Imagine a big hole in the ground, similar to the one pictured above. Now imagine that pit filled with up to 10 billion tons of tailings — waste that’s derived from mining — that will remain there forever.
It’s a reality that isn’t exactly far-fetched. If a large — and controversial — copper mine is built in Alaska’s Bristol Bay, what remains will become a lasting part of the landscape. These potential dams could be among the biggest in the world, but they’re by no means the first. So what, exactly, are these man-made storage structures you’ve probably never even heard of?
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