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Soil and Water Pollution due to miningAnita PuniaM.Phil 2nd SemesterIntroduction Miningis the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth from an orebody, lode, vein, seam or reef, which forms the mineralized package of economic interest to the miner.Ores recovered by mining include metals, coal, oil shale, gemstones, limestone, dimension stone, rock salt, potash, gravel and clay.On the basis of excavation mining divided into two types: surface and underground mining

Mining- IndiaThe GDP contribution of the mining industry varies from 2.2% to 2.5% onlyIndias rank in miningFirst- sheet micaSecond- Iron Fifth- BauxiteIndia has significant sources of coal, bauxite, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, diamonds, petroleum and limestone.

Environmental impactsEnvironmental issues can include erosion, formation of sinkholes, loss of biodiversity, and contamination of soil, groundwater and surface waterby chemicals from mining processes.

Exposure to airborne silica and asbestos can cause lung cancer, pneumoconiosis and numerous other health effects.The hazards to human health caused by exposure to heavy metals including lead, cadmium and mercury have been thoroughly documented. These metals are associated with a range of neurological deficits in both children and adults in addition to a range of other systemic effects.More commonly, small-scale gold mining utilizes significant quantities of mercury to extract gold from the ore. Exposure to mercury in these operations not only endangers miners and their families, but is also detrimental to the environment when deposited into the water supply.Pathways of metal from mineralized areas in the earths crust to their final resting place as diffuse pollutants in soil and sediments and in waste dumps (Salomons, 1995)

Potential environmental impacts of metal mining- Physical impactsDestruction of natural habitat at mining site and waste disposal siteDestruction of natural habitat as a result of emissions and dischargesChanges in river regime and ecology due to flow of modification Changes in landformsLand degradation due to inadequate rehabilitation after closure Land instability/subsidenceDanger from failure of structures and damsAbandoned equipment, plant and buildings

Pollution impactsDrainage from the mining site- Acid mine drainageSediment runoff from mining sitePollution from mining into riverEffluents from minerals processing operationsSoil contaminationLeaching of pollutants from tailings, disposal, areas and contaminated soilsAir emissions from mineral processing operations and ventilation on minesDust emissions (vegatation destruction)

Occupational impactsDust inhalation Handling of chemicals, residues, productsFugitive emissions within the plantsExposure to toxic materials used on-siteAir emissions in confined spaces from transport, blasting, combustionExposure to heat, noise, vibration, radiationPhysical risks at a plant or at the site

Shematic diagram of potential environmental impacts of mining/smelting industries