Download Environmental Consequences of Mining

Presentation by: Gabbi, Pedro and Jacob
 Mining is the extraction of minerals and other
geological materials from the earth.
Photograph of a U.S. coal strip-mine
 All methods of mining contribute to pollution in some
way, shape, or form. Mining adversely effects air, water,
and land (soil) quality.
Inside an underground mine
Air quality?
 Particulate matter is released in surface mining when
overburden is stripped from the site and stored or
returned to the pit. When the soil is removed,
vegetation is also removed, exposing the soil to the
weather, causing particulates to become airborne
through wind erosion.
 Because particulate matter is often composed of such
noxious materials like arsenic, cadmium, and lead, it
may have an adverse impact on human health by
contributing to respiratory illnesses such as
emphysema. Particulate matter can also otherwise be
ingested or absorbed into the skin.
Water quality?
Acid mine drainage is just one of many
devastating consequences of mining
 Mining operations use large amounts of fresh water to
process recovered ore. The result is the resulting mine
effluent is typically a stew of hazardous acidgenerating sulphides, toxic heavy metals, waste rock
impoundments and water—and it is often deposited
nearby in large free-draining piles where it can pollute
land and water supplies for decades to come. When
this waste water drains into local streams and aquifers,
it can kill living organisms and render formerly
pristine local waters unsafe to swim in or drink.
 When waste water from mining operations drains into
local streams and aquifers, it can kill living organisms
and make local water unsafe to swim, bathe in or
drink. Increased sediment levels in streams are also a
consequence; this reduces the productivity of fisheries
while limiting the availability of irrigation sources.
Soil quality?
 Surface mining, is a common form of mining which is
particularly damaging to the environment. It can erode
soil and thus diminish its fertility. The first step in
surface mining is to eliminate all vegetation and
upturn the soil in the area.
 In the final steps of surface mining, the operator of the
mine dumps the overburden that was removed during
the mining process back onto the area then proceeds
to grade and compact it. The overburden may likely
contain toxic materials such as acid or
alkaline producing materials.
 Mining disturbs and often destroys crucial
microorganisms in the topsoil. Soil may be damaged if
the topsoil is redistributed with a mix of subsoils,
leading to a dilution of matter in the surface soil.
Additionally, overburden which has been dumped on
adjacent land that has not been properly prepared may
introduce toxic materials to the soil.
 "Mining and Water Pollution." Political Affairs. Earth
Talk, 14 Mar. 2011. Web. 17 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.politicalaffairs.net/mining-and-waterpollution/>.
 "Pollution Issues." Mining. Web. 18 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.pollutionissues.com/LiNa/Mining.html>.
 Squillace, Mark. "The Environmental Effects of Strip
Mining." N.p., 2009. Web. 19 Nov.
2012.<https://sites.google.com/site/stripmininghandb
ook/chapter-2-1>