10.2190/ES.32.2.f 475R41J7817X5916 6 Mathematical Sediment Transport Model of Heterogeneous Tailings 173 193 20110111 20110111 20110111 20110111 475R41J7817X5916.pdf http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=475R41J7817X5916 2 André L. B. Cavalcante Márcio M. Farias André P. Assis University of Brasilia, Brazil Tailings dams using the upstream hydraulic fill method may present deficiencies related to construction and safety. It is difficult to evaluate the variability of real deposits based on the field process. Therefore, a mathematical model was developed to describe and simulate the mechanism of formation of granular tailings dams based on equilibrium and continuity equations of the fluid and the heterogeneous sediments (quartz and iron). The model accounts for the main external variables (slurry concentration and flow rate) and internal variables related to the slurry mixture, such as particles sizes, grain density, and relative percentage of iron and quartz. 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