CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS IN THE MINING INDUSTRY

ABSTRACT

This article examines the correlation between the comprehensiveness of underground mining of mineral resources and the environmental damage resulting from mining operations. Furthermore, it presents real figures illustrating the increasing demand for mineral resources, along with the consequent rise in mining industry waste. Based on these analyses, proposals and recommendations are provided regarding the development and implementation of new standards for subsoil use.

АННОТАЦИЯ

В данной статье исследуется взаимосвязь между полнотой подземной разработки минеральных ресурсов и экологическим ущербом, вызываемым горнодобывающими операциями. Кроме того, приводятся реальные цифры, иллюстрирующие рост спроса на минеральные ресурсы и сопутствующее увелечение объёмов отходов горнодобывающей промышленности. На основе проведённого анализа даются предложения и рекомендации по разработке и внедрению новых стандартов недропользования.

Keywords: mineral resources, mining recovery, eco mining, mining waste, environmental protection.

Ключевые слова: минеральные ресурсы, полнота извлечения, экологичная добыча, отходы горнодобывающей промышленности, охрана окружающей среды.

Introduction. Today, the issue of ecology and environmental protection is one of the most pressing challenges facing humanity, demanding the prompt implementation of a range of scientific and practical measures. Consequently, projects aimed at the rational use of resources and the reduction of adverse environmental impacts are being developed and implemented across all sectors—be it industrial enterprises or other production facilities—regardless of the field of activity. The widespread adoption of terms such as “green economy” and “green energy” over the past decade reflects the extensive efforts in this area.

Environmental protection begins with the identification and assessment of sources that harm the ecosystem. A review of the literature indicates that the largest share of environmental damage is attributed to industrial waste. Currently, the world produces 2.02 billion tons of industrial waste annually, a figure that is projected to rise to 3.04 billion tons by 2050 [1]. Among industrial wastes, those generated by the mining and metallurgical industry are increasing significantly. The environmental damage resulting from mining activities is primarily manifested in the accumulation of overburden rocks, non-beneficial ore wastes, beneficiation plant wastes, and metallurgical slags, which occupy vast areas and have detrimental effects on human populations, as well as on plant and animal life.

While the world's population continues to grow, the demand for mineral resources also increases accordingly. At the beginning of the 21st century, the global population was 6.149 billion, whereas it has now reached approximately 8.22 billion. During this period, the annual extraction of mineral resources increased from 12.396 billion tons to 18.671 billion tons [2]. Over 20 years, the extraction volume has risen by nearly 50%, which is 18% higher than the population growth rate (see Figure 1). The quantity of mineral resources per capita has grown from 1,87 tons to 2,22 tons, representing a 19% increase. Consequently, the negative environmental impact of the mining industry is also on the rise. The global reserves of ore amount to 282,5 billion tons, with a volume of 217,3 km³, and this volume is increasing by 12,3 km³ every year [3]. A large proportion of these ores is generated primarily through the mining of copper (46%), gold (21%), iron (9%), and coal, lead, and zinc (3%).

Figure 1. Graph of the population dependence of the amount of mined minerals

The extraction of mineral resources can lead not only to the degradation of natural resources, but also result in severe environmental consequences. Changes in the local microclimate, the destruction of plant and animal life, a decline in groundwater levels, ecosystem disruption, and most alarmingly, risk to human health are clear examples of this phenomenon.

Methods. In order to reduce and prevent the damage caused by the mining industry to nature, the technical and economic feasibility study of the mine planned for extraction should account not only for the degree of full recovery of mineral resources, but also for the negative impact of mining operations on ecology and the environment, as well as the measures to mitigate such impacts. This implies that subsoil use should be carried out based on the following criteria [4].

a) alongside the economic development of the enterprise, the quality of the environment should also improve;

b) simultaneously enhancing production efficiency while reducing the negative environmental impact of mining operations;

c) achieving a balance between the funds allocated for production and environmental protection and the benefits obtained.

A comprehensive assessment of the environmental impact of the mining industry can be carried out by classifying the extent and nature of natural habitat degradation caused by mining operations. Mining activities affect nature in the following ways: geomechanical, hydrological, chemical, physical-mechanical, and thermal.

The primary cause of the five aforementioned environmental impacts of mining operations is the waste generated from rock extraction and processing plant residues. In underground mining of mineral deposits, the environmental damage is lower compared to that of open-pit mining, and it results in the formation of the following rock wastes: off-balance ore, balanced and off-balance oxidized ores, overburden, surrounding rock extracted during the development of mine workings, and off-grade blocks. In the processing and beneficiation of extracted minerals, the following wastes are generated: waste from beneficiation plants, untreated effluents, sludges, filter cakes, slags and others. Despite numerous scientific studies and ongoing research aimed at reducing the environmental impact of mining activities, a comprehensive system to identify and prevent environmental damage is still lacking. Researchers primarily focus on specific aspects of pollution, such as water, land, and air pollution. Developing a model that enables a comprehensive assessment of environmental consequences and implementing it on a global scale is one of the key challenges in the field of rational and safe utilization of subsurface resources today. According to the results of 2024, the share of the industrial sector in the country's gross domestic product (GDP) amounted to 26,4%. The mining industry accounted for 12,2% of the industrial sector's output [5]. Although mining activities play a positive role in the national economy, they also lead to significant negative environmental impacts. Annually, 115 million tons of industrial waste are generated, with a large proportion attributed to mining and processing enterprises. Over the years, more than 3 billion tons of mining industry waste have accumulated in the country, occupying more than 9,000 hectares of land [6]. According to sources, in 2006, industrial waste amounted to 4,5 billion tons, covering an area of 12,000 hectares. Compared to previous years, the volume of industrial waste has decreased by 33%, while the occupied land area has been reduced by 25%. This indicates progress in recycling industrial waste and its utilization as a secondary raw material in the construction sector. However, it is still too early to celebrate these achievements. Only when the amount of annually generated industrial waste equals the amount being recycled can we consider that the negative environmental impact of the mining industry has been significantly mitigated.

Results. The majority of the environmental damage caused by mining operations is attributed to the waste from rock tailings and beneficiation plants. Therefore, the primary and urgent measures in the rational and safe utilization of subsurface resources should focus on reducing the volume and hazardous composition of waste generated after tailings and beneficiation. In other words, it is more appropriate to analyze, prevent, and reduce the factors leading to technogenic hazards rather than merely combating their consequences.

Figure 2. Graph of the dependence of additional extracted surrounding rock mass on ore dilution

Figure 2 illustrates the amount of additional surrounding rock extracted per one million tons of ore mined. It can be observed that when the dilution reaches 50%, the volume of surrounding rock extracted is equivalent to that of the ore mined. The surrounding rock extracted alongside the ore not only occupies land area as waste, but also harms the environment through its harmful and toxic compounds.

The volume of rock waste generated by underground mining of mineral resources is directly related to ore loss and dilution. The dilution in ore quality is primarily due to the concurrent extraction of waste rock along with the ore. An increase in the amount of extracted surrounding rock directly influences the volume of rock waste and tailings produced by beneficiation plants.

Conclusions. Due to ore dilution, the direct and indirect environmental damage is several times greater than the resulting economic loss. The impact of mining operations on ecology and the environment cannot be compared to or compensated by any material wealth. Therefore, when establishing normative indicators for ore loss and dilution for a specific mining method in underground mining of mineral resources, it is advisable to consider not only the technical and economic parameters but also the socio-environmental consequences of mining activities. In light of the above, developing and implementing new standards is one of the most pressing issues for today's mining industry.

References:

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