Análise preliminar da estabilidade de uma barragem de rejeitos situada na Baixada Cuiabana

Abstract

Geotechnics plays a crucial role in the safety of containment structures, especially tailings dams, which are widely used in the gold mining industry for storing waste generated during ore processing. Considering the environmental and social risks associated with the instability of these structures, a careful assessment of their stability is essential. This study focuses on the slope stability analysis of representative sections of the BR Gonça tailings dam, located in the Baixada Cuiabana region, which receives tailings from gold mining operations. The adopted methodology was based on the geotechnical characterization of the soil and the application of the limit equilibrium method (method of slices) for the slope stability analysis, considering the loading condition adopted in the study. Simulations were performed using Slide 2 software, following the technical criteria established by NBR 13028/2024, which regulates the structural safety of tailings dams in Brazil. The obtained safety factors showed that most of the analyzed sections presented satisfactory stability, with values above 1.5, as required by the standard. Section 06 presented the highest safety indices, above 2.31, indicating greater stability. In contrast, Section 10 presented a minimum safety factor of 1.29 under critical conditions with a high water table, identifying a potentially unstable area that requires attention. The study also includes hypothetical analyses to expand the understanding of the structure’s behavior under extreme conditions. The results reinforce the importance of computational tools and the adoption of strict technical standards to ensure the integrity and sustainability of these structures.