How does the presence of clay minerals affect the stability of waste dumps?

The presence of clay minerals significantly reduces the stability of waste dumps due to their low shear strength, high water absorption capacity, and potential for swelling, leading to increased pore water pressure and decreased frictional resistance. Clay minerals are fine-grained, platy minerals that are commonly found in weathered rock and soil. They have a high surface area and a strong affinity for water. When clay minerals are present in waste dump materials, they can absorb large amounts of water, leading to increased pore water pressure within the dum....