Bruno Creek Tailings Impoundment facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bruno Creek Tailings Impoundment |
|
|---|---|
View of the tailings pond from upstream of the dam
|
|
 Location of Bruno Creek Tailings Impoundment in Idaho
|
|
| Country | United States |
| Location | Custer County, near Challis |
| Coordinates | 44°19′13″N 114°30′52″W / 44.32028°N 114.51444°W |
| Status | Operational |
| Opening date | 1983 |
| Owner(s) | Thompson Creek Mining Company |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Tailings, center-line |
| Height | 550 ft (168 m) |
| Reservoir | |
| Total capacity | 100,000,000 t (98,420,653 long tons; 110,231,131 short tons) |
The Bruno Creek Tailings Impoundment is a very large dam located in Custer County, Idaho. It's about 19 miles (31 km) southwest of a town called Challis. This special dam was built to hold "tailings," which are the leftover waste materials from a nearby mine.
At 550 feet (168 meters) tall, it's one of the tallest dams of its kind in the world! The company that owns it plans to make it even taller, reaching 750 feet (229 meters) in the future.
Contents
What is a Tailings Dam?
When miners dig for valuable metals, they crush huge amounts of rock. After they take out the metals, a lot of finely ground rock and water is left over. This leftover material is called "tailings."
Tailings can sometimes contain substances that are not good for the environment. So, they need to be stored safely. That's where a tailings dam comes in! It creates a big pond or area to hold these materials away from rivers and other natural places.
The Bruno Creek Dam: A Giant Structure
The Bruno Creek Tailings Impoundment is a very impressive engineering project. It's designed to be strong and secure. The dam started operating in 1983.
It's owned by the Thompson Creek Mining Company. This company operates the nearby Thompson Creek Mine, which produces important metals. The dam is a key part of their mining operations.
How it's Built and What it Holds
The dam is mostly made from "cycloned sand." This is a special type of sand that has been separated from the tailings itself. Using this sand helps make the dam strong and stable.
Right now, the dam holds about 100 million metric tons of tailings. That's a huge amount! With the planned height increase, it will be able to hold even more, up to 125 million metric tons.
Keeping the Environment Safe
Building and operating a dam like this requires careful planning to protect the environment. Sometimes, water can slowly seep out from the dam. This is called "seepage."
To make sure the water around the dam stays clean, a system of wells was put in place. These wells help monitor the underground water. A special smaller dam was also built downstream. This "seepage return dam" helps collect any water that might seep out, ensuring it doesn't affect the surrounding area. These steps help keep the local environment safe and healthy.
