Impacts of Extracting Rocks, Ore & Minerals (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Environmental Management): Revision Note

Environmental impacts of extracting rocks, ores & minerals

• Extracting rocks, ores, and minerals can cause many environmental problems

• These impacts can harm ecosystems, wildlife, and local communities if not carefully managed

Loss of habitat and biodiversity

• Mining often removes large areas of vegetation and topsoil

  • This destroys habitats where animals and plants live

• When habitats are lost, biodiversity—the variety of living organisms in an area—decreases

• Open-pit and strip mining can completely clear forests, grasslands, or wetlands

  • Recovery is slow because the soil and nutrients are often removed or polluted

Air, land, noise, visual and water pollution

• Air pollution—caused by dust from blasting, digging, and transporting materials

  • Machinery and vehicles also release gases such as carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide

• Land pollution—happens when waste rock and chemicals are dumped on the ground

  • This can make soil infertile and unsafe for plants or farming

• Noise pollution—created by blasting, drilling, and heavy machinery

  • Affects local wildlife and nearby communities

• Visual pollution—large mines and waste heaps change the landscape

  • They can spoil natural scenery

• Water pollution—occurs when harmful chemicals or sediments enter rivers and groundwater

  • Acid mine drainage happens when rainwater reacts with exposed rock, releasing acids and metals into water sources

Water usage

• Mining uses large amounts of water for cooling, processing, and dust control

• In dry areas, this can reduce water available for people, animals, and farming

• Contaminated water from mining sites can harm aquatic life and make drinking water unsafe

Waste management

• Mining produces waste rock and tailings that need safe disposal

  • Tailings are the leftover materials after valuable minerals are removed from ore

• Poor waste management can lead to pollution and land instability

• Properly lined and managed waste ponds can reduce environmental risks

Economic impacts of extracting rocks, ores & minerals

• Mining can bring both economic benefits and financial challenges

Positive impacts

• Creates jobs in mining, transport, and processing

• Generates income for local communities and tax revenue for governments

• Increases exports, helping national economies grow

• Can lead to new business opportunities and investment in nearby areas

Negative impacts

• Mining towns can struggle once resources run out, leading to unemployment

  • If demand for a mineral falls, mines may close suddenly, affecting the local economy

• Profits may go to foreign companies rather than local communities

• The cost of repairing environmental damage can be very high

Social impacts of extracting rocks, ores & minerals

• Mining changes how people live and work in nearby areas

Changes in employment opportunities

• Mining creates new jobs but can sometimes require skilled workers

  • Local people may not always have the right skills or training

• When mines close, workers can lose their jobs and income

Effects on local and national economies

• Mining can improve living standards if profits are used to build schools, hospitals, and roads

• However, if money is not shared fairly, it can increase inequality between rich and poor

Facilities and infrastructure

• Mining companies often build roads, housing, and power supplies to support their work

  • These facilities can benefit local communities

• However, rapid population growth around mining sites can put pressure on existing services such as water, health care, and education