Environmental disaster is a disaster that is due to human activities and some of the most publicized environmental disasters are associated with the mining industry. These disasters are attributed to both natural and mining-related causes. Acid drainage, for example, formed by rainwater or snowmelt in contact with mineral deposits can damage nearby ecosystems by polluting streams and destroying wildlife. The mining and processing of ores, however, may accentuate and accelerate the natural processes. On a long-term basis, mining can increase the acidity of water in streams; cause increased...

Acid mine drainage (AMD) isamong the most significant environmental challenges facing the mining industry worldwide.It occurs as a result of natural oxidation of sulphide minerals contained in mining wastes at operating and decommissioned mine sites.AMD may adversely impact the surface water and groundwater quality and land use due to its typical low pH, high acidity and elevated concentrations of metals and sulphate content.Once it develops at a mine, its control can be difficult and expensive. The most effective method of control is to minimize penetration of air and water through the waste...

Mining coal has a tremendous environmental impact, so extracting the energy out of coal while it still is in the ground makes a lot of sense. Gasifying coal below ground eliminates the need to mine the coal. Underground coal gasification (UCG) has the potential to provide a clean convenient source of energy from coal seams where traditional mining methods are either impossible or uneconomic to develop. Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) or the use of geo-reactors offers tremendous potential to clean up coal energy and enable economic access to stranded coal deposits.

Concerns about the environment and development are certainly not new.However, more recently the ongoing global dialogue has formed around the strategies needed to address the interrelated challenges of building healthy societies, economies, and environments.Over the past few decades, blind optimism about the creation of a modern technological utopia has been replaced by a more realistic understanding of the forces contributing to the world's problems."Sustainability" is becoming the key and essential element in every approach we plan towards new development."Sustainability" is a challenge,...

There have been a number of incidents in the past occurred across the mining industry which have been associated with drilling and blasting in hot strata condition. Higher strata temperature affect bulk, packaged and initiating products over time, expedite the rate of degradation and potential failure which may lead to a disaster. Safety is of prime consideration while blasting and the charging blast-holes in hot strata conditions, which are to be dealt with great safety and precautions. The most important factors are the type of explosives used, the practices and procedures followed while...

Pollution can be defined as any undesirable change in the composition of air, water and soil or any segment of environment against nature. Pollution results in the deterioration of nature and the quality of environment. The environmental imbalance gives rise to various environmental problems. One of the newest technique introduced to account for the environmental burdens created by a product or a service throughout its whole life cycle. This book explains all from the sources of pollution till the latest techniques to counter pollution.