Acid generating tailings is a problem to be solved in the mining industry. By limiting the
available oxygen for the oxidation process, water covers is one of the methods to
control the acid generation. This study evaluates the optimum height of water required
to prevent the re-suspension of solid particles and thus reducing the environmental
impact on a specific site – Solbec Cupra. Based on the experimental results, it has
been found that the minimum height of water above the reactive tailing should be
1.341m. However, with a layer of sand on top of the tailings the required level may be
reduced to 0.741m. Also, it has been calculated that a layer of sand can reduce the
total sediment load from 331.1 to 41.8 m3/m/day.