Construction　using　geofabriform　is　a　new　promising　technology　to　build　fine　grain　tailings　dam.　Large-scale　shaking　table　tests　are　conducted　in　this　study　to　investigate　the　dynamic　performances　in　terms　of　horizontal　acceleration　and　displacement　of　the　tailings　dam　with　and　without　geofabriform　subject　to　horizontal　earthquakes.　Test　results　indicate　that　the　seismic　performance　of　the　tailings　dam　with　geofabriform　is　significantly　better　than　that　of　tailings　dam　without　geofabriform.　The　two　types　of　tailings　dams　have　different　failure　modes　under　the　action　of　earthquake.　The　acceleration　amplification　factor(Am),　vertical　displacement　and　horizontal　displacement　of　the　tailings　dam　with　geofabriform　under　the　same　seismic　acceleration　input　are　smaller　than　that　of　the　tailings　dam　without　geofabriform,　the　maximum　attenuation　amplitude　of　the　Am　at　the　dam　slope　reaches　to　81%.　The　horizontal　displacements　of　the　two　types　of　dams　are　nonlinearly　distributed　in　the　height　direction　and　the　geotextile　bags　of　the　tailings　dam　have　an　upward　displacement　and　are　tilted　upward.　According　to　the　failure　mode　of　the　tailings　dam　with　geotextile　bags,　it　is　recommended　to　strengthen　the　drainage　measures　and　set　up　anti-slide　piles　at　the　bottom　of　the　geotextile　bags　body　to　strengthen　the　tailings　dam.　©　The　Authors,　published　by　EDP　Sciences　2020.