openpit mineing is so different from mine back through tailings. so the cost of open pit can not be compared to reclaming of talings. The reason that there's all theses ore's in the tailings is that the USSR did not allow recovery of them they just mined metals for the cold war. So now they can go back through these at a very low cost compared to it being a open pit.
Lightning cracks the blackened sky, Hear the thunder chariot ride All brave men with hearts of war Ride the path of mighty Thor