150 million cubic meters of erratic colliery spoils were deposited between 1971 and 1983 close to the Kardia lignite fields, in Greece. The heap finally reached satisfactorily an escalating height of 73 m. Field reconnaissance, collation of local experience and geotechnical investigations were performed during midstage of deposition. They aimed at an optimal configuration of the fill in progress, within the possibilities allowed by extensive earth moving operations. Present paper out- 1ines the approach and the methodology used to arrive at strength parameters and slope design of a highly inhomogeneous massive comprising variegated soils, marls and encaptured lignites
