Metallurgy Engineering and Mining Technology

Tailings & Mine Waste

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Tailings are distinct from overburden, which is the waste rock or other material that overlies an ore or mineral body and is displaced during mining without being processed.

Mining wastes are mining-related by—products of two types:

(a) mining-and-quarrying extraction wastes which are barren soils removed from mining and quarrying sites during the preparation for mining and quarrying and do not enter into the dressing and beneficiating processes, and

(b). mining—and-quarrying dressing and beneficiating wastes which are obtained during the process of separating minerals from ores and other materials extracted during mining-and-quarrying activities.

These wastes occupy valuable land and cause harm to stream life when they are deposited near the drainage area of a stream.