This study aims to identify and to annotate major incidents involving mine tailings dams since 1980. Although mining in some form takes place in almost every country, it was not feasible, within the time constraints of the study schedule, to investigate every country with a mining industry of a sufficient size to require major tailings dams. The emphasis has therefore been on researching as completely as possible the occurrence of incidents in a cross-section of countries, including major minerals producers and other states in which mining is also important but is of lower economic significance.