Glossary

Waste materials obtained after separating target minerals from crushed ore during the flotation process, which consist of a mixture of crushed rocks, water and other elements that are stored in specialized deposits (tailings deposits), since they are no longer technically or economically viable to exploit. In some cases, tailings are re-pumped into flotation circuits to recover valuable minerals that may still be present.

Specialized dam used to store waste (also known as tailings) from mining operations. Dams have a general classification of upstream, based on their construction design.