Grasberg mine tailings
Mimika, Central Papua, Indonesia · -4.40°, 136.90° · Mining damage
One of the world's largest gold and copper mines discharges its tailings into a river system that flows to the sea.
Grasberg, high in the mountains of Papua, has been mined since the 1970s. Its tailings are released into the Ajkwa river and settle across a managed deposition area of lowland forest tens of kilometres long, which the company says is the only feasible option in such steep, wet, earthquake-prone terrain. Critics point to the loss of forest, sediment reaching the Arafura Sea, and conflicts with local Amungme and Kamoro communities.
In the game
Grasberg mine tailings flares up as Land destroyed. The fix is a gesture: slash through the bulldozers to stop the clearing. Done right, it becomes Damage stopped 🌱. Finish all three steps of its chain in one round for a combo, or take your time in Explore mode: a place you fully restore stays green on your map for good.
🧭 Fly there and restore it▶ Play a 60-second round