Debris flow hazard assessment of abandoned tailings ponds in Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy.

Since the last decades of the last century, a high labour costs and exhausting of ground resources have caused the closure of many mines in Italy. According to Atti miniere 2009, 3000 mines were producing between 1870 and 2006 in Italy; at present time only about 20 mines are still in operation. Most of the abandoned mines may contain hazards to human life and environment. This article presents a case study of a abandoned mine in North Eastern Italy and the hazard induced by its tailings dams.