1031 The one-dimensional consolidation behavior of tailings can be approximated using Terzaghi’s consolidation theory: ∂ ∂ Ç M =W B ∂#∂< Ç# (4) where: Ç= excess pore water pressure M= time <= vertical coordinate WB = coefficient of consolidation Thickened or dewatered tailings accelerate consolidation processes, enhance early strength development, and reduce the risk of liquefaction or flow failures, particularly under seismic loading (Been & Jefferies, 2015). 4.7 Alignment with International Tailings Standards The technical principles underlying In-Pit TSFs are strongly aligned with the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM), particularly with respect to: • Reduction of catastrophic failure potential • Elimination of extreme consequence scenarios • Risk-based design and decision-making • Integration of closure considerations from the earliest project stages By embedding these principles into the conceptual design of In-Pit TSFs, mining operations can move beyond compliance-driven approaches toward fundamentally safer tailings management systems (UNEP et al., 2020). 4.8 Summary of Technical Advantages From a technical perspective, In-Pit TSFs offer: • Lower stored potential energy • Enhanced hydraulic containment • Improved long-term geomechanical stability • Reduced dependence on active containment structures • Strong alignment with modern risk management frameworks These attributes position In-Pit TSFs as a robust and technically defensible alternative for tailings management in open-pit mining operations. 5. METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH AND ENGINEERING DECISION-MAKING 5.1 Methodological Framework for In-Pit TSF Evaluation The evaluation of In-Pit Tailings Storage Facilities (In-Pit TSFs) requires an integrated methodological approach that combines geotechnical, hydrogeological, hydraulic, operational, and risk-based analyses. Unlike conventional surface TSFs, where dam design dominates decisionmaking, In-Pit TSFs shift the focus toward system behavior, long-term containment performance, and life-of-mine integration. The methodological framework applied in this study follows four sequential stages:
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