Mining
Mining is the extraction of mineral from the earth. It is a money making process where often not only mining companies prosper but governments make money from revenues. The economy also prospers as workers are needed to run the mine and some large mines require over 50,000 men and women to help run the mine. Workers will receive income and benefits and this may help poorer families to earn more income. The minerals and metals have many useful properties and can be used throughout the world. Manganese is a key component in stainless steel and can also decolour glass. Tantalum is used in mobiles and laptops. Copper and tin are used for pipes, cookware and more. Gold, silver and diamonds are used for jewellery. Gold can also be used for fast connection wiring while diamond is the hardest material.
Large-Scale Mining
Large-Scale Mining usually involves a company with employees. They mine at one or two large sites and continue mining till the minerals are completely excavated. It is also very destructive to the environment. Trees, plants and all vegetation are cleared and burned to make the ground completely bare for mining operations. It also involves using huge bulldozers and other large machines to extract the metals and minerals from the soil. Not only that but they use chemicals such as cyanide or mercury. These poisonous chemicals are often released into streams, bays and oceans contaminating fish and other sea creatures.
Small-Scale Mining
Small-scale mining is made up of a small group of men migrating from place to place while looking for precious minerals, particularly gold. It sometimes can have an even more devastating effect on the environment then large-scale mining. Procedures made by miners often release large amounts of fine-grain material which may clog rivers and increase the risk of flooding. Also when gold is excavated without proper equipment, thousands of tons of metallic mercury may escape into the environment before being converted into methylated mercury which is even more toxic. It then enters the food chain and begins to make its way towards infecting humans. Once humans have eaten contaminated fish, mercury ends its cycle inside our bodies where it can result in a number of diseases. Contaminated water is also unsafe to bath in and wash or cook food with. Overall small-scale mining though small is deadly!