Environmental Impacts of Mining and Mitigation Measures

Environmental
Impacts of Mining
and Mitigation
Measures
DrHusain Shabbar
IndependentConsultantGeologist

Environmental Impacts of
Mining and Mitigation Measures
 There are different phases of a mining project, beginning with mineral ore
exploration and ending with the post-closure period.
 Each phase of mining is associated with different sets of environmental
impacts.
 The environment of the life layer is affected adversely in many varied ways
by removal of mineral deposits and by processing these substances.
 There are also direct threats upon man’s safety and health as he engages in
these activities.

Environmental Impacts of
Mining
 Noise pollution
 Surface and Groundwater Contamination
 Erosion and Sedimentation
 Cyanide & Other Toxic Releases
 Fugitive Dust Emissions
 Habitat Modification
 Soil Degradation
 Subsidence
 Underground Mine Fires

Noise Pollution
 Noise is created by equipment and
blasting.
 Equipment noise pollution is more
of a nuisance.
 Blasting noise pollution can cause
damage to nearby buildings.

Surface and Groundwater
Contamination
 Water that seeps into mines or
through piles of mine waste can
pick up or dissolve toxic
substances.
 The acidic solution formed,
characteristic of high metals and
sulphate and low PH.
 Contaminated water from this
solution calledAcid Mine
Drainage (AMD).

Surface and Groundwater
Contamination
 Acid generation and drainage
affect both surface and
groundwater.
 AMD can be severe. High
concentrations of metals and acidic
conditions can have adverse effects
on fish, aquatic plant communities
and humans.

Erosion and Sedimentation
 Excess rock from mines is dumped
into large piles called dumps.
 Running water erodes unprotected
dumps and transports sediments.
 sedimentation occurs at some point
downstream from the erosive source.
 Erosion and sedimentation affect
surface water and wetlands more than
any other media.
 Erosion can adversely affect soil
organisms, vegetation, and
revegetation effort.

Cyanide & Other Toxic Releases
 Cyanide and other toxic chemicals
used for processing can be released
into the environment.
 The cyanide-contaminated solution
left after valuable minerals have
been removed is placed in
a tailings pond.
 subsequently affect water, soil,
aquatic organisms, wildlife,
waterfowl, and humans.

Fugitive Dust Emissions and Air
Pollution
 Dust is produced by removing,
loading, hauling, and dumping soil
and overburden.
 Mining and quarrying operations
send mineral dusts into the air.
 Dust can contain toxic heavy
metals such as arsenic, lead, and
other. These toxic heavy metals,
when incorporated with dust can
contaminate the air.

Fugitive Dust Emissions and Air
Pollution
 Air pollution caused by smelting
and treatment of ores, especially
sulphide ores (copper, lead, zinc
etc.) result in the release of SO2
into the air in enormous amounts.
 Fall-out over the surrounding area
is destructive to both human health
and vegetation.

Habitat Modification
 The large disturbances caused by
mining can disrupt environments,
adversely affecting aquatic
habitats, terrestrial habitats and
wetlands that many organisms rely
on for survival.
 The release of particulates and
chemicals can all have indirect
impacts on various habitats.

Soil Degradation
 Overburden removal from the
mine area results in a very
significant loss of rain forest and
the rich top soil.
 This is useless for the industry and
is normally just stored in big piles
within the mine lease area, and
sometimes, on public land.
 Open-pit mines produce 8 to 10
times as much waste as
underground mines.

Subsidence
 The sinking of regions of ground
with little or no horizontal
movement.
 Caused when pillars in a mind
collapse or the mine roof or floor
fails.
 Buildings, houses, roads, bridges,
underground pipelines and utilities
may be damaged.
 Explosions, fires, Loss of wildlife
or human life.

Underground Mine Fires
 Fires in underground coal seams
are one of the most serious
environmental consequences of
coal mining
 Lighting, forest fires and burning
trash can cause coal-seam fires.
 These fires are hard to put out and
often left to burn out.
 They release smoke and gasses
that can cause respiratory
problems.

Mitigation Measures in Mining
Environments
 Reclamation
 Soil treatment
 Water treatment
 Preventing acid rock drainage
 Controlling gas emissions

Environmental Impacts of Mining and Mitigation Measures

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