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5.9 Impacts of Mining

2 min readjanuary 4, 2023

M

Mark Little

M

Mark Little

Mining is the extraction or removal of minerals or material that is considered to be valuable and useful. Mining is essential for things like electricity and infrastructure, but can be ecologically damaging and expensive.

Techniques 

There are several different techniques that can be used in mining, depending on the type of minerals being extracted and the location of the deposit. Here are a few examples of mining techniques:

  • : This technique involves removing the surface layer of the earth, called the overburden, to access buried minerals. Used for things like gold or copper, it is a lot less invasive and a lot less expensive than deeper mining operations.

  • : This technique involves accessing minerals that are buried deep underground. can be done using various techniques and can be more expensive and more complex than .

  • : This technique is used to extract minerals, such as gold and copper, from ore that has been mined and piled in a heap. Using a chemical solution, the minerals are extracted from the pile.

  • : This technique is similar to , but it is used for extracting coal and other minerals from seams that are close to the surface. involves removing the overburden and then extracting the minerals in strips.

Open Pit Mining

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/Chino_copper_mine.jpg

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia

Strip Mining Coal

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/Coal_mine_Wyoming.jpg

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia

Mountain Top Removal

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/Mountaintop_removal_mine_in_Pike_County%2C_Kentucky.jpg/800px-Mountaintop_removal_mine_in_Pike_County%2C_Kentucky.jpg

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia

Underground Coal Mine

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/New_Pinghsi_Coal_Tunnel.JPG/800px-New_Pinghsi_Coal_Tunnel.JPG

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia

Mining Waste

Mining waste refers to the materials that are generated as a result of mining activities. These materials can include overburden, tailings/slag, and . Overburden is the layer of earth and rock that is removed to access the minerals being mined. Tailings are the materials that are left over after the minerals have been extracted from the ore. is the rock that is removed to access the minerals but holds no value and thus is not processed.

Effects on the environment and human health are often negative. Tailings and , for example, contain toxic substances like that can leach into soil or water. Storing waste from mining causes land to degrade and the natural landscape to decline in health and quality. Coal mining, for example, contaminates water supplies and destroys natural habitats by its excessive production of dust and methane. Tailings can also include more dangerous elements like or . Since we are running out of coal, mining operations are forced to move deeper and deeper. This is both expensive and hazardous to the workers in the mines.

🎥 Watch: AP Environmental Science Streams

Key Terms to Review (8)

Arsenic

: Arsenic is a toxic chemical element that occurs naturally in the Earth's crust and can contaminate water sources. It poses serious health risks when ingested or inhaled.

Heap leaching

: Heap leaching is an extraction process used primarily for recovering valuable metals from low-grade ores. It involves piling crushed ore onto a heap and then using a chemical solution to dissolve the desired metals, which are later collected for further processing.

Heavy Metals

: Heavy metals are metallic elements with high atomic weights that have toxic properties and can accumulate in the environment. Examples include lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic. These metals can enter ecosystems through various human activities and pose risks to both environmental and human health.

Mercury

: Mercury is a heavy metal that is naturally occurring but can also be released into the environment through human activities such as burning fossil fuels, mining, and waste incineration. It is highly toxic and can accumulate in organisms, leading to serious health effects.

Open-pit mining

: Open-pit mining is a method of extracting minerals or ores from the Earth's surface by removing layers of soil and rock. It involves digging a large open pit or excavation, which allows for easy access to the desired resource.

Strip mining

: Strip mining is a method of extracting minerals or resources from the Earth's surface by removing layers of soil and rock. It involves the removal of large amounts of overburden (topsoil and vegetation) to access the desired mineral deposits.

Underground mining

: Underground mining is a method used to extract minerals or ores from beneath the Earth's surface. It involves creating tunnels and shafts to access underground deposits, where miners can extract resources using various techniques.

Waste rock

: Waste rock refers to the material that is removed during mining operations and does not contain valuable minerals. It is often piled up near mines and can release harmful substances into the environment.

