Open Pit Mining
Explanation:
Open-pit mining, also known as open-cut
mining, and strip mining, refers to a method
of extracting rock or minerals from the
earth by their removal from an open pit.
Most of the time, when the mining company is
done with it, the pit is used as a landfill. A
landfill is used as a dump to get rid of our
garbage. When it is filled with garbage, it is
covered over with layers of dirt. After the
garbage rots a long time, the land can be used
again.
Some times the crater is filled with water – a lake
is born.
Environmental Impacts
Impacts include:
- aesthetics
- air quality (dust and pollutants)
- water discharge and runoff
- subsidence
- tailings (acidic, heavy metals)
Minimizing the impact:
- If mining will cause quality deterioration of either surface
water or groundwater, remedial and treatment measures must
be developed to meet discharge standards.
- The mine plan must include all the technical measures
necessary to handle all the environmental problems from
initial data gathering to the mine closure and reclamation of
the disturbed surface area.
Social / Economic Implications
- Minerals are non-renewable resources
- Boom / Bust of the mining process (i.e. Barkerville)
- Loss of tourism
- Depending on location companies could bypass
reclamation requirements (cleaning soils of acids,
heavy metals and sulfurs).