Impacts of Mining on Wildlife

Question 1

Open-pit

Answer 1

surface mining method
large areas of land are excavated to create a hole, then ore is brought to surface via conveyor belts
often used to extract gold, silver, and copper

Question 2

Mountaintop removal

Answer 2

surface mining
tops of mountains are removed and resulting area is mined
carried out on steep slopes so that material can be easily moved away

Question 3

Strip mining

Answer 3

surface mining
land cleared of vegetation and rocks before being dugout
mainly used for extracting coal and other hard materials

Question 4

Underground

Answer 4

more preparation than surface mining
-drills holes into the ground using explosives->holes are then filled in with concrete
-used for extraction of coal, iron ore, oil, and diamonds

Question 5

Room and pillar mining

Answer 5

underground
large space carved out with pillars to support roof
extract coal

Question 6

Placer mining

Answer 6

process of obtaining valuable mineral deposits from loose river sediments
formed when sedimentary rock layers are exposed to the earths surface due to tectonic movement

Question 7

In-situ mining

Answer 7

leaching/solution mining
-used to recover valuable minerals from ores
-injects chemicals into an ore body to dissolve metal and allow it to flow to the surface
-above or below ground

Question 8

By-products of mining

Answer 8

Waste rock
Mill tailings
Mine water
Heavy metal contamination

Question 9

Waste rock

Answer 9

coarse and fine material removed to reach ore
contributes to generation of an acid drainage
-when high level of acidity-> Thiobacillus ferroxidans bacteria kick in
carried off mine site by rainwater or surface drainage

Question 10

Mill tailings

Answer 10

Residual material from enrichment process and consist of a fine grained, silty slurry with a high-water content
there are normally tailing storage facility

Question 11

Embankments

Answer 11

tailing storage facility surface storage that can be mixed with synthetic liners to prevent leakage

Question 12

Subaqueous deposition

Answer 12

tailing storage facility stores material underwater used to minimize oxidation of mainly sulfide minerals

Question 13

Subaerial deposition

Answer 13

tailing storage facility store material above water used to minimize oxidation of mainly sulfide materials

Question 14

Mine water

Answer 14

recycled and reused
collected and released into the environment
must be treated
treatment can be released into groundwater or rivers/streams

Question 15

Heavy metal contamination

Answer 15

metals are exposed to water and are carried downstream can be mobile in neutral pH conditions

Question 16

Effects on Environments

Answer 16

significant heavy metal contamination
processing materials contamination
leaching of contaminants from contained sludge
habitat destruction

Question 17

Water contamination

Answer 17

pH changes
extreme pH levels can increase solubility of elements and compounds-> toxic chemicals more mobile and increase risk of absorption by aquatic life
in mammals->cause skin and/or eye irritation, GI lining damage

Question 18

Specific damage from pH to aquatic life

Answer 18

damage to gill epithelium, mucus on gills, decreased growth, reproductive failure, respiratory inhibition, lonoregulatory impacts, reduced number of species and individuals, mortality, replacement of acid-sensitive species with acid-tolerant species

Question 19

How long is heavy metal contamination present?

Answer 19

long after mining stops

Question 20

Bioaccumulation

Answer 20

heavy metal contamination
starts in invertebrates in contaminated soil-accumulates in multiple different organs depending on species and type of metal
increases exponentially up food chain

Question 21

Mercury

Answer 21

heavy metal contamination
causes reduced fertility, damaged kidneys, slower growth and development, abnormal behavior and death

Question 22

Lead

Answer 22

heavy metal contamination
causes cease grazing, appear dull and unresponsive, walk aimlessly, blindness, muscle twitches, paralysis of tongue, circling, and star gazing

Question 23

Mining by-product spills

Answer 23

accumulation of water and soil contamination-> increases risk of mortality of aquatic and terrestrial animals, DNA mutation risk increases

Question 24

Methods of protecting wildlife

Answer 24

frequent surveys of soil/water and wildlife around mining facilities
relocation of animals away from mining sites
reclamation
soil treatment
water treatment->active and passive