Summary: The Amazon Gold Rush And Environmental Mercury Contamination

Nearly two million years ago, the first of our genus migrated through Africa under the species name of Homo erectus, a new organism that walked on two legs, with sloping foreheads and protruding jaws. Later evolving in the Homo sapiens, and then modern Homo sapiens sapiens, the human we know today quickly came into the world’s view as the top of the food chain and the predators of the period. Since their evolution in the Cenozoic era, the population of our species has grown quite literally exponentially, spreading into Europe, Asia, and the Americas. In the year 2017, our population has reached a whopping 7.5 billion - a sign of near reproductive and selective perfection. Impressive without a doubt, but the environmental impact of a predator

Coal mining can have seriously adverse environmental and related impacts, including interference with groundwater quantity and quality, land subsidence, impacts on river flows and consequential impact on other land-uses, issues associated with mining wastes disposal, creation of geological hazards . . . and potential ecological havoc” (Bian et al., “The Impact of Disposal and Treatment of Coal Mining Wastes on Environment and Farmland” 1). Coal, a commodity that the world depends on as a vital economic player and energy resource, is extracted from the ground at a very costly price to the environment. It is a major energy source that provides about 40% of the electricity that the world consumes, and the consumption of coal has grown dramatically in recent years. Not only is coal a major energy producer, but it is also a vital player in many countries economies, employing millions across the world both directly and indirectly. Unfortunately, since coal is so important to the economy and energy production, there is often little regard for the impacts that it has on the environment when being extracted. In broad a generalization, coal mining techniques can be broken down into two categories: surface mining and underground mining (the first involving techniques that stay above ground and the latter using tunneling). Although environmental implications may vary slightly between the two methods of coal extraction, there are a number of issues that are the result of both surface

China is a place known for it’s innovations and a knowledgeable powerhouse being at the forefront of technology for decades. It is also known for is frequent issues with pollution and not only in designated cities, the pollution problem is wide spread. China is in fact the largest consumer of coal in the world. This is because China uses coal as its main source of energy and delivers 70 percent of that energy for all of the nation’s needs. The problem with this strong reliance on coal for energy needs is that it emits the most carbon dioxide per electricity than any other energy source produced today, and it turns out that China has upped their usage by 17% in the last couple of years according to TIME Magazine (Worland).

In the city of Los Angeles, it is rather easy to turn on the light or charge a laptop. I never thought much about where this energy and electricity come from, because they can all come from a simple action like flipping a switch. These little movements became my daily habits, as I need the light and the charger. Coal is an important supply for fuel, power generation and steel production. Everything it fabricates goes into our daily life— big and small. The charger and light are small examples. Globalization is the big example. Globalizing forces like modern transportation and transaction technology allow the coal

Mining provides a number of jobs to a large number of people along with being a great source for government revenues. Despite its great contribution to the economy, the effects that it has on the environment appears to be of great concern. For example rainforests are a great and important source of wood, oxygen and medicine for everyone. Rainforests in the amazon in particular are known for its alluvial deposits of gold that are found at river banks after major floods and river channels. In order for miners to mine gold, hydraulic mining techniques are often used. This method involves the process of blasting at the riverbanks that results to irreversible damage to trees and animals. Through the process of separating the mercury and the sediment from gold yielding gravel deposits, miners who appear to be less equipped than industrial miners sometimes may ignore the release of some of the mercury into the river. The mercury is then likely to enter the food chain through water animals as well as their predators. “Highly compound cyanide is also used to separate gold from sediment and rock. In spite of all precautionary measures, it sometimes escapes into the surrounding environment” (Rose, 2012). Therefore those who consume fish might be at great risk of contamination of such toxins. Chemicals such as sulfuric acid, cyanide and methyl mercury are usually used in different

Introduction to mercury contamination: Mercury is a naturally occurring element, which is released from the earth’s crust through a number of pathways. For instance, natural erosion of mercury containing rocks enable its transportation into the air and be washed off to waterways. Volcanic eruptions and geothermal activity also release mercury. Therefore, there are natural background levels of mercury. However, anthropogenic sources of mercury emissions following the industrial revolution has increased its mobilisation into the environment, consequencing in elevated levels of mercury in the atmosphere, soils, fresh-waters and oceans. In Australia, it is stated that natural sources contribute to 93% of total mercury emissions in Australia. Nevertheless, an important limitation to such modelled statics is the fact that they are unable to taken into account the percentage of those natural emissions that are actually mercury originating from anthropogenic sources being re-emitted.

