Mining!

                 

               Mining is the extraction (removal) of minerals and metals from earth.  Manganese, tantalum, cassiterite, copper, tin, nickel, bauxite (aluminum ore), iron ore, gold, silver, and diamonds are just some examples of what is mined.  

                 The environmental impact of mining includes erosion, formation of sinkholes, loss of biodiversity, and contamination of soil, groundwater and surface water by chemicals from mining processes. In some cases, additional forest logging is done in the vicinity of mines to increase the available room for the storage of the created debris and soil. Besides creating environmental damage, the contamination resulting from leakage of chemicals also affect the health of the local population. Mining companies in some countries are required to follow environmental and rehabilitation codes, ensuring the area mined is returned to close to its original state. Some mining methods may have significant environmental and public health effects.

           Erosion of exposed hillsides, mine dumps, tailings dams and resultant siltation of drainages, creeks and rivers can significantly impact the surrounding areas, a prime example being the giant Ok Tedi Mine in Papua New Guinea. In areas of wilderness mining may cause destruction and disturbance of ecosystem and habitats, and in areas of farming it may disturb or destroy productive grazing and croplands. In urbanised environments mining may produce noise pollution, dust pollution and visual pollution.

                     

Why mine?
               Mining is a money making business.  Not only do mining companies prosper, but governments also make money from revenues.  Workers also receive income and benefits. 
What are the minerals and metals used for?
               Minerals and metals are very valuable commodities.  For example, manganese is a key component of low-cost stainless steel.  It is also used to de-color glass (removing greenish hues), but in higher concentrations, it actually makes lavendar-colored glass.  Tantalum is used in cell phones, pagers, and lap-tops.  Cooper and tin are used to make pipes, cookware, etc.  And gold, silver, and diamonds are used to make jewelry. 
Large scale mining versus small scale mining:

• Large scale mining usually involves a company with many employees.  The company mines at one or two large sites and usually stays until the mineral or metal is completely excavated.  An example of a large scale mine is the Serra Pelada mine in Brazil which yielded 29,000 tons of gold from 1980 to 1986 and employed 50,000 workers (Kricher, 1997).
• Small scale mining usually involves a small group of nomadic men.  They travel together and look for sites which they think will yield gold or another valuable metal or mineral.  Small scale mining occurs in places such as Suriname, Guyana, Central Africa, and many other places around the world.  Some researchers believe that small scale mining is more harmful to the environment and causes more social problems than large scale mining.  This will become apparent later in the lesson. 

How does mining affect the environment?
             Mining is generally very destructive to the environment.  It is one of the main causes of deforestation.  In order to mine, trees and vegetation are cleared and burned.  With the ground completely bare, large scale mining operations use huge bulldozers and excavators to extract the metals and minerals from the soil.  In order to amalgamate (cluster) the extractions, they use chemicals such as cyanide, mercury, or methylmercury.  These chemicals go through tailings (pipes) and are often discharged into rivers, streams, bays, and oceans.  This pollution contaminates all living organisms within the body of water and ultimately the people who depend on the fish for their main source of protein and their economic livelihood. 
Small scale mining is equally devastating to the environment, if not more.  Groups of 5-6 men migrate from one mining site to another in search of precious metals, usually gold.  There are two types of small scale mining: land dredging and river dredging:

• Land dredging involves miners using a generator to dig a large hole in the ground.  They use a high pressure hose to expose the gold-bearing layer of sand and clay.  The gold bearing slurry is pumped into a sluice box, which collects gold particles, while mine tailings flow into either an abandoned mining pit or adjacent forest.  When the mining pits fill with water from the tailings, they become stagnant water pools.  These pools create a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other water-born insects.  Malaria and other water-born diseases increase significantly whenever open pools of water are nearby. 
• River dredging involves moving along a river on a platform or boat.  The miners use a hydrolic suction hose and suction the gravel and mud as they move along the river.  The gravel, mud, and rocks go through the tailings (pipes) and any gold fragments are collected on felt mats.  The remaining gravel, mud, and rocks go back into the river, but in a different location than where it was originally suctioned.  This creates problems for the river.  The displaced gravel and mud disrupt the natural flow of the river.  Fish and other living organisms often die and fishermen can no longer navigate in the obstructed rivers. 

How does mining affect the people?

• The people who are exposed to the toxic waste from the tailings become sick.  They develop skin rashes, headaches, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.  In fact, the symptoms of mercury poisoning are very similar to the symptoms of malaria.  Many people who can not afford to go to a doctor, or who live in a village where a doctor is not accessible, are often not treated for their illnesses.   
• If the water is contaminated, the people can not use it for bathing, cooking, or washing their clothes.
• If the man of the household is a small scale miner, he often leaves his wife and children in search of work.  This means that the wife and children must work and provide for themselves.  They must also protect themselves from thieves. 
• Theft, drugs/alcohol, prostitution, rape, and sexual abuse are unfortunately some of the effects of mining. 
• Cultural degradation also occurs in mining villages.  For example, mining often destroys sacred sites and cemetaries.  In Guyana, a special fishing event called Haiari Fishing unfortunately can not take place if the river has been dredged for gold.  Remember, the displacement of the gravel and mud obstruct the natural flow of the river.  As a result, fish and other organisms die. 

Where does mining occur?
Mining occurs in many places around the world, including the U.S.  In South America, mining is particularly active in the Amazonia region, Guyana, Suriname, and other South American countries.  In Central Africa, mining devastated a National Park called Kahuzi-Biega in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).  South Africa is also very well known for mining diamonds.  Mining also occurs in Indonesia and other S.E. Asian countries. 

                      Mining is fairly good because it creates income or simply gain a lot of money and investments, creates job. But the worst thing behind this is that there are so many factors that affects the people most especially our environment. Environmentally speaking, we should stop this if this will not create much good in every aspect of this world or just lessen it as to what their requirement suggests. We should think not only on one side but also it is pretty much better if we will consider also other aspects that would benefit from it.

                

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_issues_with_mining

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