tailings
Ore processing leftovers
Tailings are the leftover material after valuable minerals have been extracted from ore.
Mining operations produce vast quantities of tailings—crusite rock, water, and processing chemicals—typically stored in large ponds or impoundments.
The term also applies more broadly to any residue or refuse left behind after processing: the tailings from the grain mill.
Semifluid mixture of solids
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
- sludgeSemi-solid waste material
- siltWaterborne earth particles
- particulatesMinute airborne solids or droplets
mud · precipitate · residue · fines · sand · clay · pyrite · sulfides
Commercially worthless ore rock
- overburdenLoad beyond capacity
- spoilDamage or overindulge
- extractiveRemoving natural resources
- reclamationRecovery of something lost
open pit · underground · dredge · placer · hardrock · coal ash · slimes · fines
Ability to stay afloat
- magnetic separationIsolating substances via magnetism
- dewateringRemoving liquid from solids
- thickeningIncreasing in density
- filtrationSeparating solids from liquids
sedimentation · crushing · grinding · milling · screening · concentration · extraction · leaching
Dense metallic environmental contaminants
- leachateLiquid filtered through waste
- toxicityCapacity to cause harm
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- water pollutionHarmful substances in H2O
bioaccumulation · arsenic · cyanide · mercury · lead · cadmium · selenium · groundwater
Official seizure or detention
- heapJumbled collection of items
- stockpileAccumulated reserve supply
- pasteThick sticky substance
- backfillReplacing excavated material
containment · embankment · liner · seepage · dam breach · spill · closure · capping
slurry
Semifluid mixture of solids
particulates · mud · precipitate · residue · fines · sand · clay · pyrite · sulfides
gangue
Commercially worthless ore rock
- overburdenLoad beyond capacity
- spoilDamage or overindulge
- extractiveRemoving natural resources
reclamation · open pit · underground · dredge · placer · hardrock · coal ash · slimes · fines · rejects
flotation
Ability to stay afloat
- magnetic separationIsolating substances via magnetism
- dewateringRemoving liquid from solids
- thickeningIncreasing in density
filtration · sedimentation · crushing · grinding · milling · screening · concentration · extraction · leaching · reprocessing
heavy metals
Dense metallic environmental contaminants
- leachateLiquid filtered through waste
- toxicityCapacity to cause harm
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
water pollution · bioaccumulation · arsenic · cyanide · mercury · lead · cadmium · selenium · groundwater · runoff
impoundment
Official seizure or detention
backfill · containment · embankment · liner · seepage · dam breach · spill · closure · capping · revegetation
- copper miningcopper ore, copper production, smelting, refining, open pit
- mininggold, mines, gold mines, mine, coal
- pollutionair pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, smog, toxic waste
- earth materialsrock, soil, mud, clay, mineral
- Gold RushCalifornia Gold Rush, gold miners, gold mining, gold flakes, gold nuggets
- mining townsaloon, general store, mine shaft, gold pan, prospector
tailingsconcentrate
Reduced, potent form
ore · pay dirt · precious metal · mother lode · bullion
- high-tailing itDeparting very quickly
- tailing offGradually decreasing in strength
- tailing awayGradually decreasing in strength
- mine tailingsWaste from ore processing