Since the principles of civilization, the human being has used different materials such as stones or metals obtained from the earth’s surface to meet their different needs. Although this does not have much to do with the current modern mining, we could consider this fact as its oldest origins, in the sense that the human being has always exploited the environment in which he lives for his survival or improvement of life.
But,how mineral extraction affects the environment? In this ecology article, we raise this issue and give you the answer, mainly commenting on the negative consequences of this activity, among other aspects.
Evolution of old mining to modern mining
With the passage of time, mining was evolving from the oldest of which you have knowledge, dated approximately 43,000 years ago (Leziland Cuevas in Swaziland), through mining in ancient Egypt, Greece or Rome. However, modern mining with its great farms arises during the last three centuries (nineteenth, twentieth and twenty -first century) when the population and industrial growth of the planet increases in an exponential way and, with it, the needs of the population.
These needs include a greater demand for raw materials for constructions, industries or energy, which in many cases are obtained from land deposits. However, the increasingly uncontrolled exploitation of our natural resources carries with it a series of problems. So, Modern mining also has negative consequences for our planet.
Negative consequences of the extraction of minerals for the environment
Some of the negative consequences of modern mining for the environmentwhich turns out to be the most important, are the following:
- Changes in land morphology: The extraction of minerals on the surface of the Earth results in large excavations. In addition, large extensions of land are deforested, resulting in soil losses due to erosion, loss of habitats of many life forms, biodiversity losses or alteration of some biogeochemical cycles such as water.
- Air pollution: Mineral extractions release dust and other toxic gases to the environment, which originate in the explosions that break the rocks. These gases can generate serious respiratory problems to humans and animals that inhabit the nearby areas. In addition, they are gases that can rise to the atmosphere and be the cause of the greenhouse effect, contributing to climate change and their terrible consequences.
- Surface water pollution: Sometimes, chemical materials that are used or released during extractions, are not properly treated and can accidentally filter the surface waters, contaminating them and causing serious damage to their fauna and flora as their loss. Animals, in many cases, that feed by filtration, so that toxic compounds can pass through trophic chains.
- Groundwater pollution: Mines waste is usually washed by rainwater and sometimes led and filtered towards groundwater deposits, contaminating them.
- Damage to the flora and fauna: damage that occurs as a consequence of the previous points. The amount of species is reduced, they are displaced from their habitat, and so on.
The type of mine affects differently to the environment
The negative impacts of the extraction of minerals to the environmentthey also depend on a great proportion of Type of mining exploitationfundamentally distinguishing two types of mines: underground mines and open -pit mines.
The environmental impact of underground mines
They are excavated as interconnected galleries under earth, helping explosives. In general, the environmental impact of this type of mines is lower, since the changes in the earth’s surface are lower, although water and aquifers contamination are also produced. These types of mines are progressively replacing more efficient methods.
What is the environmental impact of open pit mining
They currently represent the vast majority of mining. Its environmental impact is much greater than the previous ones, since it influences more on the environment, causing deforestation, greater losses of habitats or water pollution. They differ in open -air mines themselves, quarries (dangerous due to their greater proximity to urban areas and lead to urban landfills) and mining by leaching, which uses chemicals for the washing (leaching) of minerals that is intended to be extracted, causing great contamination to the waters.
Example of how mineral extraction affects the environment
This is an example that we can find in Spain. An interesting area has been the Leonese town of Laciana. It represents an area of valleys with a great wealth in Biovdiversidad, with areas declared of Community Interest (LIC), Special Protection for Birds (Zepa) or Reserves of the UNESCO biosphere. In this valley, they have proliferated, in recent years, A large number of mining farmsmany of them without declaring, currently leaving a totally sheared land, that is, totally exhausted by having it Excess exploitedand contaminated.
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