Potential Environmental Problems Potential Environmental Problems  A. Mining operation itself A. Mining operation itself – Disposal of a large amount of rock and waste Disposal of a large amount of rock and waste – Noise Noise – Dust Dust  Beneficiation Beneficiation  Smelting and refining Smelting and refining From Underground Mining From Underground Mining  Subsidence Subsidence – Block/caving Block/caving – Room and pillar Room and pillar – Salt mining Salt mining Subsidence in rancher’s field Subsidence in rancher’s field Subsidence from Pb-Zn mining Subsidence from Pb-Zn mining From Underground From Underground  Acid Mine Drainage Acid Mine Drainage – FeS minerals in coal FeS minerals in coal – Sulphide deposits Sulphide deposits – Acidic streams can pick up heavy elements Acidic streams can pick up heavy elements and transport them and transport them Rock that has acid forming material Rock that has acid forming material Drainage Drainage Acid and open pits Acid and open pits Berkley Pit Other problems with open pits Other problems with open pits  Very large holes Very large holes  Pit slopes steep and not stable. Cannot Pit slopes steep and not stable. Cannot be maintained be maintained  May fill with water May fill with water  Strip coal mines –loss of top soil in past Strip coal mines –loss of top soil in past – Now smoothed out and top soil added Now smoothed out and top soil added [...]... water to neutralize  Different metals have different problems Problems with Smelting/Roasting  Air: SO2 and CO2 and particulate matter Noranda Quebec used to have the highest single point source of SO2 in the world It may have been surpassed  CN (Au); NaOH and F (Al); solvents (electrotwinning); heavy metals; oil and grease  Environmental Impact  Environmental impact – From mineral exploration and... believe that technology will eventually help to meet the growing demand for mineral resources? If yes, explain  Biotechnology shows the potential for cleaner minerals extraction and waste disposal Will biotechnology bring about any environmental problems?  What types of environmental impact would occur if we increasingly extract more mineral resources from the seafloor?  ... sulfuric acid – Acid mine drainage from tailings Pollution of water from mining Minimizing the Impact of Mining (1)     Knowledge and technology transfer: developed countries to developing countries Environmental Regulations: Forbid bad mining practices, Clean Air Act, and on- and offsite treatment of wastes Land reclamation: About 50% of land used in mining industry reclaimed Use of new biotechnology . Potential Environmental Problems Potential Environmental Problems  A. Mining operation itself A. Mining operation itself – Disposal. neutralize water to neutralize  Different metals have different problems Different metals have different problems Problems with Smelting/Roasting Problems with Smelting/Roasting  Air: SO Air: SO 2 2 . and (electrotwinning); heavy metals; oil and grease grease Environmental Impact Environmental Impact  Environmental impact Environmental impact – From mineral exploration and testing From