• highlights that filtered tailings resemble the most robust long-term economic option once closure and water risks are properly valued. In short, water security fundamentally reshapes the economic comparison—and filtered tailings benefit the most. Closure Performance and Long-Term Liability Reduction Mine closure is one of the highest-cost, highest-risk aspects of tailings management. Both 05_Carneiro demonstrate that filtered tailings systems reduce closure costs by enabling: • progressive rehabilitation during operations, • stable, compacted landforms, • elimination of large dams and associated monitoring, and • greatly reduced long-term environmental liabilities. Modern filtered-tailings designs incorporate engineered drainage systems, cover strategies, and seepage collection, enabling very low seepage and reducing long-term water treatment needs. Compared with slurry systems, which may require decades of water management and dam monitoring, filtered tailings offer a clear closure advantage that aligns with regulators’ expectations for reducing residual risk. Technological Improvement Reducing Historical Barriers Historically, filtered tailings were limited by scale, cost, and reliability. That landscape has changed dramatically. • High-throughput filtration: pressure filters capable of low moisture contents and very high throughput, directly reducing the scalability barrier. • Modular plant design and automation: (Calil Paste 2026) Addressing the Barriers to Filtered Tailings adoption, identifies modularity, automated cycle control, and digital monitoring as major contributors to reducing operational complexity and risk. These technological developments expand the set of mines where filtered tailings are both feasible and economically competitive. Comparative Risk Reduction Relative to Other Technologies Fitton’s review (Paste2024) makes a critical point: among dam-reduced or dam-less storage technologies, filtered tailings and thickened discharge have the strongest operational track record, with most systems performing well over decades. Filter stacking is highlighted as one of the most viable above-ground methods for reducing catastrophic failure risk. When comparing: • Slurry: highest failure consequences due to water retention and large dams. • Thickened: reduced risk but still reliant on embankments. • Paste: improved stability but higher pumping and complexity. • Filtered: eliminates water-saturated mass and minimizes dam reliance. From a purely risk-based perspective, filtered tailings consistently score highest.
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