Abstract: Stability of tailings dam is the core part in the safety evaluation of tailing pond. Based on the analysis of problems and shortage existing in current tailings dam safety evaluation method, reliability analysis method, which was used to evaluate stability of tailings dam, was proposed. Because this method is based on the probability statistics and operations research, it is not using a specific safety coefficient value to measure the stability of tailings dam. On the contrary, the damage of tailings dam was defined as a kind of probability result. The analysis results could reflect the real safety situation of tailings dam well, and it has important meaning for guiding of operation and management of tailing pond.

Key words: Stability of tailings dam, Reliaility, Evaluation method