This paper provides a comprehensive case study detailing the inception, development, commissioning, and initial operations of a state-of-the-art tailings management facility in the Mansourah-Massarah Gold Project, situated within the arid terrain of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and operated by the Saudi Arabian mining company Ma’aden. With an annual average rainfall of a mere 80 mm and evaporation rates of 5,800 mm per annum, the mine relies on a water supply sourced from Taif town, a distance of 330 km.

Commencing operations in 2022 and projecting a life span of 12 years, this operation is set to generate two types of tailings: oxide and sulphide (fresh) tailings, with a combined nominal production rate of approximately 4 million tonnes per annum. Given the arid setting and the substantial cost of water supply exceeding $4 per cubic metre, the rigorous management of water resources stands as a pivotal factor in tailings management selection. The primary objectives in tailings management for this project encompass the
following key considerations:

1. Water conservation: prioritising the preservation of water resources.
2. Safe and efficient tailings storage: ensuring secure and efficient containment of tailings.
3. Cost optimisation: striving for cost-effective solutions.

The recommended strategy for this project involves the installation of a paste thickener in conjunction with central thickened discharge storage of the paste-thickened tailings. The tailings management approach for this project will be implemented in three progressive stages.

This paper explores the following facets of the project:

1. Tailings management concept and tailings properties.
2. Tailings distribution and beach slope evaluation.
3. The water management system.

For this project, a 40 m-diameter paste thickener has been employed, targeting an underflow solid concentration of approximately 65% for fresh tailings and 57% for oxide tailings. Initially, it was estimated that the maximum beach slope would be 1.3% during the commissioning phase, gradually improving to 2.3%. As of the time of preparing this article, the first beach survey has been conducted, suggesting that the actual achieved beach slope is approximately 2.1%, surpassing initial expectations.