Managing The Impact of Rock And Mineral Extraction (Copy)
1.4 Managing the Impact of Rock and Mineral Extraction – Cheat Sheet
Strategies for Managing and Restoring Landscapes
| Strategy | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Safe Disposal of Mining Waste | Treat and store tailings/overburden to prevent leaching of toxic chemicals into soil and water | Containment ponds for cyanide waste in gold mining |
| Soil Improvement | Replace and enrich topsoil, add fertilizers or organic matter to allow vegetation regrowth | Fertilizer application in rehabilitated coal mines |
| Bioremediation | Use of microorganisms/plants to break down pollutants and restore soil health | Oil-eating bacteria used in contaminated soils |
| Tree Planting (Reforestation) | Restores vegetation cover, reduces erosion, improves biodiversity | Replanting programmes in deforested mining areas of Ghana |
| Making Lakes & Nature Reserves | Flooding pits/quarries to form lakes, recreational areas, or protected reserves | Eden Project (UK) converted quarry into eco-tourist site |
| Using as Landfill Sites | Abandoned pits used for municipal waste disposal; reduces need for new landfill areas | Former quarries repurposed as landfill in Europe |
Written and Compiled By Sir Hunain Zia, World Record Holder With 154 Total A Grades, 7 Distinctions and 11 World Records For Educate A Change O Level And IGCSE Environmental Management Full Scale Course