Why is strip mining destructive?
This is because by definition the process of strip mining involves striping away trees, plants and topsoil so that the coal can be accessed underneath. This means that surface mining destroys mountain tops, landscapes, forests and wildlife habitats.
What is a major concern with strip mining?
The dust and debris may contain harmful substances such as sulfur. The sulfur can corrode structures and is hazardous to human health. In addition to ejecting debris surface mines also causes a lot of surface runoff which can contain large amounts of contaminates and move them to streams, rivers, ponds and lakes.
How are animals and plants affected by strip mining?
Strip mining, as it removes enormous quantities of vegetation and frequently dumps it, along with topsoil and rock, into streams and rivers and sometimes threatens endangered species of land and aquatic animals in areas that have been designated “hot spots for rarity and richness” (NatureServe).
How can mines damage the environment?
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 the environmental impact of strip mining quizlet?
According to strip-mining opponents, it is impossible to put back a mountain once it is torn down. Runoff and erosion are also grave problems associated with strip-mining. People are often negatively affected as well.
How does strip mining affect humans?
Living in heavily mined areas increases the risk of lung cancer and respiratory disease. Levels of exposure to pollution are highest in areas with the most mountaintop removal. Scientists found a direct link between dust from mountaintop removal and lung cancer.
How Does mining pollute the air?
Mining Adds Harmful Pollution to Our Air: There are two main sources of air pollution during the coal production process: methane emissions from the mines, which contribute to global warming pollution, and particulate matter (PM) emissions, which can cause significant respiratory damage as well as premature death.
What will happen to an abandoned strip mine over time?
An abandoned strip mine will partially recover over time. Without human intervention, however, its recovery will be minimal.
How does strip mining of coal adversely affect the environment quizlet?
According to strip-mining opponents, it is impossible to put back a mountain once it is torn down. Runoff and erosion are also grave problems associated with strip-mining. People are often negatively affected as well.
What is the biggest environmental risk of mining quizlet?
Mining causes disturbed lands, oil spills and blowouts, and mine waste dumping. Processing produces solid wastes, pollutes the air, water, and soil, and produces radioactive material, using this causes thermal water pollution, solid and radioactive wastes, and health hazards.
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.
What are two kinds of pollution caused by mining?
The chemicals released from mining activities cause contamination of soil, groundwater, surface water. Dust from mining causes air pollution. Mining activities cause noise pollution too. In this way, mining practices cause air, water, soil and noise pollution.
How does mining affect animals?
And here are just a few other “side effects” of mining on public lands in the West: cyanide spills; wildlife habitat destruction and fish kills caused by poisoned waters; and water pollution caused by acid mine drainage, which leaches potentially toxic heavy metals like lead, copper, and zinc from rocks.
Which type of mining is likely the least harmful to the environment?
Subsurface mines have less permanent damage to the environment, although they still produce many byproducts that are introduced into the environment. Placer mining can be less damaging to the environment than surface mines, as the sediment is returned to the water after the minerals have been extracted.
What happens to the land after mining?
In addition to physical landscape damage, mining operations create sediment containing heavy metals which settle into surrounding soil, or are carried by wind or water to contaminate rivers or other land areas. These metals aren't biodegradable so the soil stays contaminated without corrective action.
Which type of mining is associated with disturbing more land?
Hardrock mining is a large-scale industrial activity that takes place in the natural environment, potentially disturbing large amounts of material and land area. Hardrock mining generates large volumes of mining waste because of the high waste-to-product ratios associated with producing most ores.
What will most likely happen to an abandoned strip mine over time?
An abandoned strip mine will partially recover over time. Without human intervention, however, its recovery will be minimal.
What are the 6 environmental impacts of mining?
The effects can result in erosion, sinkholes, loss of biodiversity, or the contamination of soil, groundwater, and surface water by the chemicals emitted from mining processes. These processes also affect the atmosphere from the emissions of carbon which have an effect on the quality of human health and biodiversity.
How Does mining pollute water and air?
Types of Water Pollution from Mining When ore and surrounding rock are excavated during mining, the sulfides become exposed to water and air, and may form sulfuric acid. This acid in turn leaches metals and other substances from the rocks that can harm ecosystems.
How does mining affect plants?
Copper and nickel dust from mines can make soil acidic for many kilometers of land around mines. The acidic soil affects plant growth and animals.
How does strip mining affect animals?
Wildlife often suffers severely as a result of strip mining. In the short term, all species are either destroyed or displaced from the area of the mine itself. Mining also may have adverse, long-term impacts on wildlife, including impairment of its habitat or native environment.
What type of mining is most harmful to the environment?
Coal mining The environmental factors of the coal industry are not only impacting air pollution, water management and land use but also is causing severe health effects by the burning of the coal.
Which type of mining is especially harmful to the environment?
The Nation's Top Polluter According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Toxics Release Inventory, metal mining is the nation's #1 toxic polluter. Mine waste contains toxic substances like arsenic, mercury, and cadmium that are harmful to public health and fish and wildlife when released into the environment.
What kind of damage can mining create?
The effects can result in erosion, sinkholes, loss of biodiversity, or the contamination of soil, groundwater, and surface water by the chemicals emitted from mining processes. These processes also affect the atmosphere from the emissions of carbon which have an effect on the quality of human health and biodiversity.
What are the disadvantages of mining?
Disadvantages of Mining
- Mining can lead to soil pollution.
- Groundwater pollution.
- Deforestation.
- Depletion of natural resources.
- Mining implies the destruction of habitats.
- Endangerment of species.
- Loss of biodiversity.
- Landslides become more likely.
What is area strip mining?
Area Stripping extracts ore over a large, flat terrain in long strips. The overburden of rocks and soil is dropped in the previous strip so that long gaps aren't left in the earth after mining is complete. Contour mining is a version of strip mining that follows the contours of outcrops and hilly terrains.
Which type of mining is most damaging to the environment?
Sand mining and gravel mining creates large pits and fissures in the earth's surface. At times, mining can extend so deeply that it affects ground water, springs, underground wells, and the water table. The major threats of sand mining activities include channel bed degradation, river formation and erosion.
What type of mining causes the most extensive damage to habitats?
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 3 environmental problems with mining?
Mining adversely affects the environment by inducing loss of biodiversity, soil erosion, and contamination of surface water, groundwater, and soil. Mining can also trigger the formation of sinkholes.
How Does mining pollute the land?
“Mining operations routinely modify the surrounding landscape by exposing previously undisturbed earthen materials. Erosion of exposed soils, extracted mineral ores, tailings, and fine material in waste rock piles can result in substantial sediment loading to surface waters and drainage ways.