Cansand,
General literature searching will turn up lots of stuff, but bear in mind these systems are dependent on ore (and gangue) type, process (grind, reagents, etc.), climate, site (foundation, basin/valley/canyon slopes, etc.), liner requirements, seismic regime, etc.
A recent and fairly comprehensive document from the USGS is at
It's an on-line open file report. Still, it's specific to copper. Does have two good lists of references.
Here in the states, NIOSH and the handful of university mining departments have a lot of info and they can help direct you.
Philosophically, a lot of the designs stem from the leaky earthfill dam approaches of the Bureau of Reclamation and various Dam Safety agencies. An upside is that in short order one hopefully has a relatively small open pool sitting atop/adjacent to a relatively large mass of earth. In my own experience, heights and outslopes are functions initially of the orebody volume and site geometry, then confirmed as attributes of the seismic/hydrologic stability. In the jurisdictions I've worked, they've all been subject to regulatory oversight.
Starter dams often are pretty conventional, with the complication of lining systems, cutoff walls, etc. which address the assorted water quality issues of ore and reagents. Freeboard will be a consideration for the starter dam as well as throughout the active impoundment life. Starter dam size may be a matter of prudence or may be forced by seasonal construction considerations and mill (startup) rate. If pre-strip material is suitable for the starter dam, its availability might drive the structure size. (That can cut down on the initial waste dump volume and timing, perhaps making permits easier)
Overall size is grossly dependent on the ore body magnitude, though site specifics will impact whether one or multiple impoundments are selected. Raise rate is a stage-storage function driven by the mill rate.
There's a fair amount involved, hopefully this gets you further along your way. A stat summary would be interesting to find, and you've sparked my interest in loooking also. This stuff is pretty much off the top of my head, as I don't have time to look for a summary right now.
Please keep us posted if you do come across what you're after.
Ralph R. Sacrison
Sacrison Engineering
