A multinational mineral producer ordered every employee to leave their posts immediately at a Central West operation. Newcrest Mining recently evacuated underground workers at its Cadia Hill Mine in...
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.
A mining magnate will transition away from diesel at multiple operations. Gina Rinehart’s Atlas Iron recently approved converting its light vehicle fleet to electric power. The entity owned by...
A foreign mine equipment company claims its new machine operates underground without harming the environment, or requiring explosives. Japan-headquartered Komatsu recently confirmed it will trial a...
How do we best care for our world, particularly its people, environment, and climate? This is one of the most important and pressing issues of our age.As a socially responsible company, Blackwoods...
A multinational company will soon be able to automate mine sites more efficiently. Worley recently acquired autonomous specialist Minera Mining Technologies to help give more machinery driverless...
A multinational resources producer fast-tracked decarbonising its heavy vehicle fleet. Anglo American recently accelerated development and commercialisation of its nuGen Zero Emissions Haulage...
A multinational company claims its new heavy vehicle offers more power and range than its rivals. Scania recently revealed its next generation battery-electric truck can carry 40 tonnes and travel up...
A mineral producer and multinational manufacturer will create a new fleet of environmentally friendly heavy vehicles. Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) recently partnered up with Liebherr to develop and...
A mining operation reported a structural failure that battered machinery and hurt one employee. A raw water tank recently failed at a Queensland coal mine, releasing large volumes of water across the...
A multinational resources company requested proposals for a new development in central and southern Queensland. Rio Tinto recently called tenders for a large-scale project that powers its Gladstone...
An outsourced employee thought his livelihood and safety was at risk when he rode an animal into a crowd of environmental protestors in Central Queensland’s Isaac region. Clinton McDonald...
A multinational resources company was sued for allegedly damaging a vital human organ in northwest Queensland. Glencore is defending Brisbane Supreme Court allegations that a toddler developed brain...