What have we learned about the mining for copper that could minimise environmental impacts of mining in the future?
Copper is an inexpensive metal that occurs in abundance in communities where copper mining has occurred, such as Queenstown, Tasmania. Copper resists corrosion and an effective conductor of heat and electricity.
One positive impact of copper mining is that it has a great impact on the economy, as it is a multi purpose metal. It can be used for infrastructure, motor vehicle radiators and heating systems. In addition, it can also be used in electrical generators and motors for electrical wiring. As copper has many uses, more establishments will purchase the metal. Although it’s not as costly as gold, copper is sought out for its versatility.
In addition, copper mining promotes employment to people. In Queenstown, only so many people can get employment in sufficiently paying jobs. Copper mining gives the unemployed a chance to work as well as encouraging the flourishment in the building of new copper mines. This secures that there will be an abundance of copper to sell in bulk.
Another positive effect copper mining has on communities is the developing technology to mine copper. As copper mining occurs, the public begins to regard the states of the environment and health of the people. Through this, people can come up with innovative ideas to improve the state of the environment and prevent diseases caused by pollution.
Acid rain is any form of precipitation comprising of acidic components such as sulphuric acid, carbonic acid or nitric acid that falls from the atmosphere as rain, snow, fog, fail or dust. When sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the atmosphere, they are transported by wind and air currents. Hence, the two substances react with water, oxygen and other chemicals to for sulphuric, carbonic and nitric acids. The intense extraction of copper in Queensland is one of the causes of acid rain because the large machines that drill into the ground contributes to the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere in large masses. The roasting, smelting and converting of copper is another factor that contributes to acid rain. The ores are roasted to remove
Well, there are a few bad things about copper but there are much more positive effects than negative. An example of a negative effect would be the rain water reacting with the side products of a mine. Also the mining harms the environment in a few ways. The fact that we discovered copper lead made mining more valuable which leads to the fact that Copper is a small reason that humans mined so much. Also copper is used in military equipment such as bombers, or nuclear submarines. This equipment can be seen as either good or bad but since its only purpose is to kill people or win a conflict I am against
Some important things made from metals include cars, bridges, appliances, power generation, infrastructure, and obviously many more. Everything electrical needs copper, (which is mined), to function. A major concern for the mine is that it will pollute and destroy the nearby natural
Minerals can affect society in many ways for example; Surface mining destroys vegetation across large areas, increasing erosion. Open-pit mining uses huge quantities of water. Acid mine drainage is pollution caused when dissolved toxic materials wash from mines into nearby lakes and streams. Minerals is approximately 80 percent of mined ore consists of impurities that become wastes after processing. These wastes, called tailings, are usually left in giant piles on the ground or in ponds near the processing plants (Figure 12.9). The tailings contain toxic materials such as cyanide, mercury, and sulfuric acid. Left
The worlds copper needs can easily be met from other mining company’s and locations around the world that are safer and more practical. The mine would most often than not destroy the worlds most valuable salmon habitat and kill a ton of fisherman’s jobs. Fisherman can take up to 50% of the pacific salmon
To start, coal mining has created thousands of jobs. According to West Virginia Coal Facts, “West Virginia coal employment had 26, 619 employees” (Source C) as of 2013. Coal mining has created jobs for the citizens of West Virginia. People come to
Sadly, many men have lost their jobs and become miners. Mining is a job with a steady income; however, it brings home lung diseases and medical bills. Mining used to be this great thing everybody wanted as a job down in Appalachia. Mining effects are much greater than any other job. “Estimates suggest such accidents kill about 12,000 people a year” (“The Dangers of Mining”). In Inez, Kentucky, with a population of only 750, 6% is jobless. More jobs in the mines are becoming more of a hassle, due to the government worrying about working conditions. Siliceous, Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis (CWP), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are all side effects of coal mining and big concerns to higher officials. ("Mining Impacts"). The median household in Appalachia central is 51% lower than national average, and it is lowering by the months. The environment surrounding these counties is either polluted with smoke from the mines or has litter everywhere. Polluted areas causes species to not come back, or to even die off. In a food chain, if one thing disappears, it messes with the whole system. Working in factories and not needing a college education works out great for half the
To learn more about copper, David Pogue visits the New York Mercantile Exchange. As Pogue walks into the room hoping to exchange his crate full of copper items, he finds out that the event is for buying or selling copper futures. Besides the fact that copper isn’t as value as silver or gold, it is a valuable metal that is used in all kinds of things. Copper is in wires, electronics and computer chips, plumbing and other building materials. Copper has been prized for millennia for its unique properties.
To meet the growing demand for copper in Australia, mining is necessary but there is still a huge supply of recycled copper, as it plays a vital part in the conservation of the supply of chalcopyrite ore, which reduces energy consumption, decreases waste disposal, and conserves the environment. It is estimated that such recycling supplies 50% of copper used in the Australian copper industry. In 2010, it was reported that 770,000 metric tons of copper were recycled, at an estimated value of nearly six billion Australian dollars. First, the copper has to be reduced to a reusable form through baling. This form differs depending on the use of the copper. When the copper has gone through a process reducing it to a reusable form for industry, the final process is to transport the recycled copper to a smelter where it goes through melting, and is eventually smoothed into flat sheets for new industry
Purpose: The purpose of this experiment was to observe the many physical and chemical properties of copper as it undergoes a series of chemical reactions. Throughout this process, one would also need to acknowledge that even though the law of conservation of matter/mass suggests that one should expect to recover the same amount of copper as one started with, inevitable sources of error alter the results and produce different outcomes. The possible sources of error that led to a gain or loss in copper are demonstrated in the calculation of percent yield (percent yield= (actual yield/theoretical yield) x 100.
Being a small player in the copper industry, is both an advantage and disadvantage for MCM. They are able to do co-locations with customers that are local, which provides a value-added feature for the customer; often, shipping can be a heavy
Copper is one of the earliest elements known to man. Because of its distinct red color, Copper is very easily identified. In the ancient times, copper could be found lying in the ground in its unattached state without interaction to other substances. Copper and its compounds have many uses in today’s society.
into weapons or tools. Copper has been one of the most useful metals for over
In our days, mining for resources is inevitable. The resources we need are valuable in everyday life. Such resources mined up are coal, copper, gold, silver, and sand. However, mining poses environmental risks that can degrade the quality of soil and water, which can end up effecting us humans if not taken care of and many of the damages are irreversible once they have occurred.
There are lots of benefits that surround the mining sector. Not just the impact it would have on the economy, but other factors as well. An economic impact it has is that communities will receive revenue when mines are being established, this bring about a change and development in the local community. This is crucial especially in areas where they had little revenue coming, the mines will bring in a huge change in that environment.
The mining industry has seen an explosive growth from the past few decades. It has played an important role in economic growth, infrastructure development and a raise in the living standard of the whole world. According to the Australian National Accounting System, the mining sector has made contributions of 9.8% GDP growth to the Australian economy between 2008 to 2009 (Australia Bureau of Statistics, 2012). However, the mining industry has caused many environmental issues such as adverse effect to air, land and water quality and continues to affect global environment as a whole. According to the World Health Organization, it evaluated that 25% of worldwide death are directly associated with environmental pollution (Blacksmith Institute, n.d). This essay will outline the environmental issue raised by the mining industry with pinpoint focus on the effects to air, water and land. It will also provide strategies for mining companies to improve the environmental conditions.