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Hydraulic mining techniques, used primarily in rain forests, blasting away at river banks, clearing floodplain forests, and using heavy machinery to expose potential gold-yielding gravel deposits is probably the most damaging. Gold is usually extracted from this gravel using a sluice box to separate heavier sediment and Mercury for amalgamating the precious metal. While most of the mercury is removed for reuse or burned off, some may end up in rivers. The rain forest ecosystem is rather fragile - with most of the nutrients tied up in the plants that are uprooted and destroyed during the process. The remaining mud and gravel cannot support plant growth to any significant degree so the mined area remains desolate for a very long time after the mining operations move on. Adding the heavy metal pollution to this only makes it that much worse.

Next in damage would probably be strip mining followed by acid leaching where the runoff from the leaching is a highly toxic solution of heavy metals and acids and the mined ground is incapable of sustaining plant growth unless the mining operation is willing to invest in bringing in fresh soil to replace what was stripped off. Even if they do, there is still the problem of the toxic runoff from the tailings piles generated from the mining and refining operations.

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Related Questions

What mining material harms the environment the most?

The mining and burning of coal is the most damaging to the environment.


Mining methods for detrital and residual clay?

Strip mining is the most common method.


Why type of mining is the most harmful to the environment?

Open-pit mining is often considered the most harmful type of mining to the environment. This method involves removing large amounts of earth and rock to access mineral deposits, leading to deforestation, habitat destruction, soil erosion, and water pollution. It can have long-lasting negative impacts on local ecosystems and communities.


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Fossil fuels.


What mining method is used to extract ore from beneath the earths surface?

The most common mining method used to extract ore from beneath the earth's surface is underground mining. This method involves creating tunnels and shafts to access the ore body underground, where miners extract the ore using various techniques. Underground mining can be more expensive and dangerous than surface mining but is necessary for accessing deep deposits of valuable minerals.


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Implementing strict regulations and monitoring of mining practices to minimize environmental damage, promoting reclamation efforts to restore the land post-mining, and investing in research for more sustainable mining techniques would help reduce concerns about how strip mining harms the environment.


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Placer mining was the most widely used method of mining for gold because it involved extracting gold deposits from loose materials like sand or gravel in riverbeds. Miners could easily access these deposits without needing advanced equipment or deep excavation, making it a popular choice during the Gold Rush era.


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Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, are considered the most damaging sources of energy to the environment. When these fuels are burned, they release harmful greenhouse gases and air pollutants, leading to air and water pollution, climate change, and other environmental impacts.


Why was placer mining the most widely method of mining for gold?

Placer mining was the most widely used method because it was affordable to a large number of prospectors. If you choose placer mining, the crusher and ball mill is common. You could get primary gold production from rock. If you want to get more pure gold production, you should choose other equipment, such as flotation cell, desorption electrolysis equipment and leaching agitation tank and carbon screen. There are equipment that used for mining in xinhaiindustry.com. You could learn more.


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