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Brief <br /> The Mayflower Tailing Pond at the Climax Mine has been under construction <br /> since 1972. Initial construction is scheduled to be completed by the end <br /> of 1978. The upstream method of deposition will be used on this pond which, <br /> due to several design features, should be the largest and safest of this <br /> type ever constructed. The toe of the dam is at elevation 10,403 ft. , with <br /> r the planned ultimate crest at elevation 10,960 ft. , a planned height of <br /> 557 ft. The capacity of this tailing pond is estimated at 576 million tons. <br /> History <br /> The Climax Molybdenum Company is instrumental in meeting the demands of <br /> industry for molybdenum. As a division of AMAX Inc. , the operations at <br /> Climax maintain this country's self-sufficiency in molybdenum, as well <br /> as being the nation's second largest producer of tungsten, this country's <br /> largest (and only) tin producer, and providing substantial amounts of <br /> iron pyrite. <br /> The Climax mine and mill currently process an average of 47,000 tons of <br /> ore per day. The 60 years of mining operations at Climax have produced <br /> a total tonnage production of approximately 360 million tons, providing <br /> more than 1.5 billion pounds of molybdenum. The proven and probable <br /> mineral reserves at Climax are 480 million tons. At today's production <br /> rates and economics, this will provide an additional production life of <br /> approximately 35 years. <br /> Plant operations proceed on a 24-hour per day, seven-day week. The Climax <br /> operation employes 2,800 at the present time. <br /> The Climax Molybdenum Company was formed in 1916, with development and prep- <br /> aration of the ore body and processing circuits underway the following year <br /> and first production commencing in early 1918. <br /> After little more than a year's operation, the end of World War I brought <br /> about an end to market uses for molybdenum and the property was closed. By <br /> 1924 a peace time market had been established and mine production resumed at <br /> the rate of 400 tons of ore per day. <br /> In 1932, production was increased to 1,200 tons per day. Between 1936 and <br /> 1940 plant capacity increased to 18,000 tons per day and during the war ef- <br /> forts of World War II, production increased to 22,000 tons per day. Follow- <br /> ing the war, production dropped back to a minimum of 5,000 tons per day until <br /> the early 1950's. By 1960, production was averaging 33,000 tons per day, <br /> 41,000 in early 1970's, and averaging 47,000 tons per day during 1977. <br /> With a 60-year history of operations and numerous expansion periods during <br /> those years, three tailing impoundments have been constructed; however, the <br /> available storage remaining in these impoundments is nearing completion, and <br /> it became necessary to develop a new area. The Mayflower Tailing Pond should <br /> fulfill this need beyond the year 2000 at the present rate of production. <br />