The refuse part of stamped ore, thrown behind the tail of the buddle or washing apparatus. It is dressed over again to secure whatever metal may exist in it. Called also tails.

Any waste product remaining after a substance has been processed. For example, mill tailings are wastes from milling lumber. Mine tailings are wastes from processing ores.

material rejected from a mill after the recoverable valuable minerals have been extracted

This word describes the waste material that is left or discarded after the gold is removed. Also called dumps, these are generally piles or rocks or debris left from the mining operation. Once considered worthless, tailings have become a target for modern prospectors. Occasionally large nuggets were discarded with the stones; or valuable metals, unknown to early prospectors, were tossed aside.

waste or refuse left in the process of mining