Tailings

Tailings are a by-product of mining. After ore containing an economically-recoverable commodity is mined from the earth, that commodity is extracted in a processing plant or mill. After the commodity of value is extracted from the ore material, the resultant waste stream is termed “tailings”. Typically, mill tailings range from sand to silt-clay in particle size.

Ore is material that contains a mineral commodity of value required to sustain modern life. Mineral commodities commonly recovered in the United States are copper, gold, silver, iron, lead, zinc, uranium and coal. The commodity, as a product, is sold and used to fabricate many things such as parts for a car, electrical cable for energy transmission and jewelry.

Due to a number of factors, not all of the commodity is recovered during the extraction process and some residual commodity usually remains. Thus, the tailings may become valuable in the future depending on technological improvements and market conditions allowing them to be reprocessed.

Source: SME