Mining

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//__ Mining- Shalith Liyanage __//



//** __What is mining? __ **//


 * Mining is the industry or process of extracting coals, minerals and metals from the earth. Things usually retrieved by mining include iron, uranium, diamonds, coal, limestone and base metals. Anything that cannot be grown or farmed, or made artificially is mined most of the time. A more general definition for mining would be the extraction of any non-renewable source such as water, natural gas or petroleum. **


 * //__How mining works__// **


 * There are two main types of mining techniques: surface mining and sub-surface mining. Surface mining is a lot more common. This process produces 85% of minerals in the United States (including 98% of metallic ores). The less common sub-surface mining is done by digging tunnels or shafts into the earth to get ore deposits. They use tunnels and shafts to bring it up. **

// ** __Environmental Impact __ ** //

**The nature of mining proces****ses creates a negative impact on the environment during the mining operations and afterwards. The impact of these mines has led to most of the world's nations changing the regulations to moderate the negative effects of mining operations. Safety is also a concern as well, though modern practices have improved safety in mines significantly.** **The environmental impact that mining includes formation of sinkholes, loss of biodiversity, erosion, and the contamination of groundwater, soil water and surface water due to chemicals of the mining process. Sometimes, miners may cut down more trees near the mines to increase the space for the storage of the soil and debris. The leakage of the chemicals may affect the health of the local population if it isn't controlled. A severe example of pollution due to mining includes coal fires which can last in between a few years up to a few decades, and cause a great amount of environmental damage.**

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