One　of　the　critical　factors　in　assessing　the　stability　of　tailings　dams　is　the　seepage　field　within　the　dam　body.　This　study　analyzed　the　spatial　variability　of　the　permeability　coefficient　on　the　Luomukeng　tailings　pond　in　Jiangxi,　China　and　its　effect　on　the　seepage　field.　The　research　employed　a　heap　dam　model　test,　an　internal　permeability　coefficient　test,　and　three-dimensional　numerical　simulation　methods.　Specifically,　we　investigated　the　seepage　field　using　a　non-invasive　stochastic　finite　element　approach　with　a　3D　random　field　model　and　a　3D　deterministic　model　in　response　to　reservoir　water　level　rise.　Results　indicate　that　pore　water　pressure　curves　derived　from　the　random　field　model　align　more　closely　with　the　test　results　of　the　heap　dam　model　as　the　water　level　increases.　The　correlation　coefficients　between　the　random　field　model　and　the　monitoring　data　(ranging　from　0.984　to　0.874)　surpass　those　of　the　deterministic　model　(ranging　from　0.916　to　0.768).　Compared　to　the　deterministic　model,　the　variations　in　pore　water　pressure　predicted　by　the　random　field　model　are　more　consistent　with　experimental　values.　Furthermore,　the　three-dimensional　numerical　simulation　of　the　permeability　coefficient　using　the　random　field　model　more　accurately　reflects　the　seepage　characteristics　of　the　tailings　dam　slope,　thereby　providing　a　more　realistic　representation　of　actual　seepage　conditions.　©　The　Author(s)　under　exclusive　licence　to　International　Mine　Water　Association　2025.