TOPIC: Mining

Mining is the extraction of minerals and metals from earth like manganese, tantalum,
copper, iron ore, gold, silver, nickel, bauxite or commonly known as aluminum ore and
diamond. There are two types of mining. First, the large scale mining which involves large
companies mining on one or two sites in order to excavate all the metal or mineral. The second
one is the small scale mining which involves a small group of nomadic men searching for a site
where they can excavate gold or any valuable metal or mineral. Small scale mining has two
subtypes. These include the land dredging involves miners using a generator to dig a large
hole in the ground. They use a high pressure hose to expose the gold-bearing layer of sand
and clay. After that, the mixture is pumped into a sluice box, which collects gold particles, while
the excess fluid from the mixture goes into either an abandoned mining pit or adjacent
forest. When the mining pits fill with water from the tailings, they become stagnant water
pools, and they create a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other water-born
insects. Malaria and other water-borne diseases may develop and affect the people. The river
dredging involves moving along a river on a platform or boat. The miners use a hydraulic hose
that sucks up the gravel and mud as they move along the river. The gravel, mud, and rocks go
through pipes and any pieces or fragments of gold are collected on mats. The excess gravel,
mud, and rocks go back into the river, but in a different location than where it was originally
suctioned. The displaced gravel and mud become a problem because they disrupt the natural
flow of the river. Fish and other living organisms often die and fishermen can no longer
navigate in them because of the color and structure of the river.

Mining does not only boost the economy of a country. It also becomes the door for
more industries using the minerals or metals that they have mined. More industries mean more
jobs and opportunities for many people. Mining also provides raw materials.

Along with the positive effects of mining, most likely it causes more destruction. It
destroys our environment through many ways. In a strip type of mining, the topsoil, trees,
forests, wildlife habitats and landscapes are removed. These lead to lack of homes for different
species of animals which may lead to their extinction. The soil loosens up because there is
nothing to hold it tightly, so when a heavy rain comes, it washes away the soil called soil
erosion. The sediments of the washed away land go to different bodies of water like streams
and pollute them and can kill different life forms. The various chemicals used in the mines can
poison underground sources of water, and strip mining causes air pollution. After all the
minerals and/or metals have been excavated, the site becomes a barren land that is a source
of another problem like landslides. Underground mining allows mining companies to dig
deeper in order to find more deposits of coal. Like the strip mining, it also has its own negative
effects. The waste that is being dug underneath is stored above the underground site and
waste becomes more toxic when it contacts with water and air. The soil above it softens which
will greatly affect buildings. Most of the water from underground sources becomes polluted and
unsafe to be drunk. Coal mining produces greenhouse gases. During a coal mining process,
coal and methane mix together and form coal mine methane which is twenty times deadlier
than greenhouse gases. Coal fires in coal mining sites can also cause a lot of destruction since
these can burn up to centuries and they produce toxic gases like carbon dioxide, methane,
sulphur dioxide and others. These can also cause contamination in the air, water and soil. Acid
mine drainage happens when water mixes with different metals from underground which
creates toxin same with heavy metals. This can kill every organism that will swim on it, and it
can pollute sources of water. Mining can also pose a grave threat to the health of people. The
harmful gases can be inhaled directly by the miners and the people around the mining site
which can lead to pneumoconiosis, aka black lung disease or CWP, cardiopulmonary disease,
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, and lung disease. These mine sites may
also collapse and might kill many miners working.

Mining may have given us a lot of money, but no amount of money can replace the
lives of many organisms, and no precious mineral or metal can bring back what mining
destroyed. The best way that people can do is to keep an eye for illegal miners around their
place because it is in the law Republic Act No. 7942 or An Act Instituting a New System of
Mineral Resources Exploration, Development, Utilization, and Conservation. These mining
companies must also be responsible in throwing their waste properly instead of leaving it
causing more problems. It will surely be the loss of everyone if we continue to disregard the
safety and cleanliness of our surroundings. People shouldn’t wait for the time to come that
everything is already late.
http://www.chanrobles.com/RA7942.htm#.Wgrr2qikWIU
http://elmerboyan.blogspot.com/2010/10/positve-and-negative-effects-of-mining.html
http://www.miningfacts.org/environment/
https://www.oxfam.org.au/what-we-do/mining/impacts-of-mining/
https://www.environment.co.za/mining-2/effects-of-mining.html
https://kids.mongabay.com/lesson_plans/lisa_algee/mining.html