In this Lesson we are going to learn about the Effect of mining on the Environment
Answer Text: Effect of mining on the Environment 1. Renders land useless for other economic activities such as agriculture (dereliction) due to open pits left on land and heaps of rock waste litter dumped on land. 2. Pollutes the environment e.g. atmospheric pollution from dust and smoke from tractors and trucks, water pollution from spilling of oil from offshore oil drilling andsoil pollution from chemicals and explosives used in mining. 3. Leads to loss of bio-diversity due to destruction vegetation which also destroys habitats of various animals leading to their destruction also. 4. Causes soil degradation e.g. by loosening the soil which makes it vulnerable to agents of erosion like wind and water, tractors and trucks compact the soil making water infiltration difficult and chemicals used interfering with soil chemical composition making it unsuitable for agriculture. 5. Causes mass wasting when explosives and heavy equipment used in mining shake the ground making weathered materials to move faster down slope under the influence of gravity.
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