Why would mining in Antarctica be bad?

Answer 1

There are deposits of minerals such as coal and iron ore, but there are vast economic and technical difficulties associated with the recovery of mineral deposits.

The Antarctic ice cover is, on average, 2.5 kilometres thick and this means that very little of the land is accessible for exploration, so work would have to take place under the ice sheet.

The temperature in the Antarctic freezes mechanical lubricants, gasoline, hydraulics and so forth, making any mining operation a challenge.

The difficult Antarctic conditions, even when the technology works well elsewhere make exploitation unlikely.

Once minerals are mined, Antarctica is a long way from world markets, and material would have to be transported over the treacherous Southern Ocean. Cheaper sources exist elsewhere in the world, and these will be exploited before Antarctic sources.

So far, the economics of extracting resources from the harsh Antarctic environment have prevented any commercial operations, but Antarctica's climate may not protect its minerals indefinitely.

What does prevent such exploitation is a strong, well-supported international agreement. Nations of the Antarctic Treaty System agreed in 1991 to put a halt to the exploitation of minerals when they signed a comprehensive Protocol on Environmental Protection (the Madrid Protocol), which banned mining in Antarctica indefinitely. This important agreement came into force in January 1998.

Answer 2

Well if you start mining in Antarctica there is a very high risk of an oil spill. If there an oil spill it may drive the animals away from antarctica or even kil them. It could kill penguins because They rely on the sea for there whole food source. Mainly krill but every animal that lives in antarctica feeds on krill so if the oil spill goes into the water it will either eliminate the whole sea life or it will poison them, if it does poison them lets just say it was krill well the penguins would eat the krill and then poison the penguin, and then maybe a seal or a whale eats the penguin and then poisons that animal this could go on for a while.

Answer 3

There is no mining allowed south of 60 degrees S, according to the Antarctic Treaty.

Mining in other parts of the world may affect the overall environment of the planet, but physically pollute the local geography more than they pollute Antarctica.

Answer 4

There is no mining in Antarctica. It is prohibited -- as are all commercial and/or extraction activities -- by the Antarctic Treaty, which preserves all land south of 60 degrees S for the scientific study of the health of planet earth.

Answer 5

no mining in Antarctica my help but only for 30 years or so

mining can disturb Antarctica global warming and the ozone layer

Answer 6

it would be an impact on the animals by it destroying Antarctica

Answer 7

Antarctica is a polar environment. Extraction industry efforts are generally proven to be unsuccessful in polar environments.

Answer 8

The Antarctic Treaty, which governs all land on earth south of 60 degrees S, prohibits mining, so no mining will occur on Antarctica.