AMSJ » ENVIRONMENT

Category - ENVIRONMENT

Environmental management now dominates a range of activities performed by mining companies globally. Mature mine operates recognise that their ‘license to operate’ is often determined by their past environmental performance and future plans to ensure that the environment impacted by mining operations is returned to, at the very least, pre-mining conditions.

Mining Environmental Issues and impacts of mining can occur at various stages of the mining life cycle. Exploration, Construction, Mining Operations, Closure and Remediation.

The environmental hazards of each activity and the impact of those activities can be determined by a range of factors including:

  • The ore being mined;
  • Characteristics of the ore body and its proximity to high impact areas;
  • Ecosystem existing prior to mining activities and its’ sensitivity to the impact of mining operations;
  • Methods of mining:
  • Equipment used in the mining process including but not limited to production and ore processing equipment.

Typically the primary environmental concerns from mining activities include acid mine drainage, heavy metal contamination from leaching, chemical pollution from processing activities and control of erosion and sedimentation, dust deposition and environmental noise, however, there may be other impacts.

Effective environmental management in mining controls the impact of the mining activity in relation to the contamination of air, land and water and the subsequent impact of changes to the normalised conditions on the surrounding ecosystem.

Mining environmental issues management also interfaces with safety management in many organisations. Through understanding the impacts of the environment on personnel and the ecosystem in which they operate, miners may continue to build a sustainable industry.

Australasian Mine Safety Journal provides a range of information, case studies and news on the environmental issues and impacts of mining.

South32 mine

Disaster damages mine infrastructure

Dangerous weather caused destruction to a major resources operation. Tropical Cyclone Megan recently impacted on South32’s Groote Eylandt Mining Company (GEMCO) mine. The category-four system...

Gainwall highwall mining unit

New Qld coal project referred for final assessment

A proposed Bowen Basin mine is one step closer to construction. Federal assessment is underway for Vitrinite’s Vulcan South Coal Mine, about 230km southwest of Mackay. Federal Environment and...

Bluvein truck

Employers fast track electric heavy vehicles

Two multinational companies agreed to quickly roll out eco friendlier trucks across multiple mine sites. Hitachi Energy and BluVein recently approved a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) to...

Avebury mine

Mine collapses after failing to find new owner

Dwindling commodity prices forced a struggling resources operation into receivership. A near 42 per cent drop in nickel spot prices prompted Mallee Resources to transition its Avebury mine into care...

Samarco

Mining giants ordered to pay $14B in compensation

Multinational resources companies were urged to settle multi-billion debts in relation to a catastrophic failure. BHP, Vale and their Samarco joint venture should pay compensation for the 2015...

Dartbrook Coal Mine

$300M coal mine secures final funding for reopening

A fossil fuel revival received the last funds needed to resume production. Australian Pacific Coal (AQC) recently finalised a new three-year US$60 million (A$90M) debt facility with Vitol Asia. This...