313 Positive NDWI values (dark blue) indicate open water or moisture-rich zones, while negative values (light green) correspond to dry tailings surfaces and non-inundated areas, allowing for a clear assessment of the facility’s hydrological conditions. In this study, NDWI was applied to systematically track and map the spatiotemporal changes of the decant lakes within the Benkovski 2 tailings storage facility (Fig. 7). Figure 7 – Decant lakes of the Benkovski 2 tailings dam Accurate delineation of decant lake boundaries is essential for evaluating tailings facility operations. The spatial distribution and dynamics of these water bodies provide direct insight into the facility’s operational status and water balance management. Variations in the area or shape of decant lakes may indicate changes in disposal intensity, processing operations, or potential issues with drainage. In the case of Benkovski 2, no drainage or water management problems were detected, as the facility operates under a closed-loop system with zero discharge. All collected water is pumped back into the decant lakes, promoting efficient reuse in ore processing, minimizing freshwater consumption, and supporting responsible resource management in line with ESG principles and SDG 6 on sustainable water use. The facility is divided into two operational sections: Ai Dere in the southwest and Suludja Dere in the east. Even without detailed quantitative analysis, Figure 7 demonstrates the spatiotemporal changes in decant lake boundaries from 2016 to 2025, highlighting which section was primarily in use each year. The alternating use of sections reflects a sustainable operational strategy, ensuring balanced loading and preventing overexploitation. Long-term monitoring of decant lake dynamics provides a reliable means to assess the effectiveness of water management practices, evaluate environmental impacts, and verify regulatory compliance, particularly in the context of multi-decade tailings facility studies. CONCLUSION This research highlights the effectiveness of long-term spatiotemporal monitoring of tailings storage facilities through the integrated application of GIS and multispectral satellite
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM0Mzk2