What are the cons of subsurface mining?
Subsurface mining operations don't create the visible changes in the landscape that surface mining operations do, but the conditions of subsurface mines are extremely hazardous for the working miners. The potential for accidental cave-ins, explosions, and fires is high.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of mining?
Mining is quite important to extract large amounts of precious metals and other natural resources out of the ground. However, mining also implies many serious problems….Top 10 Mining Pros & Cons – Summary List.
| Mining Pros | Mining Cons |
|---|---|
| Processes around mining are quite efficient | Mining can lead to ecological imbalance |
Is subsurface mining safer?
Surface mining is often preferred to subsurface mining by companies in the industry because it is less expensive there are fewer complications with electricity and water and it is safer. However surface mining can be more environmentally-damaging than subsurface mining.
What are the advantages of subsurface mining over strip mining?
So, the advantages of subsurface mining mainly include the following six aspects: (1) High recovery rate. (2) Low dilution rate. (3) The workload of mining is small. (4) The mining depth is large.
Is subsurface mining expensive?
Underground mining is more expensive because it's more capital intensive. Coal companies such as Arch Coal (ACI) and Alpha Natural Resource (ANR) have to drill more and use more expensive and complicated machines.
What is subsurface mining?
Definition: Mining beneath the surface of the earth.
What are the pros of mining?
Aside from supporting thousands of jobs, the mining industry provides raw materials, minerals and metals critical to our economy. They provide the foundations for modern living, innovation and engineering achievements. Take platinum, for example; it is used in more than 20 percent of all manufactured goods.
What are the advantages of surface mining?
Surface mines offer advantages and disadvantages when compared to underground mining. Amongst the advantages are that it is cheaper, can recover more of the resource (usually up to 100% within the mining excavation), is safer and can use larger-scale mining equipment offering higher production rates.
Why does subsurface mining have less of an environmental impact than surface mining?
Why does subsurface mining have less of an environmental impact than surface mining? a. Subsurface mining uses less than one-tenth as much land.
Why is subsurface mining used?
Subsurface mining is a process that involves the extraction of a metal or fossil fuel from the ground. It is the best and most well-known mining method. The subsurface mining process is helpful in the process of mining for gold, silver, lead, and even gems.
What are the negatives of mining?
Across the world, mining contributes to erosion, sinkholes, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, significant use of water resources, dammed rivers and ponded waters, wastewater disposal issues, acid mine drainage and contamination of soil, ground and surface water, all of which can lead to health issues in local …
What is a disadvantage of mining?
Here are some of the disadvantages of mining for minerals: Danger to Miners: Working in mines can be dangerous. Miners can be trapped underground if a tunnel collapses. Miners breathe dangerous gases and rock dust in the mine that can make them very sick.
Why is subsurface mining more expensive?
Underground mining is more expensive because it's more capital intensive. Coal companies such as Arch Coal (ACI) and Alpha Natural Resource (ANR) have to drill more and use more expensive and complicated machines.
What is a surface hazard resulting from subsurface mining?
What is subsidence? It is sometimes caused by subsurface mining. It occurs when the land collapses above an underground mine. This has been a problem in the upper peninsula after underground mining for iron ore stopped.
What is the positive effects of mining?
In terms of positive impacts, mining is often a source of local employment and may contribute to local and regional economies (18, 19). Remediation of the potential environmental impacts, for example through water treatment and ecological restoration, can have positive net effects on environmental systems (20).
What are 5 negative effects of mining?
Across the world, mining contributes to erosion, sinkholes, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, significant use of water resources, dammed rivers and ponded waters, wastewater disposal issues, acid mine drainage and contamination of soil, ground and surface water, all of which can lead to health issues in local …
What are advantages of underground mining?
Underground mining is practical when: The ore body is too deep to mine profitably by open pit. The grades or quality of the orebody are high enough to cover costs. Underground mining has a lower ground footprint than open pit mining.
Why is surface mining bad for the environment?
Surface mining (another name for "strip mining") can severely erode the soil or reduce its fertility; pollute waters or drain underground water reserves; scar or altar the landscape; damage roads, homes, and other structures; and destroy wildlife.
What are 2/3 environmental problems caused by underground mining?
Underground mining has the potential for tunnel collapses and land subsidence (Betournay, 2011). It involves large-scale movements of waste rock and vegetation, similar to open pit mining. Additionally, like most traditional forms of mining, underground mining can release toxic compounds into the air and water.
Which is better underground mining or surface mining?
Surface mining is suitable for large, low-grade ore deposits which occur below a thin layer of rock, or alluvial deposits found in sand and riverbeds. Underground mining is used for small, high-grade deposits covered with a thick overburden (soil and rock above the ore), or for deep and sloping deposits.