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Earth and Human Activity: Resources
Environmental Impacts of Mining
Description
Environmental Impacts of Mining
Surface mining is one way to get useful materials like metals and minerals from the Earth. But this process can have big effects on the environment. To reach the resources, miners often remove trees, soil, and layers of rock. This changes the natural landscape and...
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Transcript
Surface mining often requires the removal of vegetation, soil, and layers of rock, altering natural landscapes and ecosystems.
This process can create large open pits and waste rock piles, destroying habitats for plants and animals
Nearby bodies of water may become polluted with sediment and toxic substances, including heavy metals r...
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