1251 rainfall episodes can modify density, pore pressures and drainage patterns in stacked tailings, with implications for both short- and long-term stability. Previous work has shown that dry stacking can reduce the burden on water bodies and improve structural stability compared with conventional slurry ponds (Davies & Rice, 2001; Sahu et al., 2020). However, most existing studies and guidelines have focused either on generic dry stacking practice or on cold-climate tailings behavior, with limited integration of climate change scenarios and circular-economy perspectives. At the same time, broader conceptual frameworks such as “Towards Waterless Operations from Mine to Mill” (Luukkanen et al., 2022) have highlighted filtered tailings and dry stacking as key downstream enablers in water-lean flowsheets, but without exploring in depth the specific challenges of Arctic conditions. This paper addresses that gap by providing an updated theoretical review of dry stacking under Arctic and sub-Arctic conditions with stronger practical emphasis. The objectives are to: (i) summarize current design principles and stability-control factors for dry stacking in cold climates; (ii) analyze how climate variability and climate change affect dewatering performance, rheology and long-term behavior of filtered tailings; (iii) discuss opportunities related to circular economy, energy and water recovery; and (iv) outline requirements and a research agenda for climate-resilient and circular tailings management in northern regions. Beyond reviewing current knowledge, the paper aims to provide a practical basis for assessing dry stacking applicability in Arctic and sub-Arctic environments by linking climatic constraints with key technical performance parameters such as moisture control, material strength, drainage conditions and waterrecovery potential. 2. BACKGROUND: WATERLESS MINE-TO-MILL AND ROLE OF DRY STACKING The concept of “waterless” or water-lean operations from mine to mill emphasizes reducing water inventories across the entire value chain, from blasting and crushing to comminution, concentration and tailings disposal (Luukkanen et al., 2022; Sahu et al., 2020). Earlier work has mapped typical water use in conventional flowsheets and identified comminution–classification circuits and tailings storage facilities as the dominant water reservoirs in a concentrator. Technologies such as high-pressure grinding rolls, dry or hybrid classification, ore sorting, high-density thickening and filtration have been highlighted as key levers for reducing make-up water demand and limiting the amount of water stored in tailings ponds. Within this framework, filtered tailings and dry stacking represent the final step that enables truly low-water tailings management. In contrast to conventional slurry tailings, where water is stored in large impoundments and gradually returned through decant and seepage, filtered tailings are dewatered to relatively low moisture contents, typically around 8–20 %, depending on mineralogy and particle size and placed in layers that can be compacted and shaped (Davies & Rice, 2001; Lottermoser, 2010). This allows more water to be immediately recycled to the process plant, reduces the hydraulic load on containment structures and lowers the risk of catastrophic release. From a mine-to-mill perspective, dry stacking thus acts as both a waterrecovery technology and a risk-reduction measure, linking process water management with long-term geotechnical performance. In cold climates, however, the effectiveness of dry stacking is tightly coupled to climate-sensitive processes. Thermal regimes and seasonal moisture dynamics influence the mechanical and hydraulic behavior of both tailings and foundation materials. Climate change projections from the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) suggest increases in winter and shoulder-season precipitation (IPCC, 2021–2023), more intense rainfall events and shifts in freeze–thaw frequency under SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios in many northern regions. These changes challenge traditional design assumptions for both slurry ponds and filtered tailings, and underline the need to integrate climate scenarios and hydrological modeling into tailings planning. Against this backdrop, dry stacking under Arctic conditions must be understood not only as a dewatering and deposition technique, but as part of a broader transition toward climate-resilient, low-water
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM0Mzk2