Mining Impacts, Restoration, and Sustainable Management

Apuntes

→ Finally, world prices and supply and demand are crucial: High demand → higher prices → more mining is profitable. Low demand → lower prices → some mines may close. Prices can change a lot over time (as shown by copper prices), affecting whether mining is worth it. STEP 4 → Evaluate the impact on the environment and people Environmental Impacts: Extraction of rocks and minerals causes major environment damage → habitat destruction and pollution of air, water, and land. People living nearby are also affected by noise and visual pollution. Ecological Impacts: Mining leads to the loss of habitats for plants because vegetation is cleared. Surface mining removes large areas of land, causing a lot of damage. Deep mining affects smaller areas but increases damage over time due to waste. Even after restoration, ecosystems often have lower biodiversity, and some habitats may take many years to recover. Pollution: Mining creates several types of pollution: Noise pollution: Explosions and machineries, affecting animals and human health. Water pollution: Chemicals from mine waste contaminate rivers and drinking water. Chemical pollution: Toxic metals dissolve in water, harming organisms. Bioa...