![\"The](\"https:\/\/blogs.agu.org\/landslideblog\/files\/2022\/11\/dam_tailing_failure_williamson_mine_tanzania_s108_20221109T112133Z_rgb_1920px_logo_wm.jpg\"){kind=logo}
The breach that caused the Williamson Mine tailings dam failure. Planet Labs<\/a> SkySat image, copyright Planet Labs<\/a>, used with permission. Image captured 9 November 2022 at 11:21 UT.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n The breach is large as I noted yesterday.\u00a0 It appears that some of the original tailings wall material, including intact blocks, have been deposited on the downstream edge of the breach, especially on the south side.\u00a0 There appears to be a step in the tailings at the site of the breach, suggesting a lower layer of denser tailings.\u00a0 This indicates that further releases could occur in rainfall.<\/p>\n The tailings that have escaped appear to have been very fluid – note the flow patterns in the sediments.<\/p>\n I can see so signs of any works occurring at the site to manage further releases. Indeed, there are no vehicles or people visible in the image, as far as I can tell.<\/p>\n The SkySat image has also captured the downstream impacts of the tailings dam breach.\u00a0 This is the tailings plume:-<\/p>\n The mine waste plume from the Williamson Mine tailings dam failure. Planet Labs<\/a> SkySat image, copyright Planet Labs<\/a>, used with permission. Image captured 9 November 2022 at 11:21 UT.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n The images show that the plume hit a water retention structure downstream from the mine, filling the reservoir.\u00a0 Some tailings appear to have overtopped, but most have followed the spillway to the north, inundating the basin of an incised channel.\u00a0 I will try to post further imagery of this area in the coming days.<\/p>\n Thanks to Rob Simmon at Planet Labs<\/a> for acquiring and posting the image.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/blogs.agu.org\/landslideblog\/files\/2022\/11\/22_11-Tanzania-7a.jpg\")
\nReference and acknowledgement<\/h4>\n