What is a tailing pond? Can someone explain it to me in simple words?

http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tailings

Tailing ponds are small bodies of water where the junk left over from mining is put.

http://www.tailings.info/basics/tailings.htm

http://www.oilsandstoday.ca/topics/Tailings/Pages/default.aspx

My students worked on one:

https://eos.ucs.uri.edu/EOSWebOPAC/OPAC/Details/Record.aspx?TaskCode=61612&BibCode=EOSMAIN|5127150|1|288252&HitCount=1&SelectionType=1&SearchType=2&CurrentPage=1&IndexCode=-1&SortDirection=Descending

Oh, the s makes it hard

http://eos.ucs.uri.edu/EOSWebOPAC/OPAC/Details/Record.aspx?TaskCode=61612&BibCode=EOSMAIN|5127150|1|288252&HitCount=1&SelectionType=1&SearchType=2&CurrentPage=1&IndexCode=-1&SortDirection=Descending

Thank you all.

You're welcome.

Certainly! I'd be happy to explain what a tailing pond is in simple terms.

A tailing pond, also known as a tailings storage facility or tailings pond, is a large man-made reservoir used in mining operations to store waste materials called tailings.

Here's how to understand it step by step:

1. Start with the term "tailings": When miners extract minerals like copper, gold, or iron from the ground, they usually need to crush rocks to separate the valuable minerals. The leftover materials from this process, known as tailings, are usually a mixture of water, fine particles of minerals, and sometimes chemicals used during the mining process.

2. Think of a tailing pond as a big storage area: A tailing pond is like a giant reservoir or storage area where these tailings are collected and stored. It is designed to hold a large volume of these waste materials.

3. Location and construction of a tailing pond: Tailing ponds are typically located near the mining site, as it's more convenient to transport the tailings to a nearby storage facility. They are constructed by building embankments or dams to contain the tailings within the pond and prevent them from spreading.

4. Purpose of a tailing pond: The main purpose of a tailing pond is to store and manage the waste materials produced during mining operations. By storing these tailings in a controlled environment, it helps to minimize their impact on the environment by preventing them from entering nearby waterways or contaminating the soil.

5. Monitoring and maintenance: Tailing ponds require regular monitoring and maintenance to ensure they function properly. This involves checking the stability of the embankments, monitoring water levels, and treating the water to ensure any chemicals or contaminants are adequately managed.

In summary, a tailing pond is a large storage area where waste materials (tailings) from mining operations are stored. It helps to contain and manage these waste materials to minimize their environmental impact.