The same geological processes that have created the mountains of the world have also produced rich mineral belts including gold, copper, zinc, lead and coal. Today, mining is the most common heavy industry within mountainous regions of developing countries and includes a diverse range of operations and final products.Mining activities produce waste that can have serious impacts on the health and well-being of people and the environment. These impacts may continue for long after the mine has closed and any benefits exhausted (so-called legacy issues). Managing large amounts of mine waste is challenging in any environment, but is made especially difficult in mountain regions, where steep slopes, terrain instability, seismic activity and adverse weather conditions add another level of complexity and risk to mine safety and waste management.

Year: 2016

From collection: Waste Management Outlook for Mountain Regions - Sources and Solutions

Cartographer: Hisham Ashkar