1. Mining – Environmental Impacts

2. There are environmental concerns with mining:
Erosion, deforestation and acid mine drainage can be a problem during extraction.
1. Erosion
The movement of soil and rock due to wind and water . Erosion may cause significant loading of sediments or chemical pollutants to nearby
water bodies and contaminate the existing soil.

3. 2. Deforestation
The clearing of trees and forest for non-forest use that affects wildlife, birds, insects

4. Before mining
Image courtesy of Ensham Resources

5. After mining
Image courtesy of Ensham Resources

6. 3. Acid Mine Drainage
When sulphide minerals react with oxygen and water, sulphuric acid forms. Sulphuric acid pollutes water and harms aquatic animals

7. 4. During smelting, sulphur reacts with oxygen in the air to create sulphur dioxide gas
PbS +O2 Pb + SO2
If released into the atmosphere, sulphur dioxide will combine with water to produce acid rain

8. Once a mine has been exhausted of all its resources, the area is reclaimed
Mine Reclamation: transforming mined land into useful landscapes in order to restore the ecosystem
Waste piles are flattened to reduce erosion
Vegetation is planted to reduce erosion
Sulphides are covered in clay so they are not exposed to water or oxygen
Open pits are surrounded by fences
Tailings ponds are left to evaporate and then are covered with other rocks
Introduce Townsville Mine Project. Have students brainstorm one “character” for the town and put onto a cue card. List name, occupation, interests and concerns. Cards will be handed out to students on the day of the presentation. Students will ask questions at the end of the proposal as their specific character.