Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
The response of each ore to a particular process (i.e., process throughput, metal
recovery, etc) has a big impact on energy consumption and each process application
must be considered on a case by case basis. Process selection decisions must be
likewise based on detailed economic analyses that consider capital, operating costs
(including energy consumption), metal recoveries, prices, discount rate and other
factors, not energy e
ciency alone”.
7.6 General environmental issues
The Blacksmith Institute and the Green Cross Switzerland publishes a yearly report
indicating the world's top ten worst polluted places. In 2008 four out of ten worst
polluted places were associated with mining and smelting. Both industries cause
enormous devastation to the environment on a local, regional and even global scale.
It is therefore important to analyse such effects in detail, something to which the
authors now turn.
7.6.1 The environmental impact of mining
Mining is one of the activities with the greatest environmental impact from a cradle
to grave perspective. As aforementioned, most mining is currently open pit and
as ore grades decrease, ever larger amounts of waste rock and energy, water and
materials are needed to extract the desired materials or metals. Mining modifies
the landscape and has a lasting impact on communities and natural resources,
disturbing the land, watersheds, groundwater and air. The disposal of waste rock,
tailings and toxic materials, acid drainage or energy consumption and high GHG
emissions are all important health and environmental concerns for mine employees
and those living in the vicinity.
Furthermore as demand for minerals grows and the highest quality mines are
already exploited, wider open pits will be dug, and the effect on the environment
intensified. However, minerals together with water and energy are vital to Man's
existence. They constitute the motor of development and will be always needed for
machinery, additives, food or shelter. Also “although some degree of disturbance
is inevitable even in the best-managed mines, nearly all negative social and envi-
ronmental impacts are avoidable if companies would operate according to the best
possible standards” (Miranda et al., 2005). Such standards should result in “least
harmful mining practices” which in turn need to be implemented and universally
accepted by mining companies, governments and stakeholders.
One way to facilitate this is to promote sustainable mining, which is a matter
that invokes exploration, technology, economics and concerns that are environmen-
tal, social and political in nature (Mudd, 2010b). A remarkable number of con-
tributions in this field have already been produced in the recent years such as the
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