REG NUMBER: R185689X

NAME: TINOZIVASHE TAMBUDZE

WHAT ARE THE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF MINING WASTE DISPOSAL?

Mining waste is any material which is unwanted during or after the different mining processes which
include the actual extraction of all from the ground and the processing of ore to extract the mineral of
interest. This waste may include overburden removed to expose the ore, gang which may be considered
not to contain the mineral of interest at desired concentrations and the waste produced after extraction
of mineral of interest from the ore. The waste may be in liquid, solid or gaseas form. Disposal is the
collection, transportation, deposition and storage of the byproducts of mining which are not of economic
value into areas which are not being used. This disposal of mining waste has major environmental effects
some of which are outlined below.

To begin with, one of the major environmental effects of mining waste disposal is land pollution. The
general presence of solid waste material for example mine damp hips in an area where there was non
causes a change in the scenaric view of the environment. Mine dams also occupy space which can be used
for other much more productive activities like farming or which was once a habitat for animals. This then
results in lack of shelter for wild animals and may cause human wildlife conflicts as well. Mining waste
disposal also has an effect of reduction in soil quality or soil pH if the solid mine dumps get in contact with
water which will then dissolve heavy metals like Mercury and which will then infiltrate into the soil.

Another environmental effect of mining waste disposal is surface water contamination. This arises due to
the intentional deposition of heavy liquid or solid wastes containing heavy metals into surface water
bodies. This in turn reduces the amount of surface fresh water available for animals to drink. Surface water
contamination also causes a reduction in water quality. Ground water contamination is also a major effect
of mine waste disposal caused by heavy metals as well if they infiltrate the soil and reach the different
aquifers.

To continue with another major effect of mining waste disposal is acid mine drainage. This results from
the deposition of sulfide containing rocks from mining activities as waste rock into the environment. The
highly acidic liquid which when it comes from coal washeries as waste is termed acid rock drainage. The
highly acidic liquid causes an increase in soil and water pH thus making the affected locale no longer
habitable by both flora and fauna.

Furthermore, mining waste disposal can also cause air pollution. This arises due to emission of dust
pollutants generated from mine dumps which are windblown and also generated from processes like iron
smelting. This dust results in reduced vision and difficulty in breathing and as a long-term effect disease
like silicosis, asbestosis and black lung cancer. Air pollution also results in people getting chronic diseases
for example people in the Larfage area are getting chronic respiratory diseases due to the dust emissions
from the dust fumes being deposited into the atmosphere. There is also a permanent colouring of the
environmental scenaric view due to the dust emissions from the disposal of dust into the environment.
Again, as an example area around Larfage have a tainted grey colour due to dust disposal into the
atmosphere.
Moreover, mining waste disposal can also cause death of animals as a result of contamination of water
bodies by mining waste disposed into them. An example is the massacre of elephants which occurred in
the Gonarezhou National Park due to the deposition of cyanide waste into water sources. To add on,
death of plants as well can be cited as an effect of mining waste disposal as a result of an increase in soil
ph. Also alteration of the general ecology characteristics is also an effect of mining waste disposal which
arises as a result of the introduction of heavy metals the main food chain.

River siltation also results from the disposal of mining waste. This arises as a result of washing away of
solid wastes by surface run off into rivers or local streams. Ground subsidence also results from the
disposal of solid dumps onto ground which would then outweigh the load bearing capacity of the ground.
This can result in the generation of deepholes which distort the generic view of the environmental
landscape.