Tailings Dams in New Mexico
New Mexico has 20 tailings dams, of which 6 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 | Cobre Main Tailings Dam | Grant | 310 | High | Satisfactory | 1968 |
| 2 | Questa Tailings Dam 1 | Taos | 280 | High | Satisfactory | 1980 |
| 3 | Chino Mines Tailings Dam No. 7 | Grant | 230 | High | Satisfactory | 1988 |
| 4 | Questa Tailings Dam 4 | Taos | 212 | High | Satisfactory | 1966 |
| 5 | Magnetite Tailings Dam | Grant | 140 | High | Satisfactory | 1980 |
| 6 | Aps Ash Pond Tailings Dam No. 3 | San Juan | 95 | Low | Satisfactory | 1976 |
| 7 | Aps Ash Pond Tailings Dam No. 6 | San Juan | 90 | Low | Satisfactory | 1983 |
| 8 | Aps Lined Decant Water Pond | San Juan | 86 | Significant | Satisfactory | 2003 |
| 9 | Axiflo Tailings Dam | Grant | 75 | Significant | Satisfactory | 1913 |
| 10 | Grubstake Tailings Dam | Sierra | 70 | Low | Poor | 1992 |
| 11 | Intrepid Potash West Plant Dam | Eddy | 68 | Significant | Unsatisfactory | 1978 |
| 12 | Copper Flats Tailings Dam | Sierra | 54 | Significant | Poor | 1980 |
| 13 | Banner Mill Tailings Dam | Hidalgo | 44 | Significant | Satisfactory | 2010 |
| 14 | Aps Lined Ash Impoundment | San Juan | 40 | Significant | Satisfactory | 2003 |
| 15 | East Catchment Basin Dam | Eddy | 33 | Significant | Poor | |
| 16 | Intrepid Potash South Perimeter Dam | Eddy | 29 | Significant | Poor | |
| 17 | Mesita Dam | Cibola | 21 | High | Poor | |
| 18 | Mosaic Potash Carlsbad Clay Settling Dam | Eddy | 19 | Low | Satisfactory | 2005 |
| 19 | Intrepid Potash Ponds A-d Dam | Eddy | 14 | Significant | Poor | |
| 20 | Intrepid Potash Ponds 1-5 Dam | Eddy | 12 | Significant | Poor |