Mining and the Environment

From Ore to Metal

Karlheinz Spitz, John Trudinger

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Year: 2019
• eBook ISBN: 9781351183642
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Subtopic: Ecology
• Index: Biological Sciences

The history of mining is replete with controversy of which much is related to environmental damage and consequent community outrage. Over recent decades, this has led to increased pressure to improve the environmental and social performance of mining operations, particularly in developing countries. The industry has responded by embracing the ideals of sustainability and corporate social responsibility.

Mining and the Environment identifies and discusses the wide range of social and environmental issues pertaining to mining, with particular reference to mining in developing countries, from where many of the project examples and case studies have been selected. Following an introductory overview of pressing issues, the book illustrates how environmental and social impact assessment, such as defined in "The Equator Principles", integrates with the mining lifecycle and how environmental and social management aims to eliminate the negative and accentuate the positive mining impacts. Practical approaches are provided for managing issues ranging from land acquisition and resettlement of Indigenous peoples, to the technical aspects of acid rock drainage and mine waste management. Moreover, thorough analyses of ways and means of sharing non-transitory mining benefits with host communities are presented to allow mining to provide sustainable benefits for the affected communities. This second edition of Mining and the Environment includes new chapters on Health Impact Assessment, Biodiversity and Gender Issues, all of which have become more important since the first edition appeared a decade ago.

The wide coverage of issues and the many real-life case studies make this practice-oriented book a reference and key reading. It is intended for environmental consultants, engineers, regulators and operators in the field and for students to use as a course textbook. As much of the matter applies to the extractive industries as a whole, it will also serve environmental professionals in the oil and gas industries.

Karlheinz Spitz and John Trudinger both have multiple years of experience in the assessment of mining projects around the world. The combination of their expertise and knowledge about social, economic, and environmental performance of mining and mine waste management has resulted in this in-depth coverage of the requirements for responsible and sustainable mining.

Index

acceptance criteria 406, 761, 763, 764

acid: acid rock drainage (ARD) 20, 21, 92, 166, 167, 331, 366, 451, 456–457, 461, 464, 469, 471, 472, 473, 478, 490, 626–647, 707, 720, 745, 753–755; neutralizing capacity (ANC) 79, 636, 637; producing potential (see NAPP (net acid production potential))

affected communities 27, 44, 54, 93, 102, 114, 118, 119, 124, 286, 359, 364, 381, 382, 402, 449, 505, 516, 517, 536, 538, 545, 551–553, 559, 579, 599, 602, 603, 605, 694, 779, 788

air pollutant 230, 475

alternatives see project alternatives

amalgamation 13, 146, 161, 190, 191, 208

anoxic limestone drains (ALDs) 645, 646

anthropological surveys 505, 591

APELL (Awareness and Preparedness for Emergencies at Local Level) 374, 375, 485, 486

aquatic environment 261, 351, 477, 490, 720

arsenic (As) 22, 88, 92, 96, 131, 149, 176, 197, 203, 225, 316, 412, 414, 418, 420, 421, 461, 626, 631, 733

artisanal mining 13, 131, 161, 172, 187, 188, 190–192, 296, 449, 480, 519, 520

asbestos 93, 425–427

assets, loss of 491, 499, 500, 509

Atlas Copper Mine, Philippines 189, 691

atmosphere 62, 201, 202, 226–231, 233, 239, 245, 271, 314, 436, 437, 440–442, 475, 476, 487, 491, 556, 613, 633, 654, 655, 673

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Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• Acknowledgements
• About the Authors
• Chapter 01 Minerals, Wealth, and Progress
• Chapter 02 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment: Protection Before Exploitation
• Chapter 03 Health Impact Assessment
• Chapter 04 Involving the Public: Forging Partnerships and Trust
• Chapter 05 The Anatomy of a Mine
• Chapter 06 Mining Methods Vary Widely: From Excavation to In-situ Leaching
• Chapter 07 Converting Minerals to Metals: From Ore to Finished Product
• Chapter 08 Our Environment: A Set of Natural and Man-made Features
• Chapter 09 The Baseline: Understanding the Host Environment
• Chapter 10 Identifying and Evaluating Impacts: Linking Cause and Effect
• Chapter 11 Cumulative and Transboundary Impact Assessment
• Chapter 12 Emphasizing Environmental and Social Management and Monitoring: Managing What Matters
• Chapter 13 Metals, Their Biological Functions and Harmful Impacts: Metals are Naturally Occurring Elements
• Chapter 14 Coal: Its Use as Fuel, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• Chapter 15 Was the Environmental Assessment Adequate?: Identifying Issues, Finding Solutions
• Chapter 16 The Range of Environmental and Social Concerns: Separating Fact From Fantasy
• Chapter 17 Land Acquisition and Resettlement: When Property and Development Rights Collide
• Chapter 18 Community Development: Ensuring Long Term Benefits
• Chapter 19 Indigenous Peoples Issues: Respecting the Differences
• Chapter 20 Gender in the Mining Industry
• Chapter 21 Biodiversity and Conservation
• Chapter 22 Acid Rock Drainage: The Unseen Legacy
• Chapter 23 Tailings Disposal: Concepts and Practices
• Chapter 24 Approaches to Waste Rock Disposal: Issues and Risks
• Chapter 25 Erosion: The Perpetual Disruptive Forces of Water and Wind
• Chapter 26 Mine Closure: It is not Over When it is Over
• Chapter 27 Looking Ahead
• Index