Harish, P.Chandar, K.R.2026-02-042024International Journal of Mining and Mineral Engineering, 2024, 15, 1, pp. 1-141754890Xhttps://doi.org/10.1504/IJMME.2024.138722https://idr.nitk.ac.in/handle/123456789/21404Opencast mines are increasingly extracting deeper coal seams in large quantities, leading to a rise in mine depth and generation of substantial waste. Disposal of this waste becomes challenging due to the need for additional land, resulting in dumping excess waste on existing dumps, posing risks of dump failure, property damage, and loss of life. This paper aims the critical review of the stability of dump slope structures that are present on the weak or disturbed foundations which further leads the dumps to fail. Many researchers have concentrated on the irregular base, loose material presence in the foundation, sloping floors, improper compaction at the foundation level, presence of black cotton soil, etc., stating load of the dumps over the weaker foundations exerts more pressure on the foundation and causing the dumps to fail. It synthesises key findings on stability analysis approaches, design criteria, optimisation techniques, and critical parameters involved in numerical modelling-based design for secure dump slope structures. © © 2024 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.Coal depositsCoal minesFoundationsMiningSafety factorSlope stabilityStability criteriaWaste disposalDeep coal seamDump stabilitiesFactors of safetiesFailure propertiesInfluencing parametersMine dumpsOpencast mineOverburden dumpsSlope structureStability analyzeNumerical models