Mines and Quarries
Although mining and quarrying has become an exact science in modern times with vast technological developments in the field, it produces quite a colossal amount of waste during the process. Contaminants of mining and quarrying consist mainly of slurries of rock particles that arise mainly from rainfall washing exposed surfaces and haul roads or also from rock washing and grading processes. These inert contaminants are abundantly generated during the extraction and on-site processing of materials such as coal, china clay, slate, metalliferous and vein materials.
Waste produced during mining and quarrying consists of solid lumps of rock in which the material was found or might also appear as sludge-like or liquid as a result of the natural seepage of underground water during mining, or from the application of wastewater used to cool drilling equipment. Although the waste generated is normally chemically inert and stable enough to be easily deposited on the land without pre-treatment, it has to be noted that some waste may contain high levels of metals that can have a harmful effect on wildlife and plants.
Oils and hydraulic oils are also common contaminants of mine and quarry wastewater. However, at times, along with the ore minerals, some undesirable ore contaminants produced from processes such as crushing and extraction also begrime the water. In case of metal mines, this includes unwanted metals such as zinc and other materials such as arsenic. Even, extraction of high value metals such as gold and silver may generate slimes containing very fine particles where physical removal of contaminants becomes particularly difficult. And when the waste is vented out into rivers and other water bodies, it tends to have highly detrimental effect on plant and animal life.
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is continually depleting with its increasing demand. Key reasons that account for the growing demand of water.