Question

Q)You are working in a mining industry and your higher official asked you to submit a report on environmental impacts due to extraction of mineral resources. Write any six impacts during extraction of minerals and processing of minerals?

Answer 1

The environmental impacts of extraction and processing of minerals are larger than life. They include-

1. impact on the atmosphere from the emissions of carbon which have effect on the quality of human health and biodiversity.
2. Erosion of exposed hillsides, mine dumps, tailings dams and resultant siltation of drainages, creeks and rivers can significantly impact the surrounding areas.
3. In wilderness areas mining may cause destruction of ecosystems and habitats, and in areas of farming it may disturb or destroy productive grazing and croplands.
4. A sinkhole at or near a mine site is typically caused from the failure of a mine roof from the extraction of resources, weak overburden or geological discontinuities.
5. Mining can have harmful effects on surrounding surface and groundwater. If proper precautions are not taken, unnaturally high concentrations of chemicals, such as arsenic, sulfuric acid, and mercury over a significant area of surface or subsurface water.
6. Destruction of the habitat is the main component of biodiversity losses, but direct poisoning caused by mine-extracted material, and indirect poisoning through food and water, can also affect animals, vegetation and microorganisms. Habitat modification such as pH and temperature modification disturb communities in the surrounding area.