| Antamina Tailings Dam | |
| Location Map: | Peru |
| Coordinates: | -9.5406°N -77.0314°W |
| Country: | Peru |
| Location: | Huaraz |
| Status: | In use, being raised |
| Owner: | Teck Resources |
| Dam Type: | Tailings dam |
| Dam Height: | Concrete-face rock-fill: 1300NaN0 Rock-fill raising: 2150NaN0 |
| Dam Length: | Concrete-face rock-fill: 10500NaN0 Rock-fill raising: 13000NaN0 |
| Dam Crosses: | Ayash River |
| Res Capacity Total: | 570000000MT |
The Antamina Tailings Dam, also known as the Antamina Tailings Impoundment Facility, is a tailings dam located in the Huincush Ravine 550NaN0 east of Huaraz in the Ancash Region of Peru. The purpose of the dam is to store tailings processed at the nearby Antamina mine. In 2003, Golder Associates, Burnaby, B.C. was awarded the 2002 Canadian Consulting Engineering Award for its innovative design of the dam.[1]
The dam was designed by Golder Associates, Burnaby, B.C. and Ingetec SA between 1998 and 1999. Construction on the 1300NaN0 high concrete-face rock-fill starter dam began in 2000 was complete in April 2001. A 150000000NaN0 reservoir was filled behind the dam assist the concentrater. By April 2003, the dam was raised from its original elevation of 40100NaN0 above sea level to 40450NaN0.[2] The dam will continually be raised until it reaches 2400NaN0 tall at an elevation of 41250NaN0 and length of 1.31NaN1. Currently the dam is undergoing its fourth raising to 2150NaN0 in height.[3]
As a base for the dam, a 1300NaN0 concrete-face rock-fill dam was constructed. From there, the dam is being raised with rock-fill with the upstream side being protected by a concrete slab. The original starter dam was 10500NaN0 in length and when the dam reaches its final height of 2400NaN0, it will be 13000NaN0 long. The dam will hold 570000000MT of tailings and the mine is expected to produce 546000000MT.[2] Upstream of the dam, a series of channels and embankments divert water from the Ayash River from entering the reservoir. This helps the environment and protects the stability of the dam. The reservoir is lined with a geomembrane which controls seepage of tailings into the environment. Water released into the environment is purified to meet standards and discharges from the dam are maintained at at least 150 liters per second.[3]