. Environmental, regulatory, and economic aspects are considered only insofar as they influence engineering decisions and risk mitigation strategies. Detailed process design and jurisdiction-specific regulatory analyses are beyond the scope of this paper. 3.4 Conference Theme and Industry Relevance This paper directly aligns with key conference themes related to: • Safe, resilient, and sustainable tailings management • Structural reduction of catastrophic risk in mining systems • Innovation in engineering design and risk-based decision-making
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