The world has blessed us with tons of entertainment selections from playing your favorite Roblox music IDs, launching your music streaming service, watching on Netflix, and whatnot. However, to make this possible, we need the hardware to produce the devices and/or appliances. This then results to the excessive mining. With the constant abuse to our environment, it forms various problems we encounter nowadays. This includes but not limited to:
- Formation of sinkholes
- Erosion
- Soil contamination
- Loss of biodiversity
- Surface water and groundwater by chemicals from mining processes
There are some instances in which forest logging is performed within mining vicinity to be able to create provisions for storage of soil and created debris. The contamination sooner or later results from chemical leakage that may possibly impact the overall health of people living locally.
The Consequences
If this action is not controlled or regulated, it subjects the said area to pollutions related to mining activities like coal fires. Mind you, this could last for several years or worse, decades. Eventually, it’ll produce huge damage to the environment.
In fact, a lot of mining companies in many countries are mandated to stick to strict rehabilitation and environmental codes to be able to lower environmental impact. As mentioned, it can affect human health too. These regulations and codes need common steps of the development of environmental management plans, environmental impact evaluation, planning of mine closure as well as environmental monitoring throughout operation and after its closure.
Mine Waste
Ore mills are generating a massive amount of waste which is otherwise referred to as tailings. For instance, there are approximately 99 tons of waste being generated for every ton of copper. Ratios are even higher when mining gold. These tailings are toxic as it normally produces slurry, which are frequently dumped into ponds.
Such ponds are then secured by impoundments either embankment dams or dams. Back in 2000, roughly 3,500 tailings have been impounded and that every year, about 2 to 5 serious failures and 35 minor failures are reported.
Mining Industry Fighting for its Right
The mining industry argued that STD or Submarine Tailings Disposal, which practically dumps tailings in sea, is recommended due to the reason that it helps avoid risks of tailing the ponds. Although this practice is considered illegal in Canada and US, still it’s a practice commonly used by developing countries.