Impacts of mining on environment

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1. IMPACTS OF MINING ON ENVIRONMENT HIMANSHU CHANDLA SID-19108023 BRANCH-METALLURGY

2. INTRODUCTION

3. INTRODUCTION What is mining? Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the Earth, usually from an ore body, seam, reef or placer deposit. These deposits form a mineralized package that is of economic interest to the miner. Ores recovered by mining include metals, coal, gemstones, limestone, chalk, dimension stone, rock salt, potash, gravel, and clay. Mining is required to obtain any material that cannot be grown through agricultural processes, or feasibly created artificially in a laboratory or factory. Mining in a wider sense includes extraction of any non-renewable resource such as petroleum, natural gas, or even water. Mining of stones and metal has been a human activity since pre-historic times. Modern mining processes involve prospecting for ore bodies, analysis of the profit potential of a proposed mine, extraction of the desired materials, and final reclamation of the land after the mine is closed.

4. INTRODUCTION WHY DO WE NEED MINING ? If it can’t be grown, it has to be mined The mining industry is driven by fundamental forces Many countries need mining to not only thrive, but also to survive

5. SURFACE MINING Surface mining, including strip mining, open-pit mining and mountain top removal mining, is a broad category of mining in which soil and rock overlying the mineral deposit are removed. Strip mining (also known as open cast) involves scraping away earth and rocks to get to minerals buried near the surface. It can cause changes in the topography and drainage. Open pit mining exposed rocks prone to weathering and polluting. Mountaintop removal mining is a form of coal mining that uses explosives to blast overburden off the top of some mountains .

6. SURFACE MINING

7. Underground mining Underground hard rock mining refers to various underground mining techniques used to excavate hard minerals, usually those containing metals such as ore containing gold, silver, iron, copper, zinc, nickel, tin and lead, but also involves using the same techniques for excavating ores of gems such as diamonds or rubies.

8. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF MINING

9. ACID DRAINANGE

10. IMPACTS ON AIR QUALITY Airborne emissions occur during each stage of the mine cycle, but especially during exploration, development, construction, and operational activities. Coal mine methane, less prevalent in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide, but 20 times as powerful as a greenhouse gas, and is released during the coal mining process. Most coal mine methane come from underground mines. Carbon monoxide , carbon dioxide , methane , sulphur dioxide , nitrous oxides (NOx) and other greenhouse or toxic gases –as well as fly ash from vents and fissures .

11. HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATION Release of harmful trace element e.g., Cu, Pb, Cd etc. leads to the contamination of surface water. Underground water is also contaminated due to seepage and infiltration of leached drainage. Elevated levels of cyanide and nitrogen compounds (ammonia, nitrate, nitrite) can also be found in waters at mine sites, from heap leaching and blasting.

12. EROSION AND SEDIMENTATION Mineral development, disturbs soil and rock in the course of constructing and maintaining roads, open pits, and waste impoundments. Loss of landscape and beauty of surrounding. Excessive sediment can clog riverbeds and smother watershed vegetation, wildlife habitat and aquatic organisms.

13. MINING POLLUTION Effects of mining on humans Respiratory complications Studies indicate that mining is one of the most perilous occupation in the world in terms of injuries and fatalities, and also due to the long term health effects associated with it. Long term effects include respiratory problems such as black lungs, asbestosis, and silicosis. Due to blasting and drilling, the fine mineral particles of dust are inhaled and accumulate in the lung causing pneumoconiosis. And when miner inhales excessive amounts of quartz or crystalline silica, he or she is likely to suffer an irreversible disease called the silicosis of mining on humans.

14. MINING POLLUTION Injuries and fatalities In 2006, a coal mine accident in China collapsed and caused the death of more than 4,700 people. Such accidents have been recorded in many mining sites across the world. There are reports of people injured by the rails that transport them to and from the ground. Others have had rocks collapsing on them as they mine. Plus, some mining activities are associated with a lot of heavy lifting and shoveling which can cause back injuries. Cancers due to radioactive material exposure People in industries that mine radioactive elements or in fields that generate hazardous gases such as Radon are in danger of having terminal diseases, especially cancers. Also, people living in these regions will be affected by radioactive material.

15. MINING POLLUTION BLACK LUNGS Black lung, also called Black-lung Disease, or Coal-workers disease, respiratory disorder, a type of disease caused by repeated inhalation of coal dust over a period of years. The disease is most commonly found among miners of hard coal, but it also occurs in soft-coal miners and graphite workers

16. MINING POLLUTION Poisoning and organ damage due to heavy metals exposure Mining activities ordinarily generate high concentrations of metals and metalloids. When these metals leach they can reach the groundwater and surface water and find a way into the food chain and even climb up the food chain through bioaccumulation. If a metal such as mercury is ingested it can lead to poisoning, organ damage, and even death in high concentrations.

17. MINING POLLUTION

18. OTHER EFFECTS Deforestation Wastage of land, as it does not remains suitable for industrial use nor for agricultural purposes. Loss of flora and fauna. Degradation of soil quality and fertility. Land subsidence and slope failure

19. SOCIAL IMPACTS OF MINING Human displacement and resettlement. Impacts on migration. Impacts on livelihoods. Lost access to clean water. Impacts on public health.

20. CONCLUSION Unregulated mining has the potential to release harmful substances into the soil, air, and water. Protecting the environment and human health is the prevention method. Water management and treatment. Reduction of acid rock drainage. If no action is taken to remediate the many environmental problems inherent to modern mining, the end cost for governments and communities would be devastating.