Environmental Impact Of Mining Research Articles

Building a Circular Economy for Lithium: Addressing Global Challenges

AbstractAs countries worldwide race toward a green transition, the demand for electric vehicles is surging, and with it comes a growing need for batteries. However, the push for increased domestic mining to secure these materials raises significant concerns about environmental sustainability. Even with stringent regulations, the environmental impact of mining can be profound, posing risks such as biodiversity loss, water pollution, and broader ecological damage. Furthermore, geopolitical tensions could arise as countries whose economic interests are threatened by these initiatives may react adversely. Local communities might also resist mining projects due to concerns over environmental degradation, health risks, and disruptions to their livelihoods. Given the critical importance of metals in the ecological transition, this challenge must be approached with the same urgency and global coordination as a pandemic response. Just as the world mobilized unprecedented resources to tackle COVID‐19, a similarly robust approach is necessary to ensure the availability of critical metals for a sustainable future. This paper suggests potential pathways for academic, technological, and societal advancements within the framework of a circular economy for lithium, aiming to secure a sustainable supply of this essential resource.

Local social perception of mining in Parauapebas and Canaã dos Carajás in the eastern Amazonia, Brazil

The mineral industry plays a role in structural transformations in southeastern Pará, Eastern Amazonia, where large projects in this sector are located. This study analyzes aspects of the social perception of mining from image and reputation concepts in the Amazonian context. This paper aimed to examine the role of socioeconomic, political, and historical variables on social perception. It focused on four dimensions - economic, environmental, relationship and image, and general dimensions in Parauapebas and Canaã dos Carajás cities. The methodology consisted of the application in April of 2018 of questionnaires in a stratified sample of 960 and 349 randomly selected households in each of those cities, respectively. We employed the PCA/factor analysis method to examine whether a set of variables is relevant to social perception. The study found that the mining industry is a partner – not an intruder – because its beginning coincided with the social and historical formation of the territory. Perceptions of image and reputation were positive. Interviewee education, age, income, Whatsapp and Facebook usage, having a formal job, belonging to a union and a political party, occupation, and time of arrival are the main factors for social perception of mining. Despite their significantly negative opinion concerning mining's environmental impact, most interviewees pointed out that mining is reliable, friendly, transparent, and involved with the municipalities' problems. Our work fills a gap in growing literature that shows the challenges of companies, governments, and civil society in contemplating the dynamic aspects of mining for effective planning aiming at the social sustainability of mining regions.

Impact of Mining of Marine Gastropods Habitat: Basis for Information Education Communication(IEC) for Environmental Sustainability

An alarming socio-economic and environmental impact of mining in the Municipality of Carrascal, Surigao del Sur led to this study. It is important to assess the impact of mining on marine habitats and the diversity of gastropods in the area. The collection of gastropods is done in the selected four sampling areas, which include Brgy. Adlay, Brgy. Caglayag, Brgy. Dahican, and Brgy. Gango. Based on the sampling, 228 marine gastropod species were collected, consisting of 53 genera belonging to 10 families. The findings highlight the low diversity of the marine gastropods in the study area as the diversity index is less than 1.99. In addition, the physico-chemical parameter assessment of the study area reveals conditions ranging from slightly alkaline water with low oxygen content to very warm temperatures. These conditions suggest a delicate balance in the aquatic ecosystems, which could be sensitive to changes and affect marine gastropod populations and distributions. With regards to the average concentration of nickel (mg/kg) sediments as a result of the mining activities in the study area, the atomic absorption spectrophotometry result shows that Brgy. Gango is heavily polluted in comparison to other sampling areas. Additionally, the multiple regression analysis reveals that there is a positive and significant association between the nickel concentration and the diversity of gastropods in Brgy. Gango. This could indicate that some gastropod species, specifically those that are found in areas with high nickel concentrations, have acquired tolerance to nickel pollution. However, the regression analysis reveals that in the other sampling sites, such as Brgy. Adlay and Brgy. Caglayag, the presence of nickel sediments as a result of mining activities has a negative and significant impact on the marine habitat and diversity of gastropods. The findings suggest the importance of developing an information education and communication program addressing the negative impacts of mining and promoting environmental sustainability in the research locale.

Mineral waste recycling, sustainable chemical engineering, and circular economy

The mineral processing industry is pivotal in natural resource extraction and historically contributes to environmental damages like land degradation and groundwater contamination. In the face of resource scarcity and environmental pollution, sustainable solutions are increasingly vital. The circular economy focuses on reusing, recycling, and reducing waste, which turns unwanted by-products into valuable assets. Sustainable chemical processes offer innovative solutions in waste material reclamation and integration into the production chain. These practices not only mitigate waste but also enable resource recovery, turning waste management costs into profits. Repurposing mineral waste reduces mining's environmental impact, lessens new mining needs, and yields economic advantages.

The Spatial distribution of quarry stone mining sites in Igembe South Sub-county Meru County, Kenya

The objective of this study was to develop a GIS-based spatial distribution of mining site patterns in order to identify risk-prone geo-locations in Meru County's Igembe South Sub County. Data was collected using PRA methodologies and processes, primary data was collected from participants' notes to detect mining-related problems, and an informal and formal survey and pair-wise assessment was used. There has been concern about the spatial distribution of mining in affected areas. The communities and mines in the Akachiu ward are as follows: Auki, Amwamba, Nceme, Kirindine, and Tiira. Information was obtained from 300 respondents. These issues were resolved by segmenting the target population and confirming field observations. Data were analysed using the nearest neighbour analysis method and descriptive means, median, and mode statistics. Results were then presented using tables, maps, graphs, and pie charts. Results established that mining activities have damaged land in Igembe South Sub-County, reducing food production and agricultural demands and polluting water supplies in the area, including contaminated streams. Pollution and noise are present in the area. It was affirmed that the residents know the environmental consequences of mining. In light of the County Government of Meru's efforts at restoration and intervention, such as re-afforestation, the mining companies and the County Government of Meru are reviewing their methods of operation and providing alternatives to the affected areas. Mining's environmental impact should be reduced by rethinking the environmental management strategy.

Mining in space could spur sustainable growth

Growth models with resources and environmental externalities typically assume that planet Earth is a closed economy. However, private firms like Blue Origin and SpaceX have reduced the cost of rocket launches by a factor of 20 over the last decade. What if these costs continue to decline, making mining from asteroids or the moon feasible? What would be the implications for economic growth and the environment? This paper provides stylized facts about cost trends, geology, and the environmental impact of mining on Earth and potentially in Space. We extend a neoclassical growth model to investigate the transition from mining on Earth to Space. We find that such a transition could potentially allow for continued growth of metal use, while limiting environmental and social costs on Earth. Acknowledging the high uncertainty around the topic, our paper provides a starting point for research on how Space mining could contribute to sustainable growth on Earth.

The Environmental Impact of Mining on Local Communities in Tankoro Chiefdom, Kono District, Sierra Leone

To effectively determine the environmental and social impacts of mining on local communities in Tankoro chiefdom, the researcher applied a mixed methods research methodology to perform the study. The study applied methods in the data collection that consist of, questionnaire interviews through Kobo Collect and focus group discussion. The sample size was 393 respondents. The study discovered that the local communities where the mining activities are carried out suffer negative effects on the environment together with the society. Nevertheless, Koidu Holdings had tried to decrease the negative impacts of mining operations on the affected communities due to uncompromising concerns among the affected communities. It had also constructed new markets, a Primary Health Unit (PHU), building of relocated schools, renovation of old schools, provided scholarships to students at all academic levels and has supported schools with educational resources as well as dug some boreholes, mainly in Kanniya resettlement community, which served as a drinkable water, to help reduce the sternness of water crisis.

Urban mining of municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) residues with emphasis on bioleaching technologies: a critical review.

Metals are essential in our daily lives and have a finite supply, being simultaneously contaminants of concern. The current carbon emissions and environmental impact of mining are untenable. We need to reclaim metals sustainably from secondary resources, like waste. Biotechnology can be applied in metal recovery from waste streams like fly ashes and bottom ashes of municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI). They represent substantial substance flows, with roughly 46 million tons of MSWI ashes produced annually globally, equivalent in elemental richness to low-grade ores for metal recovery. Next-generation methods for resource recovery, as in particular bioleaching, give the opportunity to recover critical materials and metals, appropriately purified for noble applications, in waste treatment chains inspired by circular economy thinking. In this critical review, we can identify three main lines of discussion: (1) MSWI material characterization and related environmental issues; (2) currently available processes for recycling and metal recovery; and (3) microbially assisted processes for potential recycling and metal recovery. Research trends are chiefly oriented to the potential exploitation of bioprocesses in the industry. Biotechnology for resource recovery shows increasing effectiveness especially downstream the production chains, i.e., in the waste management sector. Therefore, this critical discussion will help assessing the industrial potential of biotechnology for urban mining of municipal, post-combustion waste.

Zambian Protestant Ecumenism and the Quest for Eco-Justice: A Case Study of the Council of Churches in Zambia

This paper maps the trajectory of eco-justice discourse in Zambia with specific reference to the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) as one of the most significant ecumenical structures in the country. Foregrounding the notion of eco-justice, this paper seeks to answer the question, namely, in what ways do religious resources (read: institutions) engender ecological ethos? Such a question is explored in light of the widely recognised inextricable link between environmental degradation and justice as expressed in the concept of eco-justice. Therefore, through documentary analysis, the paper delineates the theological basis of CCZ’s advocacy for eco-justice and underscores the potential of ecumenical institutions as sources of religious social capital. While underlining the role of religious resources in shaping people’s attitudes and behaviour towards the environment, the paper offers a critique of ‘prophetic voice’ by drawing attention to the need for clarity on the distinctive contribution of Christian resources in addressing ecological degradation. Keywords: Eco-Justice, Council of Churches in Zambia, Religious Social Capital, Prophetic Voice, Ecotheology, Stewardship, Environmental Impact of Mining in Zambia

Incorporating stone mining into Indigenous and local notions of cultural heritage and sustainability

This article focuses on Indigenous and local practices of decorative stone extraction as a part of traditional economic activities. It analyses how historical continuity of mining contributes to the visions of sustainability and heritage existing in the community. The article focuses on the case study of the Veps Indigenous minority in the Republic of Karelia, northwest Russia. Since the 18th-19th centuries, Karelian Veps have been extracting rare ornamental stones – gabbro-diabase and raspberry quartzite. Currently, most residents of Veps villages are still employed in stone quarries. Karelian Veps largely embrace stoneworking (Veps. kivirad) as a part of their Indigenous identity. Stone mining is promoted as an element of Veps cultural heritage through state institutions, such as the Veps ethnographic museum, as well as local state-funded initiatives, such as Veps ethnic theme parks. Many residents of Veps villages refer to stoneworking as a tradition with a rich history and the possibility of a long future. At the same time, current practices of stone extraction and the environmental impact of mining are a common source of worries and disappointment as Veps feel alienated from the post-Soviet mining industry. Through the analysis of the Veps example, the article discusses the importance of incorporating Indigenous and local visions of industry and sustainability in dominant state narratives. The paper is based on participant observation and interviews conducted in Veps villages of Karelia from 2015 to 2021.

Characterization of industrially pre-treated waste printed circuit boards for the potential recovery of rare earth elements

Rare earth elements (REE) are classified as critical raw materials and the environmental impact of mining them is of growing concern. The recovery of REE from electronic waste (e-waste) could offer a more sustainable practice. Waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs) are an important resource in the e-waste stream due to their content of valuable materials. However, data regarding the concentration and distribution of REE in WPCBs is very limited. The aims of this research were: (a) to analyse the chemical composition of comminuted WPCBs prior to processing (industrially pre-treated) with emphasis on REE, and (b) to determine the distribution of REE and other metals in different size fractions of the pre-treated WPCBs. The samples were supplied by commercial e-waste recycling companies, which makes them representative of the e-waste processing industry in the UK. Correlation between elemental concentrations and particle size was analysed using Spearman’s rank correlation. Most REE concentrations were inversely correlated to the particle size. Concentrations of Y, La and Gd were found up to a thousand times higher in the smaller particle size compared with coarser particles. However, most of base metals including Cu, Sn, Pb and Zn did not show this trend. The present study highlights the occurrence of REE in comminuted WPCBs, and fine fractions as potential sources of these critical elements, currently not recovered during recycling process. A cost-effective sieving step is proposed to enrich the REE content for further recovery, prevent the possible loss of REE and maximize the total material recovered from WPCBs. • REE concentrations are inversely correlated to the particle size in comminuted WPCBs. • Concentrations of REE are up to a thousand times higher in finest fractions (<0.25 mm). • Fine fractions can contain over 60% of the total mass of some REE. • Simple and cost-effective sieving step can enhance yield of REE for recovery purposes. • Comminuted WPCBs are an untapped resource for REE recycling.

Environmental impact of mining and beneficiation of copper sulphate mine based on life cycle assessment.

China is a major producer of copper concentrate as its smelting capacity continues to expand dramatically. The present study analyzes the life cycle environmental impact of copper concentrate production, along with selection of a typical copper sulphate mine in China. Life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted using SimaPro with ReCiPe 2016 method. The midpoint and endpoint results were performed with uncertainty information based on Monte Carlo calculation. Normalization of midpoint results revealed that impact from the marine ecotoxicity category was the largest contributor to the total environmental impact, followed by freshwater ecotoxicity, human carcinogenic toxicity, human non-carcinogenic toxicity, and terrestrial ecotoxicity. The mining activity, backfilling activity, and electricity generation were proved to be the dominant factors. In addition, main processes and substances to the identified key categories were also classified. Specifically, the cement production in the backfilling process, blasting activity, on-site emission, and electricity generation was regarded as the critical processes. Copper to air and zinc emission to water were considered the critical substances. The sensitivity analysis revealed the most effective measure to solve the environmental problems caused by the concentrate production process, which is controlling on-site emissions and reducing pollution from cement production. Finally, the corresponding technical and management measures were proposed to facilitate the development of cleaner metal industry.

Analysis of biodiversity impacts in mining environmental impact assessments before and after 2013 from Mpumalanga province, South Africa.

In South Africa, the relevant authorities use environmental impact assessments (EIAs) to achieve sustainable development. Biodiversity impact assessment (BIA) studies are part of EIAs to ensure that biodiversity issues are considered. In 2013, the mining industry published the Mining and biodiversity guideline to improve the integration of biodiversity into their activities. This research analysed the inclusion of biodiversity impacts in mining EIAs before and after the publication of the guideline. A customised mining BIA report-review package was developed and used to review 46 mining BIAs produced before and after 2013. Secondary data were collected using questionnaires on the inclusion of biodiversity impacts in mining EIAs. The results showed that most BIAs failed to properly consider biodiversity issues, with an overall satisfactory score of 43% before and 57% after 2013. Areas of weakness included project description, sensitivity mapping, stakeholder consultation, consideration of alternatives, and monitoring. The extent to which biodiversity specialist inputs were included in the main mining EIA reports showed an improvement after 2013, with an overall satisfactory score of 78%, compared to the 52% before 2013. The majority of the BIAs complied with the minimum requirements for specialist studies stipulated by the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 (NEMA). The analysis of the questionnaires revealed inadequacies regarding the inclusion of biodiversity impacts. These included poor consideration of indirect and cumulative impacts, failure to incorporate environmental thresholds, and use of the ecosystem approach.

Country-specific carbon footprint and cumulative energy demand of metallurgical grade silicon production for silicon photovoltaics

The photovoltaic (PV) industry requires high-quality silica sand to produce metallurgical-grade silicon (MG-Si) for silicon PV (Si PV). However, high-quality deposits are scarce, and using lower-quality resources may increase the carbon footprint and cumulative energy demand (CED) of Si PV modules. The environmental impact of quartz mining and silica sand extraction for PV has not been updated in over 15 years. It's not representative of current methods used for low-quality sand and is not country-specific. As a result, PV production's environmental impact might be underestimated. We used life-cycle assessment to evaluate the carbon footprint and CED of quartz mining, silica sand extraction, and MG-Si production for high-quality (> 98% silica), industrial-grade (95% silica), and low-quality (65% silica) quartz deposits, which are necessary to calculate Si PV's energy and carbon payback time. The carbon footprint per metric ton of silica sand extraction increased from 22.7 kg CO2eq for high-quality quartz to 47.9 for industrial-grade and 86.7 for low-quality. China currently uses foreign industrial-grade quartz but plans to use low-quality domestic resources, which could increase the carbon footprint of producing one kg MG-Si from 12.1 to 16.5 kg CO2eq. The CED could increase from 188 to 286 MJ. We also investigated illegal mining's environmental impact. The carbon footprint and CED of MG-Si production decreased by 26 to 60% for illegal mines compared to legal mines. Illegal MG-Si production can be cheaper and have a lower carbon footprint, and therefore, third-party-supply-chain verifications are essential to ensure that PV doesn't contribute to the problem.

Environmental impact of past Hg mining activities in the Monte Amiata district, Italy: A summary of recent studies

&lt;abstract&gt; &lt;p&gt;The environmental impact of mining and smelting in the world-class Monte Amiata mercury (Hg) ore field has long been studied, before and after the final closure in 1982. A first summary was presented in 2015. With this contribution, we review the studies conducted in the last eight years. The most significant results include ⅰ) Hg-isotope characterization of primary ore (cinnabar), smelting waste (calcines), soil, fish and stream sediments; ⅱ) analysis of the interplay between geomorphological evolution, fluvial dynamics and Hg distribution in the Paglia River catchment, which drains the main mining areas; ⅲ) an improved quantification of the Hg loads discharged to the Mediterranean Sea; ⅳ) the use of biomonitors to reveal the dispersion of Hg; ⅴ) new detailed surveys, including innovative techniques, of Hg distribution in air; ⅵ) specific investigations to support the ongoing reclamation at Abbadia San Salvatore, the main mining and smelting center of the district, and ⅶ) the assessment of the variability of Hg distribution in air, water and soil from the reclaimed Siele mine. Despite these progresses, there are further steps to be conducted to achieve optimal management of the wide contamination evidenced in this district. It is now fully clear that the diffuse character of contamination results in unfeasible hypotheses for total remediation. Therefore, the goal is that of a sustainable coexistence between contamination and human activities. This goal may involve the following activities: a) implementation of GIS-based contamination maps as a direct operational instrument for local authorities to tune up specific limitations and regulations of human activities (e.g., fishing, instream quarrying and wildfire management); b) mitigation measures such as increasing the vegetal cover of river banks to limit erosion and runoff, and c) continuous monitoring of air, water and soil contamination, including transfer to the food chain.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/abstract&gt;

Reducing environmental impact caused by mining activities in limestone mines

Mining and its related activities have always resulted in changes in the environment and these changes can vary from one area to another. As a result of mining, several types of changes can be distinguished: destruction of land and existing vegetation, changes in terrain topography, modification in air quality, changes in surface and groundwater quality, as well as change geotechnical conditions of the rock. Environmental impact of mining has been a public concern. There is widespread global interest in mining and its sustainability, and it is focused on the need to shift mining industry to a more sustainable framework. This article describes the possibilities of how to reduce the environmental impact of limestone excavation. Successful closure must consider medium to long term post mining land use and land capability, as well as minimizing environmental impact.

Environmental degradation through mining for energy resources: The case of the shrinking Laguna Santa Rosa wetland in the Atacama Region of Chile

As the world strives to replace fossil fuels with clean energy – reflected by global surge in the number of electric vehicles – the environmental impact of mining all the lithium (Li) needed to enable such a transformation has become a problem in its own right. In South America, the biggest problem is the excessive use of water in Li extraction process in one of the driest areas in the world. Apart from causing severe friction over water rights between local communities and mining companies, it puts enormous pressure on the region's fragile and poorly understood wetland ecosystems. Wetlands are one of the most threatened ecosystems on the Earth, despite their great importance as habitats for a vast number of species and corresponding to one of the most productive environments. Present work is the outcome of an investigation on Laguna Santa Rosa's (LSR) vulnerability resulting from ongoing metal mining operations in its surroundings that require a large volume of water extracted from local aquifers, in addition to a high evaporation rate in the area. This groundwater-dependent wetland will soon be further vulnerable with the commencement of water-intensive Li mining at Salar de Maricunga, with the extraction project already having an environmental impact study approved. Sustainability of this wetland protected under the Ramsar Convention and home to numerous wildlife species habiting this highland sector of the Andean Cordillera is vital for the associated ecosystems. The variation in the water surface area of LSR has been deciphered through the application of a Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper (TM) satellite image collection. This has been done both for the hydrological year 2016–2017 and 1993-2014 period. A decreasing trend in the water surface area of LSR, a hypersaline lake at the southern extreme of Salar de Maricunga, a salt flat in the Atacama Region of Chile, was observed through the study of satellite images between 1993 and 2014, showing shrinking of this wetland. However, this shrinking trend was punctuated by extreme rainfall and consequent flood with accumulated precipitation exceeding 40 mm in a single day and hourly mean rainfall rates higher than 10 mm/h recorded at several locations in the hyperarid Atacama Desert on March 25, 2015. This raised the lake's water level, and thus the areal extent of the lake water observed in the satellite images of the 2016–2017 hydrological year following the extreme weather events of 2015. The interplay of such extreme weather events and groundwater extraction for mining activities in the area complicates the assessment of the latter's effect on LSR, as the evaluation is constrained to the intervals between successive extreme weather events. In addition, the water level increases in summer because of the thawing of the snow. Close monitoring of the wetlands like LSR is essential to ensure their sustainability by considering both anthropic and climatic factors.

Socio-economic and environmental impact of mining on women in Kasigau mining zone in Taita Taveta County

The Kasigau ward is home to many gemstones with their mining contributing to the county's economic development. The mining sector is dominated by artisanal and small scale mining with 3–5% of women employed. A Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach was used to involve women with the aim of establishing home-grown interventions. Seven villages and forty nine households participated in household interviews, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and female feedback reflection meetings to generate and analyze data. Women worked as zururas (workers) or employees, in deplorable environmental conditions, and were heavily impacted by mining activities. Women developed actionable strategies on productive engagement in the artisanal mining sector.

The Water-Use of Mining Towns and Their Villages in Medieval Hungary: The Example of Kremnica

The paper addresses the long-term impact of mining towns and the villages under the authority of these towns on the waterscapes in the northern mining area of the medieval Kingdom of Hungary (presentday Slovakia). The paper focuses on the privileging practices of the settlers of villages founded by burghers of a medieval mining town, Kremnica. The paper argues that analysing Kremnica’s practice in settling the towns’ surroundings may on the one hand shed light on the privileges of the settlers of the town itself, and on the other, be crucial to understanding a previously neglected environmental impact of mining in pre-modern times. The paper argues that while charters of privilege provided to mining towns seldom refer to the freedom to exploit water, the towns’ settlers did use the waterways to their benefit. In arguing for this the paper discusses the freedoms of the settlers’ villages of Kremnica in the fourteenth–fifteenth centuries. The freedom of settlers – or the leading of the settling process – led to an increased pressure on waterways in mining town areas that had lasting consequences on the landscapes of these regions.

Biodiversity and the mining Environmental Impact Statements of the state of São Paulo - Brazil

Abstract The state of São Paulo has a history of habitat loss and fragmentation in endemic areas with projects that threaten its biodiversity. Therefore, this study analyzed how the Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) of mining activities of the state of São Paulo (2005-2016) considered the biodiversity theme in different chapters. To analyze the ten selected EISs, we used the Index of Biodiversity Inclusion (IBI), which reflects the analysis of environmental indicators (from 0 to 1), depending on the commitment presented in each of the indicators. The IBI values ranged from 0.25 to 0.67 with significant variation among EISs. Most of them partially met the criteria, which was a profile similar to other countries, representing information gaps in most of the chapters covering biodiversity. The shortcomings were data limitation, impact analysis, and inadequate mitigation measures, in which the study highlights the need for a better scoping definition previous to Environmental Impact Assessment.