Baogang Tailings Dam
| Baotong Tailings Dam | |
|---|---|
  Location of Baotong Tailings Dam in China | |
| Location | Baotou |
| Coordinates | 40°38′16.3″N 109°41′16.7″E / 40.637861°N 109.687972°ECoordinates: 40°38′16.3″N 109°41′16.7″E / 40.637861°N 109.687972°E |
| Construction began | 1955 |
| Opening date | 1965 |
| Owner(s) | Baotou Steel |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Embankment, tailings |
| Height | 6 m (20 ft) |
| Length | 11.5 km (7.1 mi) |
| Elevation at crest | 1,045 m (3,428 ft) |
| Reservoir | |
| Total capacity | 85,000,000 m3 (69,000 acre·ft) |
| Active capacity | 68,800,000 m3 (55,800 acre·ft) |
| Surface area | 10 km2 (3.9 sq mi) |
Baogang Tailings Dam, also known as the Baotou Talings Dam or Weikuang Dam, is a tailings dam in Inner Mongolia, China, on the outer ring of the city of Baotou. It is an artificial lake filled with tailings and waste slurry from a nearby rare earth mineral plant. Its shore is lined by pipes that bring into it a chemical waste from the surrounding refineries.[1]
Construction on the dam began in 1955 and it was complete in 1963 but was not used until 1965. It is owned by Baotou Steel. The circular dam is 11.5 km (7.1 mi) long and has a 85,000,000 m3 (69,000 acre·ft) capacity. The dam will eventually increase 1,045 m (3,428 ft) in height and have a capacity of 233,800,000 m3 (189,500 acre·ft).[2][3]
Baotou is the world's biggest supplier of rare earth minerals. They are used in the production of smartphones, tablets and other technology, like wind turbines. Production creates millions of tons of waste per year which has drawn much criticism of the dam.[4] Chemicals in the lake have been linked to lower crop yields in surrounding farmlands and serious health problems among locals.[5]
References
- ↑ Maughan, Tim. "The dystopian lake filled by the world´s tech lust". BBC. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
- ↑ "Baotou Steel Group tailings line monitoring system" (in Chinese). Beijing China test-chi Technology Co., Ltd. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
- ↑ Capilla, Antonio Valero; Delgado, Alicia Valero. Thanatia: The Destiny of the Earth's Mineral Resources: A Thermodynamic Cradle-to-Cradle Assessment. World Scientific. p. 243. ISBN 9814602493.
- ↑ Breslin, Sean. "Toxic Lake in Inner Mongolia Created By World's Addiction To High-Tech Gadgets". Weather.com. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
- ↑ Kiggins, Ryan David. The Political Economy of Rare Earth Elements: Rising Powers and Technological Change. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 9781137364258.