The Anatomy of a Mine - Mining and the Environment: From Ore to Metal - page 212

rarely adequate or sufi cient in number. This, of course, can be overcome by planning and
investment, carried out by the company or sponsored by the company.
Often new mine towns with several hundred units are set up for the mine workers and
their families at a convenient distance from the mine. Where possible a pleasant setting is
chosen and accommodation is of a high standard, in recognition of the fact that good liv-
ing conditions contribute to working morale, thereby reducing turnover, which is a major
concern and cost for remote operations. To complete the picture, mine towns boast facilities
such as kindergartens and schools, places of worship, mess houses, hotels, supermarkets,
department stores, recreation facilities (possibly including a gymnasium and golf course),
libraries, coffee shops, administrative buildings, and banks most of which may be absent in
the region.
A mine town has the same environmental issues as any other town. To begin with, a
new mine town requires suitable land in terms of topography and soil conditions, land
that may serve other competing land use purposes. Sewage and liquid wastes are gener-
ated, so the town planning must allow for collection and treatment of liquid waste streams
and their i nal disposal. Finally, solid municipal waste is generated that requires proper
waste collection and disposal systems, often via an engineered sanitary landi ll.

A mine town has the same
environmental issues as any
other town.

Medical Facilities
Without a nearby hospital, mines often need to provide and operate their own medical
facilities. They are commonly designed and staffed to also provide services to existing
communities as part of community development programmes. As with all hospitals and
clinics, medical waste will be generated and, to avoid spread of contaminants, provision
must be made for its treatment, most commonly through the installation of a high tem-
perature medical waste incinerator.

Power Generation and Distribution
The energy demand of large mines is staggering and may reach several hundred mega-
watts. The main energy consumer is the mill where ore is physically broken down into
i ne-grained particles. But even when milling is not required, such as in coal mining, the
energy demand of all other mine activities remains high.
In remote locations mines operate their own power plants. Frequently these are huge
diesel generators. The main environmental issues relate to gaseous emissions, and to diesel
fuel and lubricant handling. Other mines install dedicated coal-i red power plants, so coal
handling, l ue gases, and ash management are the main areas of concern.
The location of the mine, the port site, and the type of power generation determine the
siting of the power plant. Diesel generators are often installed close to the mine; coal-i red
power plants close to the port site (see Figure 4.19 ). Transmission lines, if necessary, need
special corridors where adjacent tall trees, a potential hazard to transmission lines, are cut.

The energy demand of
large mines is staggering and
may reach several hundred
megawatts.

Supporting Operations and Maintenance Activities
The operation and maintenance of the mine and its supporting infrastructure require
additional activities that have not yet been discussed. Operation and maintenance activities
include warehouses, workshops, administration, security, i re i ghting, water supply, waste
management, plant nurseries, quarries, and borrow pits. Most of these activities present
environmental issues of their own, some major, others less so. Of the former, for exam-
ple, the construction of a mine and mine operations require a substantial amount of sand,
gravel, or rock as building materials. Such material is not always easily available at the
mine site, and quarries and borrow pits need to be created outside the actual mining area.