Tailingside

Tailingside is a term used in certain contexts to refer to the area adjacent to, or the region immediately surrounding, a tailings storage facility. Tailings are the waste material that remains after valuable minerals or metals have been extracted from ore. These facilities are typically large impoundments designed to hold these residual materials, which can often be stored as a slurry or in a dry stack form.

The tailingside region may encompass a variety of landscapes and ecosystems depending on the location of the mining operation. Environmental considerations are often paramount in these areas due to the potential for the tailings material to contain residual processing chemicals or naturally occurring elements that could pose risks if released into the environment. This includes potential impacts on soil, water quality, and local biodiversity.

Management of the tailingside is a critical aspect of responsible mining practice. This involves measures such as containment, water management, revegetation efforts, and ongoing monitoring to ensure the stability and environmental integrity of the facility and its surroundings. Public perception and community engagement are also factors often associated with the management of tailingside areas.