Environmental Problems Related To Mining

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS RELATED TO MINING

Without mining we would have no cars and no computers or washing machines, but mining can also bring big environmental problems.

  • Huge amounts of rock are dug up to get small amounts of ore. For example, 1,000 tonnes of rock may produce just 5 tonnes of copper. This leaves huge scars on the landscape (if it’s surface mining) or huge holes under ground.

  • Holes from underground mining cause land to sink or subside. This is happening around the salt beds in Cheshire. The result is serve damage to buildings.
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  • Unwanted rock material gets heaped up in tips. These are unsightly. They can be unsuitable and therefore dangerous.

  • Waste material gets washed in to streams and rivers. The sediment that builds up chokes rivers and alters their routes.

  • Everything for miles around may get covered with dust.

  • Poisonous compounds (for example lead, cadmium, and arsenic) are found in many ores. These can get washed into the soil and streams from mining processes. They can kill fish and plant life and can end up in your food.

  • Governments are getting even ...

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