The dams are some of the largest structures in the world.

矿坝是世界上最大结构之一。

At old mining sites, waste and tailings ponds could be processed for their remaining resources.

在旧矿场，废物和矿池可以处理剩余资源。

They can be many meters deep and several kilometers wide.

矿坝可能有很多米深、几千米宽。

I think the mining industry is on an annual basis,   producing 12 billion tons of tailings.

我认为采矿业每年生产 120 亿吨矿。

This lets Biomason substitute things like mine tailings for part of the sand that would otherwise be used.

这让 Biomason 可以用矿之类东西来代替原本可以使用部分沙子。

A tailings dam is the most common waste disposal method for a mining company, whether it is mining iron ore, gold or copper.

矿坝是矿业公司处理废弃物最常见方法，废弃物包括但不限于铁矿石、金子、铜。

The investors said they hope to finish a database of dam risks by late January 2020 and to create worldwide safety standards.

调查人员表示，他们希望能在2020年1月末之前做好关于矿坝风险库，同时希望能创建一个适用于全球范围安全标准。

Yet there are no established standards, or rules, defining what a tailings dam is, how to build one and how to care for a dam when it is no longer in use.

但目前并没有明确标准、规定，没有关于矿坝明确定义，没有规定如何建造并维护已经弃之不用矿坝。

The production of ore sand is increasingly  being seen as a valuable by-product from the mining industry and one that avoids the  generation of hazardous waste known as tailings.

矿砂生产越来越被视为采矿业一种有价值副产品，并且可以避免产生称为矿危险废物。

In order to keep this water source pure, these tailings ponds have to be carefully designed and managed, so that mining chemicals don't leach into the ground water below and pollute the watershed of the Continental Divide.

为了保持这个水源纯净，这些矿池必须经过精心设计和管理，这样采矿化学品才不会渗入下面地下水中，污染大陆分水岭分水岭。