Raw materials like lithium and cobalt are used for green technologies like rechargeable batteries. But mining those minerals could destroy the environment and endanger local people.
While methods and information systems exist for geological, technical, structural, political, economic supply risks, there is currently no such holistic method and information system for environmental concerns. This methodology aims to fill this gap.
Air Pollution
Air pollution is a common problem associated with raw material mining. This is due to both the energy needed for excavation and the carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels to power machines used for digging and transporting the materials. Air pollution can affect people in nearby communities, leading to respiratory problems and other health issues.
Underground mining is considered to be a less environmentally damaging method than surface or strip mining, but it is still not without its negative effects. In order to prevent dust from blowing around the site, mining companies must water it or shut down operations for 15 minutes when levels exceed the country’s safety standards.
Often the mining area is fenced off, so that the mine workers and equipment can be protected from the environment. This can lead to a loss of biodiversity as the animals and plants in the area are unable to move freely.
Another way that mining can impact biodiversity is through the use of chemicals. For example, the leaching of metals from oxidized ores requires Cyanide to be used. Cyanide kills many wildlife and can be harmful to humans as well.
The demand for raw materials is expected to continue to rise, driven by the need for new infrastructure and housing, a growing population, rising living standards, and the need for materials that will facilitate low-carbon transitions. This will inevitably increase the amount of materials extracted (IRP, 2019).
Water Pollution
Mining is a highly water-intensive industry and the extraction of raw materials often leaves contaminated soil and water behind. The contaminant levels vary depending on the type of mine and the methods used, but some examples include acidic water from metal-mining, which can poison aquatic life; heavy metals leaching into surface water; and the addition of toxic chemicals that harm human health.
In addition to contamination of the land and water, mining causes other ecological issues including damage to ecosystems and a loss of biodiversity. These effects are not restricted to the mining area; they can extend far beyond the site itself, impacting migratory routes for animals and damaging surrounding landscapes.
Some types of mining cause particularly significant damage to the environment, including strip mining, which erodes topsoil (leading to chemical leakage into waterways), and destroys local forests, habitats and landscapes. This type of mining is also notorious for causing air pollution problems and can lead to lung diseases among workers.
While the EU wants to boost production of raw materials, it will have to make concessions if the reserves are located in protected areas. But the EU needs to address the issue of environmental impacts if it wants to avoid making further damage to the world’s ecosystems, experts warn. The dumping of toxic chemicals into the environment has already been shown to have severe consequences, such as the depletion of the ozone layer and the loss of wildlife species.
Land Deforestation
Raw materials mining can cause land degradation and damage to ecosystem functions. It also causes soil erosion and contamination of the surrounding environment, especially waterways. It also contributes to climate change as it emits carbon emissions, which can affect the atmosphere and human health. Almost all types of mining have negative environmental impacts.
Besides damaging the environment, raw material mining also destroys local communities and economies. The mining industry needs a lot of land for transporting the raw materials, and as a result, forests are chopped down to make way for roads and trucks. Additionally, mine waste can cause pollution and contaminate the surrounding land, waterways and air, making it unsuitable for growing trees.
In addition, the mining process often leads to landslides and erosion. This is especially true of strip mining, which involves excavating the top layer of dirt and rock, which may erode into surface streams. When this happens, metals found in the rocks can leach into stream sediments and be carried downstream, contaminating water supplies.
The mining industry uses a lot of energy, and this can result in high emissions of greenhouse gases, causing air pollution and global warming. It is also not good for the health of local residents, as it can lead to respiratory problems and diseases such as lung cancer. This is particularly important in developing countries where the mining industry has low environmental standards and poor governance.
Water Contamination
Using water to extract raw materials from the ground, whether in gold mining for metals or coal mining for energy production, can cause contamination of waterways. The waste resulting from mining, known as “tailings,” can contain toxic concentrations of heavy metals and other chemicals. These toxic substances can be released into the water through uncontrolled releases, or through leaching of the metals from the tailings. In addition, deforestation from mining activities can reduce the capacity of water bodies to absorb rainwater and runoff.
The pollution from mining also impacts human health. The dust emitted from coal mining causes black lung disease in miners and can also harm people living nearby by contaminating food chains. The chemicals leaking from mining sites can also contaminate drinking water and make it unsafe to drink.
Despite the negative environmental impact of mining, companies that are aware of the issues can take steps to reduce their footprint. For example, the use of zero liquid discharge technology is a great way to minimize pollution from mining operations. This system intercepts contamination and uses techniques like sedimentation, dissolved air flotation, biological treatment, media filtration, activated carbon filtration, and reverse osmosis to transform the water back into high-purity distilled water. The process allows up to 95-98% of mining wastewater to be reused. This helps companies save money on water expenses while decreasing their environmental footprint.