MINING AREA

To get the substances that cannot be obtained

by industrial processes or through agriculture.

For example : Gold, silver, diamond, iron, coal, and

uranium are just a few of the vast array of metals and
minerals

Mining reaps huge profits for the companies that

own them and provides employment to a large
number of people.

1) Large scale mining

Usually involves a company with many
employees.
The company mines at one or two large sites and
usually stays until the mineral or metal is
completely excavated.

2) Small scale mining

Usually involves a small group of nomadic men.
They travel together and look for sites which they
think will yield gold or another valuable metal or
mineral.

1)

Land degrading
- Involves miners using a generator to dig a large
hole in the ground.
- They use a high pressure hose to expose the goldbearing layer of sand and clay. The gold bearing
slurry is pumped into a sluice box, which collects
gold particles, while mine tailings flow into either an
abandoned mining pit or adjacent forest.
- When the mining pits fill with water from the
tailings, they become stagnant water pools. These
pools create a breeding ground for mosquitoes
and other water-born insects.

2) River degrading
- Involves moving along a river on a platform or
boat. The miners use a hydraulic suction hose and
suction the gravel and mud as they move along the
river.
- The gravel, mud, and rocks go through the tailings
(pipes) and any gold fragments are collected on felt
mats. The remaining gravel, mud, and rocks go back
into the river, but in a different location than where it
was originally suctioned.
- This creates problems for the river. The displaced
gravel and mud disrupt the natural flow of the river.
-Fish and other living organisms often die and fishermen
can no longer navigate in the obstructed rivers.

Environmental
i.

Lands :

ii.

Destroys landscape, forest and wildlife habitats

Water:

Rain washes the loosened top soil into stream

Fish and smother plant life downstream will be hurt
Cause disfiguration of river channels and streams
Acid mine drainage

Orange color can blanket the river, estuary or sea be

killing plants

Social:
Forcing people move out from their homes and lands
Preventing them accessing clean land and water
Impacting on their health and live hoods
Women can lose their traditional status in society
Women mine workers often face discrimination
Women safety are not guaranteed

Economics:
Impacts of all industries:

i.

The high value of the South Africa dollar with the

mining boom negatively impacting on Africas
export industries
Reduced GSP growth for states and territories with
less exposure to mining

Impacts for the tourism industry:

ii.

Demand for mining workers

The risk of these effects becoming very localised

Reducing the consumption of minerals

Substitution of other materials and processes
with more environmentally friendly materials
and processes.
Substitution of other materials and processes
with more environmentally friendly materials
and processes. For example, plastics might be
used instead of metal to build appliances. Or
biomass can be instead of uranium to produce
energy.
Reduce the consumption of water.

Improving environmental performance at

mines.
Mines can be designed so that they produce
less waste or use less toxic chemicals.
Improving environmental performance at
mines.
Mines can be designed so that they produce
less waste or use less toxic chemicals.

A number of management strategies

and technologies are being developed
and used by the mining industry to
reduce the environment impacts of
mining.
There are several plan/strategies that
have been applied in mining industry.

For examples :
a) Shutting Down Illegal and Unregulated Mines.
b) Research and Development of Green Mining
Technology.
c) Implementing Recently Discovered Green Mining
Technologies.
Mining from tailings
Liquid membrane emulsion technology
d) Reducing inputs
Water
Land disruption
e) Reducing outputs
Restoring environmental function at mine sites
Waste

THE END