Submarine Tailings in Chile—A Review

This review aims to understand the environmental impact that tailings produce on land and marine ecosystem. Issues related flora, fauna, environment are revised. In first instance, origin of treatment disposal mining waste in Chile other countries is studied. The importance tailings’ valuable elements analyzed through mineralogy, chemical composition, oceanographic interactions. Several treatments seek recover minerals mitigate impacts leaching, bioleaching, flotation methods. analysis was complemented with particular legislative framework for every country, highlighting those formal regulations a environment. available registry flora fauna affected by discharge toxic metals explored. As study case, “Playa Verde” project detailed, which recovers copper from tailings, uses phytoremediation neutralize metals. Countries must regularize due significant implementation new technologies necessary reduce waste.