Hobbies And Interests
Land Destruction
As with fossil fuels, much of the easy-to-reach minerals have already been extracted from the earth. This means mining companies are looking to more and more remote areas to find natural deposits. When they are found, a mine, access roads and processing facilities have to be built. This can result in the destruction of acres of forest and water courses. This is damaging for the animals that live in the surrounding areas and for nearby human populations.
Sulfuric Acid
Sulfide metals are metal elements attached to sulfur in their raw state. Underground these minerals are submerged in groundwater and so have no exposure to the air. Once they are mined out, the sulfur reacts with the oxygen in the air to create sulfuric acid. As the minerals are extracted with a lot of water, the sulfuric acid can easily find its way into the water and seep into the ground polluting the local land and water sources. In mining, this process is called acid rock drainage.
Water Use
Although a lot of water is extracted along with the minerals, mining still requires large amounts of water to cool machinery, process the materials and for use by workers at the mine. This can mean large quantities of water extraction from local sources and even the redirecting of rivers. This is damaging for the local environment, fish populations and for agriculture.
Human Safety
Mining is not a safe profession at the best of times. Strict health and safety laws have been passed in the U.S. along with other developing nations, but in other countries, like China, very few safety regulations are observed.