Mining

The pros and cons of strip mining and open pit mining

Strip mining

PROS- Mine is largely hidden under ground so surface land can easily be used for other uses
         -  A process called ' back filling ' reduces cost of hauling and helps avoid fall of rock bursts.

Cons- Higher risks of cave ins
        - higher risk of poisonous gas release
        - AMD sulfide rocks are exposed to to surface air and water and give off acidic chemicals that drain into near by streams.
         - less safe

Open Pit Mining

PROS- more efficient
          - sampling each level of open pit mining is easier for surveyors to find the highest yield and avoid safety hazards
           - can use larger trucks so can increase the yield per day.
           - efficiency improvements reduce costs
            - more safe

CONS- Very large environmental costs because vegetation is wiped out and lots of pollution


Spouse of a miner - choose the open pit mine because it is much safer then strip mining

Owner of mining company- choose open pit mining because it costs less and there is a higher yield and 40 percent of mining is on the surface

Enviomentalist- choose strip mining because it does not distroy surface life and there is a nuetralizer for the AMD.

Owner of near by ski resort- choose strip mining because it is not as visible from the surface so it will not get ride of costumers

Politician- choose open pit mining because it costs less and there is a higher yield for shipping.



Mexico mining

  Mexico is the worlds leading world producer of silver and produces one fith to one third of the whole worlds silver