Problem
Acid mine drainage
Other Names:
Toxic metal mine tailingsAcid leaching from mining residues
Nature:
Worldwide, acid mine drainage is considered the most serious environmental problem in the mining sector. Acid mine drainage occurs when the sulphides contained in mine tailings are exposed to oxygen and water to become sulphuric acid. The result pollutes the watershed causing considerable damage to the environment and imposing expensive solutions on mining companies as well as governments. Incidence:
Mining produces 15 billion tonnes of residues each year, adding to the material produced for hundreds of years. Broader Problems:
Sulphur compounds as pollutantsEnvironmental impacts from mining Strategies:
Recovering metals from mine tailings Values:
ResiduesToxicityUndermining Subject(s):
Fundamental Sciences → ChemicalsFundamental Sciences → Metallic elements and alloys
Hydrology → Hydrology
Industry → Mining
Societal Problems → Waste
Societal Problems → Poison
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Problem Type:
G: Very specific problems Date of last update
05.01.2018 – 04:14 CET