The Pros And Cons Of Surface Mining

Mining is the process of digging beneath surface of the earth and extracting minerals and other useful geological materials. There are two main categories that mines fall into; surface mines and underground mines. Surface mines are effective at extracting minerals and geological materials that are close to the surface of the earth while underground mines are designed to extract minerals and geological materials that are deep beneath the surface of the earth. One of the most common materials that are extracted from the earth by mining is coal. Worldwide there are approximately 24,000 active coal mines. Mining is an important economic activity in both many more developed countries and many lesser developed countries. The process of mining has many advantages to the world but is also having a negative affect on the land cover of the Earth.
Mining is occurring because of the desire and need for the minerals and geological materials that are being extracted. The products extracted from the mines are used in many ways and the world today would be very different if these mined products were not
This destruction has a poor effect on the land cover of the area. Surface mining has led to large amounts of deforestation and the destruction of forests previously occupied by animal species. This destruction has occurred because of the need to clear the land to make room for the mine. In these cases it is unfortunate for the environment that it is often the mining and extraction of the minerals that take priority over the land. When mining harmful radioactive elements and metallic dust may be exposed and pose a threat. Even after mines close down and are no longer in use, the harmful pollutants often remain in the soil and the rivers remain contaminated with heavy metals. This continues to have an impact on the growth of plant life and the land cover of the site for many years to