Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
FIGURE 13.2
The Open Pit at Batu Hijau Copper
Mine in Indonesia in 2006
Some environmental and social impacts from mining have been raised in previous chap-
ters, and all are well-documented in the literature (
Case 13.1
; Goodland 2004; Oesterloef
and Oesterlund 2003; UNCAD 1996; UNEP 2000 and 2001; WRI 2003; Bell and Donnelly
2006; MMSD 2002). This chapter addresses key environmental and social issues, leaving
detailed discussions to the remaining chapters of this topic: change in land form and asso-
ciated structural issues; the generation of mine wastes dominated by waste rock and tail-
ings; mine efl uents and acid rock drainage; air quality and climate change emphasizing
the relationship between coal mining and its use, and greenhouse gases; mining and its
perceived impact on biodiversity and habitats; and social changes such as induced develop-
ment, economic growth and wealth distribution.
Appendix 13.1
provides a listing of these
and other environmental issues.
Large mining pits can reach more than
2,000 meters in diameter and several
hundred metres in depth. In fact, once
completed, the bottom on the Batu
Hijau Pit is expected to be at least
300 m below sea level and will be the
lowest on-land point in Indonesia.
13.1 CHANGES IN LANDFORM
Most mining operations change topography and landform. In open pit mining the pit
is noticeable even to a casual passer-by (
Figure 13.2
). 'Mountain top' mining too is visu-
ally intrusive and highly controversial in the US; as the name suggests it basically means
removing valuable deposits which form the top of mountains or plateaus, not at all an
unusual situation. Such deposits are found in different parts of the world. Iron ore caps a
series of l at-topped hills (mesas) in the Pilbara Region of Western Australia. Recent mine
planning allows for a 50 to 100 m wide belt of ore to remain around the perimeters of these
mesas. The original landform stays intact, at least as viewed from a distance. However
as noted elsewhere in the text, mining not only comprises the removal of large amounts
Most mining operations change
topography and landform.
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