4 ms·
Even worse than the act of disassembling a mountain is the processing of all of that rock - which concentrates huge amounts of harmful materials that would neve
by eigenvector 8y ago
Even worse than the act of disassembling a mountain is the processing of all of that rock - which concentrates huge amounts of harmful materials that would never appear in such great concentration and quantity naturally - and subsequently leaving it there permanently in massive tailing ponds that are one dam breach from wiping out millenia-old ecosystems downstream.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Polley_mine_disaster https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Polley_mine_disaster
- crumpets 8y ago>and subsequently leaving it there permanently in massive tailing ponds Not permanent. They can be reclaimed, but that usually doesn't happen for many years until after the end of life for the mine.
- ghouse 8y agoReclamation does not un-concentrate the materials found in the impoundment. Typically a "Mine Plan of Operations" which includes the reclamation plan is a contouring of the topography and vegetation. Some mines require indefinite groundwater treatment due to leaching from tailings ponds or other mine activity. The cost responsibility for this _indefinite_ process is sometimes borne by the state following bankruptcy of a mine.