What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Mining on the Environment?

Environmental Impact Of Mining

The laptop screen you are sitting in front of right now or your mobile phone that you cannot live without—each of these modern-day instruments is composed of crucial minerals like copper, lithium, silica, and germanium, and without their existence, you would not be able to access these technologies. 

But where do these minerals come from? This is where we discuss the process of mining. Mining is the extraction of earth’s natural resources, which humans cannot grow. Obtaining them is only possible by digging in the land through the process of mining. 

The importance of mining lies in its potential for economic growth and its critical role in supplying resources for various industries such as construction, automotive, and electrical. These industries open new gateways for job opportunities in the national sector and promote international trade by creating technological innovations and solely exporting these raw materials. 

However, the ongoing debate about the environmental consequences of mining versus its economic benefits cannot be ignored. Whereas mining gives us access to the gifts of nature stored in land, its environmental impacts are far more negative than discussed. The depletion of natural resources, destruction of land, and emission of toxic gases are some major concerns.

This article explores the Environmental impact of mining, whether positive or negative, and discusses how Sustainable mining practices can restore ecosystems and mitigate damage. 

Advantages of Mining:

While the argument regarding Advantages and disadvantages of mining continues, let’s take a look at some of the Mining benefits.

Economic Growth and Job Creation

Mining plays a significant role in economy particularly in developing nations, by creating jobs and generating revenue. Many countries are blessed with the treasure of underlying minerals and they can attract investors and get shares for this and contribute to income many income sources.

Countries that rely on mining as a key sector for economic stability include:

• Chile: Approximately on third of their income is dependent on copper exports. The mining industry has contributed to 14 % of Chiles GDP and more than thousands of job opportunities have been given. 
• South Africa: has also access to Mining benefits as it exports chrome, diamond, gold and platinum. The mining industry has contributed billions to the countries GDP and offered job opportunities for people in the mining sector. 
• Australia: is another country that has enjoyed the mining benefits through its irone, bauxite, gold zinc nickel and many other significant metals.

Moreover, the australian government has also offered 23 billion australian dollars to its mining industry, to move towards Sustainable mining practices , by extracting critical minerals and investing them in the creation of renewable equipments such as electric cards that promote a more greener future. 

Source of Critical Resources

Mining is also important for the supply of essential natural materials that foster the growth of various industries in internationally. Throughout the construction, energy and technology each mineral like copper gold and lithium is crucial for creating technological innovations. 

Moreover, the idea of a sustainable future is also supported by these minerals. Although, these minerals are non- renewable resources but extracting them serves as a great opportunity for construction of technologies that can be combined with renewable energy sources and make earth a better place for living. 

• As we all know that copper is known for its great electric conductivity, so extracting copper and creating electric cars from its can serve as one the the great Mining benefits for environment, as the more we will use electric cars, more are the chances are of saving our planet from harmful green house gases as electric cards guarantee very minimal emissions of air pollutants. 

• Another essential metal, lithium, depositing lithium from mining can assist in the formation of lithium batteries that are essential for running electric cars and other technological advancements used in the renewable energy sector. 

Technological Advancements in Sustainable Mining

Although the Mining environmental challenges are deteriorating the land states, effecting the biodiversity and causing major climate changes but some of the technological advancements in sustainable mining practices can assist us to get a positive Environmental impact of mining. 

Let’s take a look at those

• Remote monitoring: The recent mining practices use remote monitoring systems to optimize the effectiveness and minimze human involvement during the mining. Automated machinery and robotic technologies can meticulously carry out this procedure without any errors and reduced chances of impacting the eco systems. 

• Water Conservation Techniques: The use of water is extensively required during the mining procedures such as maintaining the temperature of machinery, sorting minerals and managing dust. In some countries with water shortage, this can create problems such as water scarcity. However, water conservation techniques ensure that the water used is not wasted and re-used through closed loop water systems and also integrating smart data solutions that track and promote efficient water handling practices. 

• Reduced Energy: Mining industries are now understanding the Ecological impact of mining, and making full use of renewable energy sources such as sun, wind and hydroelectric energy, ensuring that their operations are not contributing to carbon emissions.

Case study

Sustainable mining practices by companies using advanced technology to minimize impact.

Rio tinto, a british- australian mining industry, is using advanced technology in several ways to tackle the Mining environmental challenges. These include, the arrangement of autonomous trucks as their goal is to reach net zero throughout their operations.

Newmont Mining, a gold mining industry uses technological advancements to enhance safety and reduce the Ecological impact of mining. With the addition of smart sensors and predictive analysis, Newmont Mining uses artificial intelligence to analayze data and identify digging spots filled with minerals and avoiding chances of unccessary land destruction. 

Disadvantages of Mining

When talking about the Ecological impact of mining, the environmental harm its causes can not be ignored.

