ABSTRACT
This article proposes an empirical formula for the determination of the average beach slope value of deposition based on basic background information of the copper tailings slurry. This formula has been calibrated based on measurements taken from several Chilean large conventional copper tailings impoundments. Moreover, an analysis of the values achieved from this formula for other impoundments are included and the correlation reached is discussed. The proposed formula provides a tool to obtain a first estimate of the average slope expected for the type of tailings analyzed.
