1. Problems Associated with Mining

4. Subsidence Pillar and stall mining Cavities open up Cracking & collapse of buildings

5. Acid Mine Waste Contaminating Groundwater Mining Iron minerals Reddish-brown suspension Iron pyrite (“fools gold”) Abandoned mines Water Pumping Water Table Prolonged water contact Dissolves Sulphuric Acid Leaching Acidic Mine waste Fish Irrigation Industry Livestock Drinking water Leaching of mineral deposits Surface area Groundwater flow

6. Release of untreated mine waste into rivers Wheal Jane Tin Mine 1993 – a major spill of mine waste released serious amounts of acid waste into Falmouth Bay.

7. Collapse of Mine Waste Mine waste is disposed of near to the mine site due to its weight & amount. Aberfan, South Wales 1984 1966

8. Collapse of Mine Waste On steep slopes, overlooking the village, mine waste tipped since 1914. In 1966, tip No.7 failed killing 144 people. Heavy rainfall Tip situated on clay Spring Hydrogeology disturbed by mining

9. Emission of methane Methane is explosive, has a noxious smell and contributes to global warming.

10. Flooding of Mines Mining below water table requires pumping which causes local disruption of the water table. East Durham coalfield – 36 billion litres of water pumped from mine system each year.