Metal mining is the oldest and most persistent source of environmental pollution. Mine tailings discharge represents a worldwide environmental hazard to the surrounding ecosystems. Three tailings from Egyptian gold mines, Barramiya, El Sid, and Fatira, were studied for the chemical and mineralogical characteristics, in addition to the weathering impact on heavy element release. The tailings samples, collected in-depth profiles, were analysed using mineralogical (XRD and SEM–EDS), physical (particle-sizes), and geochemical (XRF) methods. The tailings contain homogenous silt with fine-very fine sands and clays. Elevated carbonate content in these tailings is predominantly dolomite-ankerite for Barramiya, calcite-ankerite for El Sid and calcite for Fatira, and little sulphide content. Barramiya tailings have higher mean of As (3048 mg/kg), Ni (153 mg/kg), V (134 mg/kg), and Al2O3 (11.43%) concentrations, reflecting variable quantities of the mafic/ultramafic and mica schists, El Sid samples, are characterized by elevated mean values of SiO2 (65.4%), Pb (2667 mg/kg), Zn (2212 mg/kg), Ni (189 mg/kg), CaO (6.65%), and SO3 (4.07%), favour mafic to ultramafic, granodiorite, and shear zone hosts, whereas Fatira tailings have greater Al2O3 (12.95%), Fe2O3 (8.9%), Ba (505 mg/kg), Zr (459 mg/kg), Sr (362 mg/kg), Cu (222 mg/kg), and Rb (80.4 mg/kg) reflect varied input from the old granites, intermediates, and post-tectonic gabbroic and granitic intrusions. Al2O3 is elevated in Barramiya-Fatira tailings and stunted in El Sid tailings. The elevated Sr values in Fatira tailings result from being absorbed by iron oxides. Pyrite and arsenopyrite are oxidized incipiently at the rims and/or fractures of the mineral particles due to water scarcity. Gypsum is found only in small patches. The threshold effect levels (TELs) demonstrate that heavy element contamination has a high influence on human health and aquatic ecology. Under flash flood and wind episodes, efflorescent materials, highly enriched in potentially hazardous metals such as arsenic, lead, and zinc, are easily accessible at the tailings surface and can be either dissolved, affecting the water quality of the surface and ground waters in the water discharge system, or spread out as particles in the wind direction, enhancing contamination even within zones not affected by mining. Without mining site rehabilitation plans, the environmental consequences of pollutant release would be locally devastating due to the relatively small size of the tailings.