Analyzing the Potential Perils of Tailings Reservoirs

Data Visualizations by Reuters Demonstrate Tailings Dam Count by Country, these structures responsible for a catastrophic dam collapse in Brazil in 2019, causing the tragic loss of at least 240 lives. The visualizations display:

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2025 September 15 . 4:03 AM

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Analyzing the Potential Perils of Tailings Reservoirs

In a revealing data visualization, Reuters has shed light on the distribution of tailings dams across various countries, highlighting a concerning trend in the mining industry.

Tailings dams, embankments that store mining waste in liquid or solid form, have seen an unprecedented increase in the past decade. More tailings dams have opened in this period than any other decade, according to the visualization.

Leading the pack is Australia, with the highest number of tailings dams among all countries. Following close behind is Canada, the second country with the most tailings dams, and Brazil, which ranks third. South Africa and the United States complete the top five.

China also features prominently, possessing the largest number of currently operated embankment dams (Schwemmstaudämme) built in the past ten years.

The visualization, based on data from the past decade, underscores the global scale of this phenomenon. It's important to note that the construction of these dams is not without risk. A tragic example is the collapse of a tailings dam in Brazil in 2019, which led to the death of at least 240 people.

This serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers associated with the management of tailings dams. As the mining industry continues to expand, it's crucial that safety measures are prioritized to prevent such catastrophic incidents from happening again.

Reuters has created data visualizations illustrating the number of tailings dams by country, providing a valuable resource for those interested in understanding this global issue. The visualization is a call to action, urging the mining industry and governments to take a proactive approach in ensuring the safety and sustainability of tailings dams.