Comprehensive site for mining industry covering exploration, projects, education, technology, joint ventures, countries, research, news and environment, world wide

WASTE HANDLING

BRAZIL-
Minas Gerais -Tailings dam failure at bauxite mine
The torrential rains resulted in the overflow of 2million m³ of mud used in bauxite washing and rejects entering the Muriae River. The local authorities after testing confirmed that the mud contained no toxic waste. A similar tailings dam failure occurred during 2006 too!
more at:
Mineracao Rio Pomba Cataguases' bauxite mine at Mirai

STORING URANIUM WASTE
Australia
Storing uranium waste has always been a contentious issue. While there is acceptance for 
uranium mining, the arguments for the producer to own responsibility for storing waste has 
few takers.
also: surmounting the hurdle-storing uranium waste a pointer
16012008 

Endangered Rivers
Mining waste-containment is becoming more and more complex and in particular where the dumps are left for quite some time. Funds for strengthening has to come from the States if there is no active operator around. The funds are less likely to be available readily. It is a paradox that when disaster strikes much more funds are required for damage control and sometimes the situation goes beyond control and extending over contiguous properties or even countries. Such situations do not wait for fund mobilization.
The landslide in Kyrgyzstan points to a dangerous situation over which not much control is at hand unless resources on a massive scale is found to contain and prevent a situation. There could be more Myli-Say's and it is time to take a hard look and take stock of the situations and initiate a concerted effort.

Myli-Say River - Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan - Landslide concerns near uranium dumps
300000 cubic meters changed the course of the Myli-Say River due to landslide. The river is closer to the waste dumps including from the old uranium mine. Though the waste dumps are not touched by the change in course, the rains expected in May are a cause of worry as millions of people in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan could be at risk if the radio active waste gets into the river.
related:
Funds required to strengthen the dumps  Threat from Radio active wastes and flood  
also: An Assessment of minerals in Kyrgyzstan

USA - Susquehanna River 
100 years of coal mining catches up with Susquehanna once named a heritage river,
$3.2 billion needed to arrest deterioration

Mining, tailings and Cyanide
Want to know what tailings are and how cyanide is used in mining for leeching? This is the place to get educated on the generation of tailings, processes involved and issues involved in the disposal of tailings. The virtual tour of a South African gold mine explaining the mining, extraction and refining processes is worth taking. 

US clean-up of abandoned mines, mercury
Abandoned mercury mines / Clean up initiative
The presence of abandoned mercury mines in the neighborhood is of serious concern in view of the capacity of mercury to spread andbioaccumulation as well as the huge cost for treatment of water. It is estimated that one gram of mercury could pollute eighty million liters of water. The sequences of mercury toxity is beginning to open the legacies of the Gold Rush.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seriously concerned about this issue and is taking up the clean up by creating a list of Superfund sites.

Environment/issues/mining waste
Containment of radioactive waste has always posed problems and since this is an issue that could affect future generations, has always caused apprehension. And justifiably so. Disasters in containment failures as at Spain and elsewhere advises caution in the disposal and containment of 
nuclear wastes. Developments at different locations like USA, Australia and Kyrgyzstan draw our attention. The impact of mining on the environment has brought in such awareness that specialized courses are offered on this subject.
 

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