Impact of rock and mineral extraction: Practice Questions

Which of the following describes the most direct environmental impact of subsurface (shaft) mining on the local landscape?

Which technique is used during land restoration to remove toxic heavy metals from the soil using specifically selected plants?

Which of the following is a social impact of rock and mineral extraction that can be considered a benefit to the local community?

Which of the following is considered a negative environmental impact of mineral extraction?

An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) identifies that a proposed mine site will generate acid mine drainage. Which is the most likely cause of this impact?

Identify two negative social impacts, other than air or water pollution, that may affect a local community during the active mining phase.

Evaluate how the opening of a large-scale mine can lead to both improved local infrastructure and a simultaneous decline in air quality for a neighboring community.

A rural community is situated 5 km downstream from a proposed large-scale open-pit copper mine. The area is currently used for subsistence farming and is located near a primary river system that provides water for both irrigation and domestic use.

(a) Discuss how the management of mining waste (tailings) and overburden could lead to water pollution in the local river system.
(b) Explain the potential social impacts on the community regarding their health and local economy during the mine's operation.
(c) A critic of the project suggests that the visual pollution and noise pollution will permanently damage the area's potential for future ecotourism. Evaluate this claim by suggesting one way the mining company could minimize these specific impacts during the extraction phase.