The Purpose of Environment Rehabilitation After Mining

Mining is a critical industry with several important social and economic benefits providing materials, employment and indirectly generated wealth. Unfortunately, however, mining activity can result in severe environmental impacts and for this reason, is a very important topic. The purpose of rehabilitation of a mine site during operations or after its life is to return the original ecosystem as close as possible, in terms of structure, function and dynamics to a pre-determined land use.

Mining takes place throughout the world and consequently in a range of different climates and landscapes. This means that the impacts of mining are site specific and that rehabilitation practices will also be shaped by local environmental conditions. There is little choice in where mining occurs as it depends on the location of the minerals. As a result, there is often competition relating to land use between mining and for example urbanisation, agriculture and conservation. Mining operations are therefore required to comply with comprehensive measures to control their environmental impacts.

The extent and nature of environmental impacts can range from minimal to significant depending on various factors associated with each mine but are generally confined locally. These factors include: the characteristic of the ore body; the type of technology and extraction methods used in mining and the on-site processing of minerals; and the sensitivity of the local environment. Apart from direct physical impacts of extractive activities, contamination of air, land and water may also result. However, mining in isolation may not be the main land use that upsets ecological systems, as environmental effects are cumulative in nature and other past activities or events may have contributed to these effects.

Today, the public demands a high standard of rehabilitation and many mining companies apply considerable effort and funding in this area. If left alone, the environmental implications open the site to further degradation, such as soil structure decline and toxicities, contaminate local water bodies and species loss and ultimately render the land completely unusable. The social and economic costs are also just as immeasurable which has created a necessity for well informed and developed environmental management practices.