The environment and the adverse effects of mining factors

Abstract

There are two aspects to the environmental problem resulting from man's exploitation of mineral resources. The first is connected with water and air pollution which accompanies extraction and particularly the processing of natural products. Besides,open—cast mining leads to the irretrievalbe loss of large territories including arable land. Of these, dumping grounds alone can be regained for agricultural cultivation through rehabilitation. As to the areas occupied by quarry basins, which are often gigantic in size, like, for instance, the copper quarries of Zambia? they are lost to agriculture forevero Vast areas of land are also occupied by siting metallurgical,mining petrochemical industrial complexes.This document contains information on The environment and the adverse effects of mining factors, of the Regional Conference on the Development and Utilization of Mineral Resources in Africa.