<p>Recycling cement-amended waste tailings into mined-out cavities has yielded significant financial and environmental benefits for the mining industry. Once in place underground, the backfill mass is supported by retaining structures across the access tunnel, with the resulting earth pressure critically influencing the stability of the subsurface minefill system. Despite its substantial socioeconomic benefits, recent field operations have encountered challenges due to anomalous minefill pressure, stemming from an unidentified source of thermal loading. As mining depths increase, interacting with hostile geothermal environments, this pressure anomaly becomes a crucial issue that must be addressed to enable clean and sustainable mine development in unprecedentedly challenging conditions. In this paper, we initially explore the multiphysics origin of this anomalous thermal pressure and discuss its practical implications for future mine backfilling. We then present a comprehensive review of existing experimental and computational studies on multiphysics minefill behavior under complex heat loads, with a particular focus on the geotechnical/geomechanical aspect of the material response that dictates the system stability at early ages. By critically identifying current knowledge gaps, we provide guidance for future research aimed at enhancing the safety and cost efficiency of waste tailings recycling in challenging mining environments. Specifically, the impact of mix design on geotechnical minefill responses in complex temperature scenarios requires urgent investigation using thermally controllable setups. In addition, developing adaptive solutions by effectively leveraging cross-multiphysics interactions could also improve investment return. Moreover, by integrating advanced machine learning algorithms, field monitoring could enable effective early warning and hence ensure operational safety in increasingly hostile underground environments.</p>