Axiflo Tailings Dam
Axiflo Tailings Dam is an earth dam located in Grant County, New Mexico, built in 1913. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Axiflo Tailings Dam
The primary purpose of Axiflo Tailings Dam is tailings. Tailings dams contain waste material from mining operations — typically a slurry of finely ground rock left over after valuable minerals have been extracted. These structures require ongoing monitoring because tailings can contain heavy metals and other contaminants. The dam is owned by Freeport-mcmoran, Chino Mines Company (private). It impounds the Whitewater Creek-os near Deming.
The dam stands 75 feet tall and stretches 1,476 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 78 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,798 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1913, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/30/2020.
At 75 feet, this dam is taller than 97% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | New Mexico |
| County | Grant |
| Nearest City | Deming |
| River/Stream | Whitewater Creek-os |
| Coordinates | 32.67704, -108.10958 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 75 ft |
| Dam Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,476 ft |
| Year Completed | 1913 (113 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,798 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,798 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 78 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Tailings |
| Owner | FREEPORT-MCMORAN, CHINO MINES COMPANY |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/30/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NM00700 |
| Federal ID | NM00700 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |