Increasing requirements for rare earth minerals have increased the frequency of mining. Underground, open cast, placer, and in-situ are the major mining methods that are being used in the world for the extraction of minerals. Due to the lower capital and operating cost, open cast mining is the preferable method. But, this lower input cost has other added disadvantages which go unnoticed by the people and government.
Open Cast Mining
Open cast mining also known as open-pit mining is a surface mining technique to extract minerals from ore deposits. Without tunnelling into the earth, the process uses a cone-shaped excavation method. The method is mostly used when deposits are relatively found close to the surface of earth.
The process involves the removal of huge overburden, dumping, and backfilling of the excavated area. The overburden is the topsoil of the earth. The removal of overburden opens the coal seams easing the process of extracting coal. Tailings are the residual waste created after the processing of the waste like coals.
Advantages of open cast mining
The open cast mining process is highly cost-effective for miners. The open mining field provides sufficient area to extract minerals with lower capital and operating cost. As it does not require artificial lights, natural ventilation, or other sophisticated machinery.
Unlike underground mining, open cast mining allows heavy machinery like earthmovers to operate on the field. It provides greater safety as it does not require artificial roof or wall support creation. Also, the minimum mine development becomes cost-effective for miners to invest.
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The natural and human cost
The method is cost-effective for economic purposes, but its environmental, as well as human cost is huge. Open mining effectively destroys the ecosystem of the area. The removal of topsoil has become a major cause of soil degradation. The texture, grain size, moisture, pH, organic matter, and nutrients of soil in nearby areas are altered. Consequently, over a period of time, this process changes the whole characteristics of natural soil.
This change in the chemical composition of soil affects agricultural and naturally happening activities. The mines left open turn into small artificial ponds like structures collecting rainwater in monsoon. The chemical remains of open cast mining mix with rainwater and this water flows to nearby areas resulting in water pollution.
The open-cast mines often turn into man-made disasters. Mining companies leave these mines as it is after the extraction of minerals. The left open cast mines become vulnerable to landslides like disasters as most of these minerals are found in hilly areas. With heavy rainfall, they become disaster prone resulting in huge human, property, and forest loss.
The direct and indirect negative impacts of such irresponsible mining activities are faced by poor and tribal people, as mostly these mines are situated in remote areas where generally tribal people reside.
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The graded response to tackle the situation
The response to this problem is to advance the land rehabilitation process after finishing mining. The tailing or waste residue needs to be contoured to flatten them out. To suppress chemical exposure like sulfides, the area should be covered with a layer of clay to prevent the reaction of rain water and oxygen.
It is also pertinent to understand that mining areas are the breeding ground for chemical leaching. It takes thousands of years for a mining area to become acid neutral. So, in order to prevent any human or livestock wandering and coming in its contact, it is very important that left mining areas are fenced properly.
Some of the open cast mines can be turned into an artificial lake, Also, with the use of basic chemicals like Calcium Oxide, the acidity or pH value of the artificial lake could be neutralized.
Knowingly or unknowingly, we are being killed by the side effects of these irresponsible mining practices. The short-term cost-effectiveness is proving to be disastrous for common flora-fauna and humans. Government should check these mining processes and effective rules should be implemented. Otherwise, this will lead to the slow death of humans and the environment.
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