5.9 Impacts of Mining

2 min readjanuary 4, 2023

M

Mark Little

M

Mark Little

Mining is the extraction or removal of minerals or material that is considered to be valuable and useful. Mining is essential for things like electricity and infrastructure, but can be ecologically damaging and expensive.

Techniques 

There are several different techniques that can be used in mining, depending on the type of minerals being extracted and the location of the deposit. Here are a few examples of mining techniques:

  • : This technique involves removing the surface layer of the earth, called the overburden, to access buried minerals. Used for things like gold or copper, it is a lot less invasive and a lot less expensive than deeper mining operations.

  • : This technique involves accessing minerals that are buried deep underground. can be done using various techniques and can be more expensive and more complex than .

  • : This technique is used to extract minerals, such as gold and copper, from ore that has been mined and piled in a heap. Using a chemical solution, the minerals are extracted from the pile.

  • : This technique is similar to , but it is used for extracting coal and other minerals from seams that are close to the surface. involves removing the overburden and then extracting the minerals in strips.

Open Pit Mining

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/Chino_copper_mine.jpg

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia

Strip Mining Coal

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/Coal_mine_Wyoming.jpg

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia

Mountain Top Removal

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/Mountaintop_removal_mine_in_Pike_County%2C_Kentucky.jpg/800px-Mountaintop_removal_mine_in_Pike_County%2C_Kentucky.jpg

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia

Underground Coal Mine

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/New_Pinghsi_Coal_Tunnel.JPG/800px-New_Pinghsi_Coal_Tunnel.JPG

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia

Mining Waste

Mining waste refers to the materials that are generated as a result of mining activities. These materials can include overburden, tailings/slag, and . Overburden is the layer of earth and rock that is removed to access the minerals being mined. Tailings are the materials that are left over after the minerals have been extracted from the ore. is the rock that is removed to access the minerals but holds no value and thus is not processed.

Effects on the environment and human health are often negative. Tailings and , for example, contain toxic substances like that can leach into soil or water. Storing waste from mining causes land to degrade and the natural landscape to decline in health and quality. Coal mining, for example, contaminates water supplies and destroys natural habitats by its excessive production of dust and methane. Tailings can also include more dangerous elements like or . Since we are running out of coal, mining operations are forced to move deeper and deeper. This is both expensive and hazardous to the workers in the mines.

🎥 Watch: AP Environmental Science Streams

Key Terms to Review (8)

Arsenic

: Arsenic is a toxic chemical element that occurs naturally in the Earth's crust and can contaminate water sources. It poses serious health risks when ingested or inhaled.

Heap leaching

: Heap leaching is an extraction process used primarily for recovering valuable metals from low-grade ores. It involves piling crushed ore onto a heap and then using a chemical solution to dissolve the desired metals, which are later collected for further processing.

Heavy Metals

: Heavy metals are metallic elements with high atomic weights that have toxic properties and can accumulate in the environment. Examples include lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic. These metals can enter ecosystems through various human activities and pose risks to both environmental and human health.

Mercury

: Mercury is a heavy metal that is naturally occurring but can also be released into the environment through human activities such as burning fossil fuels, mining, and waste incineration. It is highly toxic and can accumulate in organisms, leading to serious health effects.

Open-pit mining

: Open-pit mining is a method of extracting minerals or ores from the Earth's surface by removing layers of soil and rock. It involves digging a large open pit or excavation, which allows for easy access to the desired resource.

Strip mining

: Strip mining is a method of extracting minerals or resources from the Earth's surface by removing layers of soil and rock. It involves the removal of large amounts of overburden (topsoil and vegetation) to access the desired mineral deposits.

Underground mining

: Underground mining is a method used to extract minerals or ores from beneath the Earth's surface. It involves creating tunnels and shafts to access underground deposits, where miners can extract resources using various techniques.

Waste rock

: Waste rock refers to the material that is removed during mining operations and does not contain valuable minerals. It is often piled up near mines and can release harmful substances into the environment.


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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.