1. What are the environmental implications?
Mining Process
What are the environmental implications?

2. What is an Ore? Definition – a rock that contains a large
enough concentration of a particular mineral
– often a metal – that the rock can be mined
and processed to extract the desired mineral
Example:
Bauxite – Aluminum
High vs. Low Grade

3. Removing Mineral Deposits
Two Types:
Subsurface Mining
Expensive
Dangerous
Lower Environmental Impact
Surface
Cost Effective
Safe
High Environmental Impact

4. Mining For Minerals and Coal Extraction
Subsurface:
Mine Shafts
Room-and-Pillar
Longwall Mining
Surface:
Open Pit
Strip Mining
Contour Strip Mining
Mountain Top Removal

5. Open Pit Mining
Open Pit Mine

7. Area Strip Mining
Area Strip Mining

9. Contour Strip Mining
Contour Strip Mining

10. Open Pit Copper Mine

12. Mining Impacts Disruption of land surface Habitat Fragmentation
Subsidence
Toxic-laced mining wastes – Gangue/Tailings

13. Acid Mine Drainage Acidification of: Increased Solubility of Metals:
Soil
Groundwater
Surface water
Increased Solubility of Metals:
Aluminum
Mercury
Decreased Plant Growth/Animal Distribution

14. Processing Smelting: Cyanide Heap Leaching Releases Air Pollution
Sulfur Dioxide
Suspended particles
Cyanide Heap Leaching

15. Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act - 1977
Requires mining companies to restore most surface mined land
Reclamation Process:
1) Recontouring/Regrading
2) Replacing topsoil/nutrients
3) Replanting native/fast growing vegetation
4) Monitoring for 5-10 years

16. Specific To Coal Cover Tailings to prevent leaching
Sedimentation Ponds/Retention Basins/Catchments
Bioremediation
Liming/Calcium Carbonate Buffers