The mining process mobilizes these minerals into the broader environment either through washoff or leachate from mine dumps or as a constituent of mine dump dust. Contribution to water salination - the discharge of saline groundwater from mining operations is an important contributor to rising salt concentrations in South African water sources. Contribution to wetland degradation - mining operations within wetlands directly degrades these ecologically important systems. Contribution to aesthetic degradation - the 375 million tons of waste produced by the mining industry every year is usually disposed of in mine dumps. These dumps not only degrade the beauty of natural areas, but minerals leaching from them also cause water and soil pollution.
Mining also has indirect environmental impacts.
The air conditioning systems used in underground mines use these refrigerants. Contribution to photochemical smog - coal burning contributes a major percentage of smog forming nitrous oxide gas. Nuclear power generation is usually the first thing that springs to mind when talking about energy generation and the environment. The shocking contamination of workers and the surrounding communities and land around Chernobyl will remain a living testimony to this short sighted and dangerous form of energy generation. Our coal-fired power stations are responsible for producing a large percentage of the 300 million tons of carbon dioxide that is released into our atmosphere every year.