What appears to be a teal-green body of water stretches out before us. This is Kennecott Tailings Pond Number Two. It is disturbing and industrial. It contrasts sharply with the surrounding landscape.
Kennecott Tailings Pond Number Two is a byproduct of the Bingham Canyon Mine. This mine is one of the world’s largest mining operations. The pond contains tailings or worked-out leftovers from the mine. These tailings are the result of processing ore to extract valuable minerals. Copper, gold, silver and molybdenum are examples of these minerals.
In 1906 the Utah Copper Company began dumping slurry onto wetlands near the Great Salt Lake. The slurry contained water and mining byproducts. Bulldozers raised the edges as the tailings dried out. This allowed for more slurry disposal. Today Kennecott Tailings Pond Number Two covers a vast area. It spans approximately 9400 acres. That is equal to 940 Salt Lake City blocks. It contains around two billion tons of tailings.
You might notice some moist patches on the surface of Kennecott Tailings Pond Number Two. These are the result of a sprinkler system. Kennecott uses this system to control dust. The dust can become a problem on windy days. Fines are stirred up into dust clouds by the wind.
Kennecott is planning a massive expansion of its operations. This expansion is called the Cornerstone plan. It will extend the life of the Bingham Canyon Mine until 2038. The Cornerstone plan will affect every aspect of Kennecott’s operations. This includes the tailings ponds.
The plan includes expanding the tailings ponds. Kennecott wants to create an additional area for tailings disposal. This new site would be northeast of the current pond. It would accommodate billions more tons of tailings.
Kennecott is also studying older portions of the tailings ponds. They are considering reprocessing these areas. The older tailings at the bottom of the pond are richer. They believe that significant recoverable copper, molybdenum and gold remain there.
However dust is not the only problem. The tailings ponds are located in an area prone to earthquakes. A fault line runs close to the ponds. An earthquake could cause disastrous flooding. Wet tailings filled with toxins could inundate Magna and the Great Salt Lake. Because of these risks the ponds have been dewatered by giant pumps for seismic stability since 1997.
Kennecott Tailings Pond Number Two is a complex site. It represents both resource extraction and environmental challenges. The teal-green waters tell a story of industry. They also speak to the need for careful environmental stewardship.