Disasters and problems associated with mining

1. Disasters and
problems
associated
with mining
Marta Navarro Uriel
Laura Ferrer Montañés

2. Introduction
What is mining?
Mining is the extraction of minerals, metals and
other materials from earth.
Mining of stone and metal has been done
since pre-historic times.
Minerals are a nonrenewable resource, and because of
this, the life of mines is finite.

3. Mining around the world

4. Environmental impacts
- Habitat modification.
- Changes in topography and landscape.
- Surface and groundwater contamination.
- High levels of residues.
- Fugitive dust emissions.
- Changes in land - use and soil management.
- Climate change considerations.

5. Work in the mines
Agents
Dust
everywhere Air
poor
Temperature
high
Water
inundation

6. In addition…
- Human factors
- Organization
- Mining equipment machinery
- Explosive and flammable chemicals
- Climatology

7. Consequences
Diseases
Falls
DISASTERS
Explosions
Collapses
Landslides

8. Collapses
1997 – Tanzania: more than 1000 dead (gold).
2000 – Sierra Leone: 150 dead (diamond).
2006 – Tasmania: 14 escape.
2006 – Chile: 70 miners were trapped.
2010 – Chile: 33 miners were trapped, rescued.

9. Explosions
- 1906 – France: worst disaster in Europe, 1099 dead.
- 1913 – Wales: 439 dead.
- 1942 – China: 1549 dead.
- 1991 – China: 147 dead.
- 1992 – Turquía: 267 dead.
- 1994 – Filipinas: 119 dead.
- 2000 – China: 162 dead.
- 2002 – China: 164 dead.
- 2004 – China: 148 y 166 dead - in 2 explosions.

10. Ecological disaster
The Doñana Ecological Disaster, 1998, a toxic spill of
acid waste rich in heavy metals from the processing
of pyrite ore.

11. 1) Dam breaks and
spillage of 5 million cubic
meters.
2) Six kilometers from the
park.
3) The contaminated
water has arrived at the
Guadalquivir mouth.
The Malandar beach is
affected by the spillage.

12. Bibliography
- Actas del I Congreso Internacional de Minería y Metalurgia
en el contexto del a historia de la humanidad: psado,
presente y futuro.
Editor: Josep M. Mata – Perelló.
- Guía para la identificación, evaluación y prevención de
riesgos laborales en minería.
- http://www.wsws.org
- http://www.mining.com/
- http://es.euronews.net/
- http://www.elnuevodiario.com.ni/

13. - Revista: La minería y el Medio Ambiente, el
recorrido de los minerales.
AEMA, ENDESA, Fundación SAMCA,
Gobierno de Aragón.

14. “Grow and die
underground”
Thank you
for your
attention