Tailings Dams in Michigan
Michigan has 14 tailings dams, of which 2 carry a high hazard classification. Tailings dams contain waste material from mining operations — typically a slurry of finely ground rock left over after valuable minerals have been extracted.
| # | Dam | County | Height (ft) | Hazard | Condition | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Empire Mine Tailings Basin Dam | Marquette | 163 | Significant | Satisfactory | 1975 |
| 2 | Gribben Tailings Basin Dam | Marquette | 115 | Significant | Satisfactory | 1977 |
| 3 | Republic Mine Tailings Pond Dams | Marquette | 91 | Low | Not Rated | 1960 |
| 4 | White Pine Mine North Tailings Dam #2 | Ontonagon | 75 | Significant | Satisfactory | 1971 |
| 5 | Copper Range Company Dam | Ontonagon | 70 | Undetermined | Not Rated | 1958 |
| 6 | Clymers Basin Dam | Presque Isle | 65 | Low | Satisfactory | 1999 |
| 7 | Empire Mine Expanded Tertiary Dam | Marquette | 52 | Significant | Satisfactory | 1985 |
| 8 | Michigan Limestone Tailings Dam | Presque Isle | 50 | Low | Not Rated | 1969 |
| 9 | Republic Mine Tailings Pond Dam B | Marquette | 42 | Low | Not Rated | 1960 |
| 10 | Impoundment No.1 | Chippewa | 30 | High | Not Available | |
| 11 | White Pine Mine North Tailings Dam #1 | Ontonagon | 30 | Low | Satisfactory | 1970 |
| 12 | Homestake Copper Dam | Houghton | 21 | Low | Satisfactory | 1975 |
| 13 | Republic Mine Tailings Pond Dam Tertiary | Marquette | 16 | Low | Not Rated | 1973 |
| 14 | Cedarville Operation Tailings Basin Dam | Mackinac | 10 | High | Satisfactory |