Mining produces a lot of waste which should be disposed of properly. Improper waste disposal leads to soil, water and air pollution. There are various types of mining. They include coal mining, metal, landfill mining, oil and gas extraction and non-metal ore mining. This means there are also different types of mining waste. These include:
- Mine Wastewater: This wastewater is produced using different ways in mines and possesses different contamination levels. Water exposed to mining processes is acidic and can pollute the local water sources. This process, commonly referred to as acid mine drainage, contributes to water pollution. To decrease the amount of this water generated in mining sites, careful monitoring of the water and proper water management strategies are required.
- Sludge: Sludge is similar to mine wastewater; it’s produced in some mine sites. The underlying difference being that sludge has additions of processing chemicals and solids. Sludge has next to no economic value, which is why it is disposed of as waste. The sludge may be classified as hazardous waste if it has radioactive or other harmful material. To dispose of this, special handling and disposal methods are required.
- Gangue: This refers to the rock waste that is mixed in together with the valuable mineral being mined for and needs to be processed. Mineral processing is the separation of the mineral from the gangue. To make sure all the minerals are extracted from the gangue, it is reprocessed a few times.
- Waste rock: This is the huge mass of initial rock and soil that is separated from the earth in order to get to the deposit of minerals. Approximately five tons of waste rock are usually displaced to mine one ton of mineral ore.
- Overburden: Despite overburden mining not being subjected to any chemical process, it must be removed for miners to reach the ores. Overburden is managed by piling it on a surface near the site where it won’t hinder the mining operations in progress. Additionally, maintaining the slope and height of the overburden dump prevents accidents. Overburden dumps can be reclaimed by various tree species as plants improve the moisture content, pH and nutrient content of the soil.
- Mine Tailings: These are another example of solid mine waste. They are a mud-like material, a product of mineral processing. They are toxic and may contain large traces of processing chemicals. They should not be released into the environment because of this and are instead pumped using slurry pumps into the tailing ponds. These ponds are used to store and hold waste.
Some mining waste can also be recycled. This is done by either using the waste for internal construction or reprocessing waste material to retrieve additional minerals. Waste material from mines may also be reutilized in the construction of haul roads and impoundments.
As more mining companies, such as Bullfrog Gold Corp. (CSE: BFG) (OTCQB: BFGC) (FSE: 11B), are starting to move towards better disposal methods that don’t damage the environment, it is important to note that different mines produce different types of waste. This is why it is crucial to identify and understand the waste type produced by your mine and find ways to manage and dispose of it appropriately. Implementation of the latest technologies and methods may make waste disposal more reliable and efficient as well.
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