Abstract. Tailings-flows result from the breach of tailings dams. Large-scale tailings-flows can travel over substantial distances with high velocities and cause significant life loss, environmental damage and economic costs. Runout modelling and inundation mapping are critical components of risk assessment for tailings dams. In an attempt to develop consistency in reporting tailings data, we established a new tailings-flow runout classification system. Our data analysis applies to the zone corresponding to the extent of the main solid tailings deposit, which is characterized by visible or field-confirmed sedimentation, above typical surface water levels if extending into downstream water bodies. We introduced a new database of 33 tailings dam breaches by independently estimating the planimetric inundation area for each event using remote sensing data. This paper examines the applicability of a semi-physical area–volume relationship using the new database. Our results indicate that the equation A = cV^2/3, which has been used previously to characterize the mobility of other types of mass movements, is a statistically-justifiable choice for the relationship between total released volume and planimetric inundation area. Our analysis suggests that, for a given volume, tailings-flows are, on average, less mobile than lahars but more mobile than non-volcanic debris flows, rock avalanches and waste dump failures.

中文翻译：

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尾矿流径迹分析：使用新型数据库检查半物理面积-体积关系的适用性

摘要。尾矿流是由尾矿坝的破坏引起的。大型尾矿流可能以很高的速度行进很长一段距离，并造成重大的生命损失，环境破坏和经济损失。跳动模型和淹没制图是尾矿坝风险评估的关键组成部分。为了提高报告尾矿数据的一致性，我们建立了一个新的尾矿流径流分类系统。我们的数据分析适用于与主要固体尾矿沉积物范围相对应的区域，该特征以可见或经现场确认的沉积为特征，如果延伸到下游水体，则高于典型地表水位。通过使用遥感数据独立估算每个事件的平面淹没面积，我们引入了一个包含33个尾矿坝违规的新数据库。本文使用新数据库检查了半物理面积-体积关系的适用性。我们的结果表明方程A  =  cV ^2/3以前已用于表征其他类型的质量运动的活动性，它是总释放量与平面淹没面积之间关系的统计上合理的选择。我们的分析表明，在给定数量的情况下，尾矿流的流动性比拉哈尔流动性低，但比非火山碎屑流，岩崩和废物倾倒故障具有更大的流动性。