10.4 Environmental Sustainability
271
Water usage at mining sites is one area that must be addressed. Water is used for
a number of purposes during mining operations. Through a diversion of both surface
water and the pumping of groundwater supplies, mining can reduce both water
quality and quantity at downstream sites for aquatic ecosystems, especially in arid
climate areas. Mining operations can implement a number of water conservation
practices to reduce their overall water use. Canada reduced mining water intake by
33% simply by implementing a new innovative system (Asif and Chen 2016).
The process of mining and metal processing can also be very energy demanding.
Fossil fuels, such as diesel, are used by excavators and trucks during the mining
process and electricity is used to grind ore deposits. This intensive energy usage
is further exacerbated by the indirect consequences of fossil fuel extraction and
infrastructure construction that is required for these processes. Again, innovative
processes can be implemented to reduce these energy demands, such as the Alcoa’s
RopeCon transport system in Jamaica. This generates electricity, while transporting
mined ore downhill from the mine site to the rail transport station. Through
investigation of renewable energy sources that reduce mining reliance on traditional
fossil fuel sources, such as solar power and wind turbines, much of the energy that
a mining operation needs can be satisfied by on-site energy production.
Land disruption is also a substantial problem incurred through mining activities.
The local area is disturbed at every state of the mining cycle, through exploration,
construction, and the operation itself, all the way to closure and post-closure of the
mine. Vegetation is cleared to allow space for the construction of roads, powerlines,
and buildings, as well as tunnels and pits dug for ore access. This can lead to severe
deforestation and habitat loss.
To address this issue, future mining operations could reduce their land use
impacts, by designing more efficient mining sites that minimize their overall size
and minimize waste production. Additionally, this can be supplemented by better
storage management and an effort to maintain local biodiversity. This can be
achieved by better planning of mines around pre-existing infrastructure, or through
culturing and/or transplanting any endangered life found on site. Technological
advancements may also help in this endeavor, where research into areas such as
biomining, which utilizes microorganisms in the recovery of metals, also offers the
possibility of mining with minimal disruption to land.
Waste management, as mentioned, is also key to increasing environmental
sustainability. Mining waste includes mine water, air particles, and solid waste,
which can vary drastically in their potential for environmental contamination.
Waste management plans must be selected and designed that are tailored for
each individual mining location, depending on the mined material. This means
appropriate storage facilities that contain the large volume of waste produced at
each individual mining site. Generally, by preventing pollution, we provide a more
effective and economic way of reducing mining environmental impacts, rather than
cleaning it up later and leaving an environmental degradation legacy for our future
generations.
Following the cessation of a mining operation, environmental impact can be
further minimized by facilitating environmental function restoration. Given that
271
Water usage at mining sites is one area that must be addressed. Water is used for
a number of purposes during mining operations. Through a diversion of both surface
water and the pumping of groundwater supplies, mining can reduce both water
quality and quantity at downstream sites for aquatic ecosystems, especially in arid
climate areas. Mining operations can implement a number of water conservation
practices to reduce their overall water use. Canada reduced mining water intake by
33% simply by implementing a new innovative system (Asif and Chen 2016).
The process of mining and metal processing can also be very energy demanding.
Fossil fuels, such as diesel, are used by excavators and trucks during the mining
process and electricity is used to grind ore deposits. This intensive energy usage
is further exacerbated by the indirect consequences of fossil fuel extraction and
infrastructure construction that is required for these processes. Again, innovative
processes can be implemented to reduce these energy demands, such as the Alcoa’s
RopeCon transport system in Jamaica. This generates electricity, while transporting
mined ore downhill from the mine site to the rail transport station. Through
investigation of renewable energy sources that reduce mining reliance on traditional
fossil fuel sources, such as solar power and wind turbines, much of the energy that
a mining operation needs can be satisfied by on-site energy production.
Land disruption is also a substantial problem incurred through mining activities.
The local area is disturbed at every state of the mining cycle, through exploration,
construction, and the operation itself, all the way to closure and post-closure of the
mine. Vegetation is cleared to allow space for the construction of roads, powerlines,
and buildings, as well as tunnels and pits dug for ore access. This can lead to severe
deforestation and habitat loss.
To address this issue, future mining operations could reduce their land use
impacts, by designing more efficient mining sites that minimize their overall size
and minimize waste production. Additionally, this can be supplemented by better
storage management and an effort to maintain local biodiversity. This can be
achieved by better planning of mines around pre-existing infrastructure, or through
culturing and/or transplanting any endangered life found on site. Technological
advancements may also help in this endeavor, where research into areas such as
biomining, which utilizes microorganisms in the recovery of metals, also offers the
possibility of mining with minimal disruption to land.
Waste management, as mentioned, is also key to increasing environmental
sustainability. Mining waste includes mine water, air particles, and solid waste,
which can vary drastically in their potential for environmental contamination.
Waste management plans must be selected and designed that are tailored for
each individual mining location, depending on the mined material. This means
appropriate storage facilities that contain the large volume of waste produced at
each individual mining site. Generally, by preventing pollution, we provide a more
effective and economic way of reducing mining environmental impacts, rather than
cleaning it up later and leaving an environmental degradation legacy for our future
generations.
Following the cessation of a mining operation, environmental impact can be
further minimized by facilitating environmental function restoration. Given that