Mining Vis-a-vis Sustainability and Unsustainability: Critical View

Abstract

Resources depletion means the situation in which the consumption of resources if faster than its replenishment. The resources of the world can be divided into mainly two categories as renewable and non- renewable. The characteristic of resources is utility, limited availability and potential for depletion or consumption. The consumption of resources done through mining plays a crucial role in sustainable development of the world. The current pattern of consumption justifies the development of the nations of the world but in the long run it plays a very important part in economic downfall of the world and may also lead to resource depletion. Other economic, social and political factor also plays a vital role in resource depletion. In general sense, mining refers to the extraction of geological materials from the earth, which are used for the economic development. From time to time mining may have different effect on environment. There are two types of mining such as underground hard rock mining (UGHRM) and underground soft rock mining (UGSRM). UGHRM refers to excavation of hard minerals such as ore containing gold, silver, iron, copper and other metals. UGSRM refers to excavation of minerals such as salt, coal, oil sands, potash or any other geological material from sedimentary rocks. Mining is still the primary method of extraction of minerals from hard rock or soft rock. It provides most of the raw material to build infrastructure and instruments which are used daily to obtain huge amount of energy for the development of the world. But at the same time, it is the human activity that has been disturbing the earth also the environment which will lead to resources depletion. With increase in mining there is a large amount of contribution in world’s Gross Domestic Product. The current mining methods should be changed for the contribution to healthy ecosystem and to be compliant with sustainable development and to face future challenges.