369 more water-efficient solutions (UNEP, 2019; Kossoff et al., 2014; Lottermoser, 2010). In parallel, many operations are moving into regions where water is scarce or hydrological regimes are highly variable, making conventional slurry tailings ponds increasingly difficult to justify from both risk and resource perspectives. Dry stacking of filtered tailings has therefore gained attention as a promising alternative that minimizes stored water volumes, improves geotechnical stability and enables higher rates of water recovery back to the process plant. In cold and northern climates, these tailings challenges are amplified. Arctic and subArctic regions are warming two to four times faster than the global average and are expected to experience more frequent extreme precipitation events, shifts in snow and melt patterns and thawing of permafrost (IPCC, 2021–2023). These changes directly affect the performance and safety of tailings facilities, including those based on filtered tailings and dry stacking. Freeze– thaw cycles, snow accumulation, rapid spring melt and intense 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 waterlean 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 water-recovery 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
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