The impact of the mining enterprises in Buryatia (Russia) on the environment

Abstract

At present, there is a huge amount of industrial waste accumulated in Russia, polluting the environment and covering large areas. The greatest impact on the environment comes from open-pit or quarry mining. Mining activities result in huge quantities of rock being brought to the surface and hence produce significant amounts of waste is generated, which has a negative impact on the natural environment. This is also typical for the Republic of Buryatia, where one of the main environmental problems is the formation of waste from both operating and shutdown mining enterprises. In this article we have analysed consequences of mining on natural environment using examples of operating and shut-down mining enterprises in Buryatia. We also gave typical examples of mining enterprises that have the strongest impact on the ecological condition of the territory.