Presented By: Pranjit Sharmah

BSc. Part III (Geology)

J. B. College, Jorhat, 2013

DUMPING OF MINING WASTE

INTRODUCTION

Mining Waste:Mining operation brings out all sorts of unwanted materials,

which is known as mining waste.

Mining waste can be defined as a part of the materials that

result from exploration, mining and processing of substance

governed by legislation on mines and quarries.

Mining operation also produce diverse kind of potentially

hazardous waste.

WASTE GENERATED BY THE DIFFERENT MINING

STEPS

Each of the ore mining and processing steps can generate mining waste. This waste generally has different physical and chemical properties.

The chemical composition of the waste varies considerably according to the substance mined and nature of geological formation containing deposit.

The main types of mining waste in addition to top soil and overburden can be classified as:-

Waste rock

Tailings

Temporary stock piles

Slags

WASTE ROCK

TAILINGS

STOCKPILES

SLAG DUMPS

DUMPING OF MINING WASTE

The disposal of materials left after the process of

separating the valuable fraction from the

uneconomic part of an ore is called dumping of

mining waste.

Following steps are generally involved in the design of a waste rock dump (tailing dams in general ):-

Site selection

Material handling

Stability

Continual monitoring

TAILING DAMS

ENVIRONMENTAL IMAPACTS

Although, dumping of mining waste is crucial in any mining operation but it has also deadly impact on various components of environment. Dumping of mining waste causes substantial impact on:

Soil and vegetation

Water resource

Air quality and so on.

IMPACT ON LAND BY TAILINGS DAM FAILURE

IMPACT ON WATER BODIES

IMPACT ON AIR QUALITY

MANAGEMENT OF DUMPING WASTE

In recent years, the mining industry has placed increasing emphasis on finding solutions to mine waste management issues that are both environmentally sound and cost effective.

Safe disposal of mining waste.

Long term security and environmental protection.

Safety and stability of dams

Recycling : Coarse mining waste and especially barren rock is sometimes considered as materials for roads, building foundations or cement factories, depending on its geotechnical and geochemical characteristics.

MINE WASTE REHABILITATION

LEGISLATION

Mining activity has subjected it to a body of national legislation known as the Mining Code.

International law, including the Stockholm Declaration and the Rio Declaration, recognizes that nations have a right to exploit their own natural resources following their own particular environmental policies.

No nation may undertake activities within its borders that will cause significant injury to another nation,

AWARENESS

The industry and government have responded with

a number of initiatives and regulations to protect

and manage the environmental effects of mining

activities.

Public participation can also forge lines of

communication among communities, the project

proponent, and the government, that will continue

through to project implementation or other future

projects.

Recycle , Reuse and Rehabilitation of Mine wastes.

CONCLUSION

Safe disposal of mine waste

. Humans must focus on understanding the

character, stability, impact, remediation and reuse

of the mine waste.

Currently, extensive planning for and caring out

environmentally conscious mining activities of site

cleanup and rehabilitation of mine waste are of

primary concern.