Abstract
Mining activities induce profound changes to societies and the environment they inhabit. With global extraction of metal ores doubling over the past two decades, pressures related to mining have dramatically increased. In this paper, we explore where growing global metal extraction has particularly taken effect. Using fine-grain data, we investigate the spatial and temporal distribution of mining of nine metal ores (bauxite, copper, gold, iron, lead, manganese, nickel, silver and zinc) across approximately 3,000 sites of extraction worldwide between 2000 and 2019. To approach the related environmental implications, we intersect mining sites with terrestrial biomes, protected areas, and watersheds categorised by water availability. We find that 79% of global metal ore extraction in 2019 originated from five of the six most species-rich biomes, with mining volumes doubling since 2000 in tropical moist forest ecosystems. We also find that half of global metal ore extraction took place at 20 km or less from protected territories. Further, 90% of all considered extraction sites correspond to below-average relative water availability, with particularly copper and gold mining occurring in areas with significant water scarcity. Our study has far-reaching implications for future global and local policy and resource management responses to mitigate the negative effects of the expected expansion of metal mining.
Highlights
Mining plays an ambiguous role for society
We explore whether the development of global metal mining has particu larly affected vulnerable ecosystems around the world and identify hotspots of raw material extraction and ecosystem impact
For China, we observe a considerable number of mining sites, but we find that almost 80% of the observed cells show extraction volumes not larger than 2 Mt
Summary
Mining plays an ambiguous role for society It has become indis pensable to the model of economic growth currently pursued in indus trialised, mineral-based societies. The surge in global metal mining signifies an increased production of metal commodities through establishing new mining projects, physical expansion of existing sites and intensifying and optimising the extrac tion process. It is part of an overarching trajectory of globally increasing resource use, referred to as the Great Acceleration (Steffen et al, 2015), which is pushing the global economy’s metabolism up against Planetary Boundaries (Rockstrom et al, 2009). By studying the local expressions of the global surge in mining in a spatially explicit manner, we seek to advance the empirical under standing and conceptual framing across levels of scale
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