Environmental Degradation

The most common Mining environmental effects include Deforsation, as these operations need large places full of soild however, the soil is responsible for plant growth and serves as a habitat for numerous species. Deforestation has caused the wild life to suffer and even the amazon rain forest is now at the risk of deforestation. 

Soil erosion: Mining also contributes to the damaging of soil layer, leading to depletion of the nutrient rich soil and effecting the fertility of land. 

Biodiversity loss: Nature is the the home to many species, especially regions like arctic where mining puts the lives of numerous species at risk.

Water Pollution and Resource Depletion

Here is  how mining activities contaminate water sources through acid mine drainage and heavy metal leaching.

Acid mine drainage, the situation where acids leak out from mines and react with oxygen enter the clean water as a more toxic substance, mainly the sulphuric acid that contaminates water with heavy metals. 

This heavy metal leaching can cause dangers to the aquatic animals and polluting the water that communities utilize for every day chores, eventually causing health issues. 

Air Pollution and Health Hazards

The dust released while processing and handling the raw materials produce excessive amounts of dust  and particulate matter from mining operations contribute to air pollution and respiratory diseases among local populations and specially put the mining workers at a serious risk of lung toxicities. 

The release of toxic gases like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from mining hold a very broad impact on climate change by increasing the chance of acid rain, that effects biodiveristy, damages plants, ruins buildings and worsens the aquatic environment for living creatures. Overall, every living being and environment gets destroyed due to it. 

Waste Generation and Land Degradation

Mining generates large amounts of waste products, also known as tailing. Insufficient waste management leads to toxicity across environment leading to the destruction of ecosystems and land degradation.

The vast amount of land degradation makes it nearly impossible to make the land habitable again neither for humans nor for humans. Moreover, the terrain disruption is so excessive, that there remains no chance of farming activities, affecting the economies as well. 

Tailing dam failures such as the Brumadinho dam collapse that occurred in 2019 and the Samarco disaster from 2015, have had catastrophic environmental impacts such as killing hundreds of lives, and enormous environmental destruction including the forests and rivers. 

Sustainable Mining Practices

As the world moves towards sustainable initiatives, the mining industry also needs to minimize the Ecological impact of mining, here is how: 

Reducing Environmental Impact through Rehabilitation

The Environmental impact of mining includes the destruction of dwelling places, water pollution through the pillage of oil and other toxic substances, and severe effects on the air quality. Almost every aspect of nature gets jeopardized due to Mining activities. 

However, rehabilitating mining sites after operations can help restore ecosystems and mitigate damage. Rehabilitation includes

• Conserving the water used and returning the soil back to its original quality.
• Rebuilding the plants, by providing them with nutrients.
• Allowing species to settle back in their habitats by improving the quality of life.

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Case study

Successful examples of land reclamation and ecological restoration post-mining.

Newmont is one of the greatest examples of land reclamation and ecological restoration post-mining. Newmont has changed the majority of its deconstructed sites into nutrient-rich land, reconstructing it for agricultural practices. The company has also ensured that its land closures properly maintain the structures and that any water flow from mining activities does not harm aquatic life and other water users. 

Implementing Circular Economy in Mining

To tackle the Mining environmental challenges, a great way is to implement a circular economy that emphasizes the need to recycle and reuse existing materials, eliminating the need to extract new materials and avoiding the hazardous Ecological impact of mining. 

Some of the common metals that can be easily recycled include aluminum, copper, brass, steel, and iron. In this way, we can prevent waste degradation, and landfills, create job opportunities in the mining sector, and reduce the emission of greenhouse gasses. 

For example, recycling aluminum saves up to 95% energy and copper uses 90% less energy. 

Automotive industries use recycled metals such as aluminum in the creation of their cars and instead of throwing away old parts, they ensure waste management by fixing them in their various projects. 

Global Regulations and Policies

The Mining environmental effects are being discussed at international levels, and to handle its social, environmental, and economic outcomes regulations and policies are been made. 

International Efforts to Minimize Mining’s Environmental Impact

Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI): The ETI gatherers data from countries regarding their oil, minerals, and gas extracts. The ETI monitors the revenues generated and how the public gets advantages from these projects. By doing so, the ETI promotes transparency between the countries and its policies and ensures the management of raw materials. 

Environmental impact assessments (EIAs): The EIAs carry out a predictive analysis regarding the Environmental impact of mining, allowing project holders to execute risk-free plans. The EIA ensures that the plans are cost-effective, socially fair, and ecologically sustainable. 

Conclusion

When discussing the Advantages and disadvantages of mining, we explore its dual role as both an economic driver by providing significant metals necessary for the technological, construction, and energy industries but also get to see the significant Environmental impact of mining due to its water footprint, tailings full of hazardous substances, and greenhouse gas emissions from the land for mining.

However, it is crucial to keep a balance between resource extraction with environmental preservation. and tackle the Mining environmental challenges by developing and adhering to sustainable mining practices.

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