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<br />' RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS <br />The results of our analysis iMicate.that the existing tailings embank- <br />ment is stable against major slope failures. Based on the laboratory and <br />stability analysis a minimum factor of safety of 1.2 was obtained against <br />' a major slope failure occurring through the tailings in the embankment. <br />' However since the conditions under which the earthen berm were constructed <br />had to be assumed, it can be expected that minor failures and/or sloughing <br />' of the earthen berm will take place if suitable compaction was not utilized <br />during placement. This analysis assumed that the ponding height of the <br />' tailings was to the elevation of the top of the existing earthen berm (i.e. <br />approximately 2' higher than was existing at the time of the test drilling). <br />Therefore, additional tailings may be added to this elevation without decreasing <br />' the stability of the embankment. The analysis also assumed that the sand <br />tailings were essentially dry. The factor of safety at the critical circle <br />' will be reduced to failure if saturation of the sands takes place as a <br />result of ground water rise of over 5 feet at the toe. <br />' In addition to the above analysis, an analysis was conducted to determine <br />the effects of increasing the total height of the tailings embankmem: 6 <br />feet above the present elevation (i.e. equivalent to approximately 6 months <br />' of tailings), The effects of this condition, assuming a saturated slime <br />condition and the water table approximating that boundary layer bordering <br />' the slimes, would result in a minimum factor of safety of 1.15 from increasing <br />r the total pond height an additional 6 feet. Any increase in height above <br /> this will result in a factor of safety reduction in by overloading the <br />' slimes. The above analytical analysis was done under static loading conditions, <br /> <br />-6- <br />