The Impacts of Non-Ferrous Metal Mining Operations: Pollution, Sustainable and Geopolitical Dimensions

Abstract

The sustainable issues in the mining industry encompass anthropogenic and natural activities during mine exploration, construction, and maintenance which may culminate in land-use change, with resultant deforestation, erosion, contamination, pollution and modifications of soil profiles of local, regional and global atmospheric, aquatic and terrestrial health and environments, as well as elevated noise level and pollution. The sustainability of non-ferrous metal consumption can be enhanced to diminish or extinguish the environmental impact of extraction by decreasing non-ferrous metal usage through more effective and efficient application, and offsetting increased demand via recycling and reuse to improve the overall sustainability of non-ferrous metal consumption. Locally, regionally and globally the mining industry tends to improve the environmental, economic and social performance of its activities. The effects of the mining industry on the environment in conceptual sustainability and human behaviour depict several negative impacts of mining activities. Certain instances include climate change, deforestation or habitat destruction, human-wildlife conflict, as well as the extinction of biodiversity. Prime or pivotal environmental, economic and social issues and priorities must be identified via quantitative and qualitative sources. Geopolitically, non-ferrous metal, production and productivity supplies are geographically disseminated, wherein corporations having large market shares in pivotal segments or chains of non-ferrous metals dominate mining operations.