In the previous lessons, you have learned how minerals are useful to the society.

You also
encountered how these minerals are extracted from the earth.

How do these extraction processes affect the environment? What are the ways to alleviate
the negative effects of mineral extraction?

The minerals are contained in ores. After processing, only the mineral is used, and the remaining
of the ore is disposed as waste. These wastes, if not handled and managed properly, can cause
serious environmental problems.

Mining generates a lot of wastes. For example, a mine obtains one kilo of copper. In the process of
extracting one kilo, 99 kilos of wastes are removed. Simply put, ore will be one percent (1%) useful
mineral and 99% wastes. Can you imagine how much waste is produced in mining?

Mining Waste Products and Their

Management
Heavy metal wastes can seep through soil making it poisonous for plants to grow. Water sources
can be contaminated by the acid used in the mining process. Tailings, a by-product of milling ores,
can travel from the dump ponds into the water source of nearby communities. In the Philippines,
some of these wastes damaged mangroves, reefs, and impaired agriculture.

It is then crucial that waste products be controlled to prevent them from making a more pronounced
impact in our environment. There are ways to lessen the wastes and effects on the environment.

1. Recent improvements in technology enable mining companies to extract more minerals

from the ores with fewer wastes in production.
2. The mining companies must be able to plan out their sites from exploration to
rehabilitation.
3. The mining company must also ensure that they are able to restore the community that
was displaced because of their activities.
4. Tailings from mines can be zoned in and surrounded by lands so that plants can avoid
erosion of the ponds thus minimizing the possibility of seepage of the tailings.
5. Mine structures should be designed at par or even surpassing current rules and
regulations set by the government and international standards.
6. Other mining practices include reforestation, slope stabilization, maintenance for dump
facilities, managing and monitoring air and water quality, erosion control, and water
conservation.
7. There are existing laws and regulations for mining in the Philippines. One of the laws
governing mining in the Philippines is the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 or RA 7942. This
law aims primarily to establish rules and regulations of mining practices in the country and to
attract foreign investors to explore the potential of minerals in the country. At the same time,
the law also intends to balance the mining industry, the culture, and the protection of the
environment. In 2012, Executive Order (EO) 79, Series of 2012 aimed to strengthen the
provisions of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995. This EO imposed stricter rules on the
environmental protection and waste management of different mining companies.
8. The key in making mining sustainable is to implement and to practice responsible
mining. This entails determination from the mining companies to do their part in abiding the
law. Companies practicing responsible mining assure that from step one, they are looking
 forward to the rehabilitation steps that they will take after their exploitation. Responsible
miners also consider the health, livelihood, and homes of the communities that will be
affected by their ventures. However, it does not end with the mining companies. The
government and residents must also do their part in ensuring that responsible mining is
implemented.

1. Coal mines blast off rocks to get an ore, thus, dust is released through dust explosion
ignited with air. This kind of mining releases methane that contributes more to
greenhouse effect. If you were given one day to stay in a community near coal mines,
what will you do to help in giving awareness to the people living in that community?

2. What can ordinary citizens like us do to help the government and the mining
companies alleviate the environmental effects of mining?

 Mining is the primary method of mineral extraction.

 Negative environmental impacts can result from mining.
 Multiple ways are done by mining companies and small-scale miners to lessen these
negative impacts.
 The government implements laws regarding the environmental protection of areas
surrounding mining projects.
 Responsible mining is one of the keys in environmental sustainability.