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Failure of Dam No. 3 on the Middle Fork of Buffalo Creek near Saunders, West Virginia on February 26, 1972 (1972) / Chapter Skim
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DESCRIPTION OF DAM NO. 3
Pages 7-8

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From page 7...
... It is probable that the dam was trapezo i dal in shape, with side slopes determined by the ang l e of repose of t he refuse material . Mea surements made by the Department of In t erior Task Force indicated a base width varying from 400 - 500 feet; the greater width existed at the left abutme nt and corresponded to the greater dam height .
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From page 8...
... Sources of refu se incl ude waste rock and other impurit i es generated during mine deve lo pment and operation and impurities sepa rated from th e "ru n of mine " or r aw coal at the pr eparation plant . General ly, most of the so lid waste is produced at the preparat ion pl ant.
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Key Terms

  • compact ion
  • coal mining
  • usually pumped
  • width varying
  • incl ude

  • low quality
  • condi tio
  • ove rflow
  • dam height
  • ine refuse

  • mine deve
  • force indicated
  • force rep
  • normal condi
  • width existed

  • hat sediment
  • left abutme
  • appro ximately
  • conve yor
  • damage church

  • rep ort
  • torm preceding
  • const ruc
  • sepa rated
  • refu se

  • dam co
  • dam varied
  • dam spanned
  • appro xi
  • mm pa


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