A precedent-setting frozen core dam was constructed over 30 m thick, ice-rich, saline glacial marine silt and clay, and fine sand, as part of the tailings management system at the Doris North Project in Nunavut Canada. This water-retaining dam was completed in 2012, and two years of monitoring data confirm that the engineered (non-saline) core is maintaining a temperature below -2°C, whilst the underlying saline permafrost foundation is stabilizing with temperatures trending below -8°C as per the design. This paper presents this data, demonstrating the viability of this technology even under such challenging foundation conditions.
