MINING TALUS PILES

Mining Talus Piles are unconsolidated sediments resulting from the dumping of mine waste. Talus piles are rocks and gravels that form a scree slope (the natural slope of accumulating falling rocks). Natural talus piles form as mountains, canyon walls and other large rocks weather and pieces fall off, accumulating in a steeply sloped pile.

Since talus piles are as steep as possible, they are unstable and a dangerous place to climb. Sliding down one can cause an avalanche.

Mining talus piles are formed as mines are excavated and the waste is dumped. Often they contain portions of the target ores, sometimes they contain rare minerals overlooked by the mine operators. Mineral collectors often sort through such mining talus piles in the hopes of finding a unique and even possibly valuable rare specimen.