h

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

2. INTRODUCTION
SURFACE MINING
UNDERGROUND MINING
IMPACTS OF MINING ON
ENVIRONMENT
ACID MINE DRAINAGE
IMPACTS ON AIR QUALITY
HEAVY METAL
CONTAMINATIONEROSION AND
SEDIMENTATION
IMPACTS ON HUMANS
OTHER EFFECTS
SOCIAL IMPACTS
CONCLUSION

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,

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

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

8. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF
MINING
Acid mine
drainage
Impacts on air
quality
Heavy metal
contamination
Erosion and
endangered
species habitat

9. ACID DRAINANGE
Outflow of acidic water from metal mines
or coal mines.
This toxic water leaks out of abandoned
mines to contaminate groundwater,
streams, soil, plants, animals and
humans.
As a result an orange color can blanket
the river, sea and kill aquatic life and
making surface water unusable as
drinking water.

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

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.

18. MINING POLLUTION

19. 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

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

21. 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.