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Is mining waste just rocks and dirt? Or is it chemicals? tbh I don’t see a problem with dumping rocks and dirt in the ocean
by Dig1t 3y ago
Is mining waste just rocks and dirt? Or is it chemicals?
tbh I don’t see a problem with dumping rocks and dirt in the ocean
- dragonwriter 3y agoRocks and dirt are aggregates of chemicals, and different kinds of rocks and dirt are made up of different chemicals. Mining waste includes the chemicals from the ground, and chemicals used in the mining process (and chemicals produced in the interaction between the two.) Obviously, with significantly less of whatever was being mined, since the whole goal is to extract that from the first by use of the second.
- Modified3019 3y agoThe problem is that the rocks exhumed in mining are chemicals, which then release all that 100% natural heavy metal and arsenic. The surface of the earth has the benefit of being weathered, with most of the nasty stuff leached away or covered up, but it can be surprising much stuff the water running through debris or mine holes can pick up. Especially since we tend to choose to make mines in areas where there’s especially a lot of nasty stuff. I can’t speak to the actual danger presented, but this is a pretty reasonable thing to throw up a fuss about.
- Dig1t 3y agoDoesn’t this same thing happen with geological processes all over the world? Like when a volcano explodes or forms under water?
- Modified3019 3y agoYes, volcanoes are well known for toxic things they release. It is debatable whether stopping a volcano is harder than stopping a mining company from ignoring it’s responsibilities.
- refurb 3y agoBy that logic if there is a landslide happening at the coast, then we should marshal all available resources to stop it?
- Modified3019 3y agoLandslides because the area is already highly weathered, so the relative risks of exposing bad things is much lower. Even then, it can sometimes result in increased pollution of drinking water sources, in which case remediation needs to happen. Given that most landslides tend to happen in poorer countries, this isn’t always the case.
- iancmceachern 3y agoSulfur, salt, mercury, arsenic, lead, are all rocks or in rocks
- e12e 3y agoSee my earlier comment: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38983228 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38983228
- racketcon2089 3y ago[flagged]
- Dig1t 3y agoThat was not a very nice thing to say, it was an honest question asked in good faith.
- racketcon2089 3y agoWhat does the word honest mean, I have no choice but to post here instead of using a search engine