Why are tailing dams unsafe?

The following points are the reasons why tailings dams are more susceptible to damage than other types of water storage structures: (1) embankments constructed with soil, coarse waste, and residual materials from the mining operations; (2) the number of wastewater increases as the height of the tailings dam increases; …

How does a tailings pond work?

Tailing ponds are areas of refused mining tailings where the waterborne refuse material is pumped into a pond to allow the sedimentation (meaning separation) of solids from the water. The pond is generally impounded with a dam, and known as tailings impoundments or tailings dams.

What is a tailing waste pond?

A tailings pond is a wet storage area for tailings that allows them to be continuously submerged. (Some tailings can also be stored under “dry covers” such as soil.) The technical name for a tailings pond or other storage site is a “tailings impoundment area.”

Are tailing ponds bad?

Tailings ponds contain waste water from the extraction of bitumen from the oilsands. As well as water, they contain fine silt, residual bitumen, salts, organic compounds and solvents. They are considered toxic. Without being able to separate the water from the bad stuff, it’s difficult to reclaim the ponds.

Why is tailing dangerous?

In some cases, companies dump tailings into rivers, lakes and oceans. This type of disposal should be banned because: Tailings can contaminate aquatic life with toxic heavy metals and milling chemicals. Some metals, particularly mercury, may bioaccumulate up the food chain, ultimately harming humans.

Has any dam broken?

Dam failures are comparatively rare, but can cause immense damage and loss of life when they occur. In 1975 the failure of the Banqiao Reservoir Dam and other dams in Henan Province, China caused more casualties than any other dam failure in history.

How do tailing ponds affect wildlife?

If aquatic organisms enter these ponds, significant levels of damage can occur. This poses a risk to wildlife, mainly birds, who can be harmed if they come into contact with the water in these ponds. Another concern about the use of tailings ponds is the volume of oil sands tailings produced from bitumen extraction.

What happens to tailings after mining is finished?

Because tailings originate in slurry form they are dumped in or near water, contaminating the water and destroying aquatic life. Tailings also can be transported by wind or water to contaminate other areas. Mine wastewater containing metals and chemicals can also leach into nearby waterways.

How are tailings ponds used to treat water?

This is where the waterborne refuse material is pumped into a large man-made pond to allow the sedimentation (meaning separation) of solids from the water. The pond is generally impounded with a dam, and known as tailings impoundments or tailings dams.

How are tailings impoundments and tailings dams used?

tailings (waste material after the good stuff has been extracted). This is where the waterborne refuse material is pumped into a large man-made pond to allow the sedimentation (meaning separation) of solids from the water. The pond is generally impounded with a dam, and known as tailings impoundments or tailings dams.

How tall is a tailings dam in feet?

Modern tailings impoundments are engineered structures for permanently disposing of the fine-grained waste from mining and milling operations. At some projects, tailings embankments reach several hundred feet in height and the impoundments cover several square miles.

Is the tailings pond a danger to the mine?

The tailings pond is a necessary facility for maintaining normal production of a mine as a place for stockpiling tailings. On the other hand, the tailings dam is a major danger for metal and nonmetal mines, because dam failure may occur.

Why are inactive tailings dams getting more attention?

Inactive tailings impoundments also are receiving more attention due to the long-term effects of windblown dispersal, ground water contamination, and acid drainage. In many cases, the costs of remediation can be considerable, exceeding the costs of original design and operation of the tailings impoundment.