Waste Rock

Waste rock refers to the leftover material that is extracted during the mining process but does not contain enough valuable minerals to be worth processing. When miners dig for resources like gold or copper, they often remove large amounts of surrounding rock and soil. This excess material, known as waste rock, is typically piled in dumps or stored in designated areas. While not economically valuable, waste rock can sometimes impact the environment, especially if it contains harmful substances that could leach into soil and water. Responsible mining practices aim to manage and minimize these impacts.