The Rock Wrangler - The Rock Wrangler

When piezometers act up, dissipation testing shows the surprising role of saturation fluids in solving tailings dam monitoring mysteries

Unexpected piezometer trends in a tailings dam triggered an investigation that uncovered an overlooked variable in dissipation testing – the type of saturation fluid.

Cyclone sand dams could be Australia’s untapped edge in tailings management turning old technology into a smarter safer future for mine sites

Australia’s mining sector could be overlooking a low-risk, high-reward tailings management method that’s been delivering stability and efficiency in other parts of the world for decades.

GRP pipeline dives deep to decant smarter not harder powering tailings drainage with strength smarts and sensor-backed confidence

When mining operators are faced with the challenge of dewatering a live tailings storage facility (TSF) under 30 metres of cover, conventional engineering approaches often buckle under pressure - literally and figuratively.

Starting tailings closure decades early could save millions, boost trust and turn mine waste into long-term assets worth talking about

What if the key to slashing tailings closure costs and winning community trust is to start the work decades before the mine shuts down? For Justin Walls, Principal Consultant (Tailings Engineering) at SRK Consulting, the best time to plan for tailings storage facility (TSF) closure is now – not when the mine is about to shut down.

Tailings triggers say green but bleed red as NSW audit reveals gaps in monitoring, muddled controls and a dangerous disconnect between plans and practice

When John Stacpoole, inspector of mines at the NSW Resources Regulator, took the stage at the Life of Mine | Mine Waste and Tailings 2025 Conference in Brisbane, he didn’t waste time on pleasantries.

How to grow your own EoRs in 16 years or less with a pathway that’s practical, team-based, confidence-building and tailored for today’s TSF challenges

When Anton Kirsten took the stage at the Life of Mine | Mine Waste and Tailings 2025 conference in Brisbane, he wasted no time outlining a problem that’s been quietly growing into a full-blown crisis: there simply aren’t enough Engineers of Record (EoRs) to go around.

A playbook worth digging into as smart TSF monitoring saves costs, reduces risk and keeps tailings performance on track from cradle to closure

Tailings monitoring is a lot like health care - when it’s reactive, it can cost you dearly, but when it’s proactive, structured and consistent, it becomes a powerful tool for preventing failure, demonstrating stewardship, and building long-term confidence in your facility.

Building better EoRs with brains, backbone and a blueprint for tailings leadership that sticks in a world where confidence matters as much as competence

For an industry under mounting scrutiny and regulatory oversight, there is perhaps no role more critical - or misunderstood - than that of the Engineer of Record (EoR).

Why your critical controls might be over-controlling your TSF risk and what to do about it without triggering a governance landslide

In the wake of evolving regulatory expectations and maturing risk management frameworks, mining companies are being urged to reassess how they apply critical controls to tailings storage facilities (TSFs).

Scripts swing picks with you as AI automation helps tailings QA achieve a 92 percent productivity boost and frees engineers to focus on what matters

In the high-stakes world of tailings storage facility (TSF) construction, ensuring conformance to design and safety standards is a non-negotiable part of the job.