The experimental data from full-scale flume tests at Peak Gold Mines NSW, Australia on channelized tailings flow in equilibrium slope condition have been used to develop a method for the prediction of non-segregating tailings beach slope. The developed method for prediction of beach slope is based on the theory that on a large scale, the slope of the overall tailings beach is determined by the slope of self-formed tailings channels (Williams 2001, Pirouz et al. 2005). The flow in the channel is “Steady State Total Transport Uniform Turbulent Flow”.

An empirical relation has been established between the zone-settling velocity of non-segregating tailings samples and the Reynolds number (level of turbulence) in channelized tailings flow in equilibrium slope condition. The theory of “Stable Channel Section” has been applied to determine the geometrical characteristics of the self-formed tailings channels on the beach. Some of the friction loss formulae for slurry transport in pipes have been modified for the calculation of the energy gradient in open channel flow.

The results obtained from the methods of Darby et al. (1992), Tomita (1959) and Irvine (1988), with some modification, showed very good correlation and fit to the measured values of channel slope in the experimental tests.