Mining, mineral and sustainable development

摘要

The mining and metallurgical sector is vital to the development and economic growth of any country. The products of the sector (including metallic and non-metallic minerals, construction materials or fertilizers) are not only essential for developmental activities and many industrial processes, but are also valuable source of foreign exchange earnings. With the growth of the mining industry and development of advanced extraction techniques, more areas are being identified and selected for extraction of minerals. This has led to concerns regarding the impact that mining has on the ecological health of the region and the people living in the area. Mining operations frequently involve a high degree of environmental impacts, which can extend well beyond the extent of mineralized areas. The impacts of a mining operation commence with exploration activities, extend through extraction and processing of minerals, and may continue well beyond post-closure of the operation. The nature and extent of impacts vary during the various stages of the project life. Mining activity is environmentally invasive by its nature. It causes substantial changes to the landscape, air and water in the vicinity of operations, consumes large amounts of energy and produces great quantities of waste - in many cases as much as 99 per cent of the material originally excavated.Sustainable mining and mineral development is the need of the hour if we have to provide a secure future for future generations. The World Commission on Environment and Development defines sustainable development as "... meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Abandoned land mines, unplanned mining in open areas and other unplanned mining activities which are not environment friendly, affects human health. Many organizations have brought these issues into public focus through their publications and campaigns. The lecture briefly highlights present mining scenario, global mining initiatives and best mining practices.