Mining Flashcards
What is mining?
A process in which people dig valuable resources out of the ground
What are the two types of mining?
Open pit mining and shaft mining
What is open pit mining?
It is when minerals lie close to the earth’s surface and it is mined out by removing layer rock layer by layer, gradually getting smaller each layer
What is shaft mining?
It is a type of mine that is a deep shaft into the ground. Miners travel down the shafts in lifts. Tunnels are dug from the main shaft to reach the minerals. These tunnels are travelled through by using carts. The rocks containing minerals are brought to the surface and then crushed to get the minerals out. The waste rock is piled onto heaps called mine dumps
What impact does mining have on the environment?
Mining can cause:
Water pollution
Air pollution
Vegetation and wildlife destruction
How does mining pollute water?
When a mine is no longer in use, the holes/shafts fill up with rainwater. Chemicals trapped in the rock will get into the water making t unsafe to drink. This is called acid mine drainage or AMD. The groundwater could flow into rivers and lakes which can kill animals, especially fish
How does mining pollute the air?
The miners inhale gases and dust inside the mine which can cause lung cancer
How does mining destroy vegetation and wildlife?
Mining activity can change the course of rivers and change the land, driving animals from their homes. In open pit mining, the vegetation on the surface is uprooted and destroyed, also driving animals away
How does mine waste affect the environment?
It can be polluted material and it is dumped in ways that could be harmful to plants, animals and people. Few farmers across SA have been warned not to let their animals drink from rivers or lakes poisoned by mine waste
