Mining & The Environment
Karanveer Sahota
W E L C O M E !
Hi there! Bonjour! Hola! Kon'nichiwa! Greetings to all. Welcome to this website! Here you will have easy access to information about mining, the impact mining has on the world, real footage of mining as well as some interesting and fascinating facts, hope you enjoy!
What is Mining?
Mining is the removal of natural rocks and minerals from the Earth. Mining provides many things including manganese, tantalum, copper, tin, nickel, bauxite, iron, gold, silver, and diamonds, metals, coal, oil, gemstones, limestone, potash, gravel, and clay are just some examples of things that are mined.
Mining has been around for many years. Mining can go back to ancient civilizations in Europe and Africa. Mining is known as the extraction of the Earth, since humans destroy the environment while mining, the land and underground gets ruined forever. The environment is destroyed before mining, during mining and after mining is complete. Mining is done in many ways, some types of mining include surface mining, underground mining, highwall mining, strip mining, mountaintop removal, dredging and many more.
15th Century African Mining Art
12th Century Mining Tunel, Germany
Salt Mine 1700s
Why does mining happen?
Mining is caused by the needs of humans. Mining is needed for things which people cannot grow above land. Metals and coal for example need to be mined because they cannot be grown through human methods or be created by hand and machines. Mining is also needed for daily life, the extraction of all these non-renewable resources like petroleum and gas is needed to motor our vehicles like cars, buses and even planes. Without the need of all the extraction mining would not be needed in this world.
Quick Fact!
Michigan Miners, 1905
High End Profits=More Mining
Canadian Coal Miners, 2013
What will happen if nothing changes?
If mining continues, the environment will be affected with a large negative impact. Environmental damage done by mining includes development of sinkholes, contamination of soil, groundwater, surface water, destruction of forests habitats as well as the destruction of wild living animals, insects and both land and underwater organisms. Mining also has a great impact on air pollution and global warming. Not only does deforestation affect the many ecosystems but also affects civilization around the mining area. For example, many chemicals are leaked into rivers and lakes which connect to nearby towns. These contaminated lakes do not only cause species to migrate to other places but also cause other ecosystems to get new alien organism in their habitat therefore, unbalancing the food chains.
Forest Destruction
Contaminated Water by Acid Mine Drainage
Sink Hole
Another way water pollution affects animals is that it causes species to grow unnaturally, meaning many animals consuming the soiled water would get unhealthy side effects. Many eggs which are laid underwater get altered by the pollution, when the eggs get in touch with the pollution the growth pattern changes for the certain animals. For example, many fish which are born in a pollution body of water hatch with multiple extra features like more than two eyes, and multiple fins.
These unusual growth patterns are caused by the contamination from mining. Not only do animals get affected by the pollution from the appearance of their bodies but also their organs get infected. These abnormal infected species later get eaten by humans for which making people also contaminated with viruses. Another major effect from mining are the garbage dumps.
People near mining areas usually are exposed to toxic wastes making them sick. People can develop skin rashes, headaches, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. Luckily, in Canada we have government covered health care but many people who cannot afford to go to a doctor, are often not treated for their severe illnesses. All in all pollution dose not only affect animals but also has a great effect on human growth, living and development.
Quick Facts! Here Are Some Before & After Results From Mining!
Alberta Mining, 2010
Alberta Tar Sands, 2012
West Virginia, 2012
Alberta Open Pit Mining, 2014
how do we change this?
There are many ways an individual can help protect the environment from mining. Firstly, people should try using more renewable energy resources instead of coal, if everyone used environmentally friendly types of power sources, coal mining would not be an issue.
how technology can help us
Technology that has been invented or has been an innovations both help spread awareness for mining. Major technology which was created to address the challenge includes; Environmental control technologies, better geohydrological models, drones (for better views), novel drilling techniques (improvements in drilling and measurements, less damage to the Earth).
The Impact this has on our Ecosystems
how this impacts human health
Mining harms animals, for example fish that some humans consume which impairs human internal systems. Not only do people consume infected fish which harms their health but also breath in toxic air as well. People who live near mining resorts tend to have poor air quality due from the air pollution, leading many to have breathing and lung problems and damages.
how the economy is impacted
Black Lung Disease, due to mining
Nickel Tailings in Sudbury, Ontario
Peru Rain Forest After Mining
Come Again Soon!
Thank You, Merci & Gracias!