Evolution of landform design concepts

Over the last 10 years, Landloch Pty Ltd has developed and applied a distinctive approach to the design of final waste dump shapes and the management of their rehabilitation. Various elements of that approach have been recommended and/or adopted by both industry and regulators to greater or lesser degrees, and with varying levels of both commitment and success. This paper briefly outlines the approach applied, and discusses its limitations and successes, using examples from a number of mine sites. It then considers alternative approaches to landform design that have been advanced, including use of generic guidelines, attempts to mimic natural landscapes, and attempts to simply mimic advanced design methodologies. Conceptual weaknesses of those alternative approaches are reviewed, and potential for further refinement is discussed, again, using data from various sites.