Introduction to mercury contamination: Mercury is a naturally occurring element, which is released from the earth’s crust through a number of pathways. For instance, natural erosion of mercury containing rocks enable its transportation into the air and be washed off to waterways. Volcanic eruptions and geothermal activity also release mercury. Therefore, there are natural background levels of mercury. However, anthropogenic sources of mercury emissions following the industrial revolution has increased its mobilisation into the environment, consequencing in elevated levels of mercury in the atmosphere, soils, fresh-waters and oceans. In Australia, it is stated that natural sources contribute to 93% of total mercury emissions in Australia. Nevertheless, an important limitation to such modelled statics is the fact that they are unable to taken into account the percentage of those natural emissions that are actually mercury originating from anthropogenic sources being re-emitted.

Our nation thrives on the sustainability of our economy, and our economy is sustained by industries like coal that produce millions of dollars for it. According to the Statistic Portal, the coal industry produced 41 billion dollars for our economy between 2009 and 2014 (https://www.statista.com) . Without that income coming into our economy it would suffer tremendously. Moreover another support our economy comes from being able to produce abundant energy for cheap which we have been doing with coal for many years. Coal is produced very cheap and provides an

Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals and metals from underground. Mining takes various forms which could be placer, hydraulic, open pit, place cast and hydraulic mining which are solely dependent on the format and the technology used. Mining provides a source of livelihoods to millions of people globally through employment. Mining is also a source of revenue as the government also receives revenues from the sale of the precious stones and metals which also raises the gross domestic product. Mining however has its short comings especially on the environment and there is hence a need to exercise it with caution. There have been instances where mining became disastrous, either by killing the workers or the animals within the mining environment. This essay evaluates mining and its effects on the environment and the economy.

The implementation of mining has shaped much of the world today and remains a vital part of history. Without mining, many technologies would either be in scarce supply or not exist at all. With mining, humans have been able to collect a plethora of minerals and substances that still have many uses today. Despite the great things that mining has done for humankind, there are many people that see mining as a danger to the environment and the economy. Waste products and other pollutants caused or created from mining can have harmful effects on the surrounding environment. The economy is also an issue as mining is not as profitable as it once was. Despite these views, many mining companies still believe that mining can bring profitable results while still keeping the environment safe. With the recent undertaking of the Back Forty Project, concerns over the issues of the possible environmental dangers of mining near water sources and the impact (or lack thereof) on the economy.

For so many years, energy has been a need for people everywhere. What has become of the world today is due to the revolution in energy use. There are two types of energy sources-renewables and non-renewables. Examples of renewables are water wind and solar power. Renewables can be recovered and used again while non-renewables don't have the ability to be used again or more than once. Coal is a non-renewable but a great type of fossil fuel because it’s a reliable source of electricity which is necessary for steelmaking. It is the most plentiful fuel of all the fossil fuels. Coal has been used for thousands of years archaeologists discovered that coal was used even in the second and third centuries by the Romans. Solar power is a renewable source since it’s powered by the sun. It can be converted into other forms for example both heat and electricity can come directly from the sun. The sun’s power has been used for centuries to heat up our homes, water (to drink and bathe), and our food as well. Both energy sources-coal and solar-are quite reliable resources, and are used widely. As worldwide energy sources, coal and solar power share similarities and differences when it comes to having enormous impacts on the environment the world's economic status within how much money we profit from them and human health- such as increased lung cancer rates.

Mining has shaped much of the world today and remains a vital part of history. Without mining, many technologies would either be in scarce supply or not exist at all. With mining, humans have been able to collect a plethora of minerals and substances that still have many uses today. Despite the great things that mining has done for humankind, there are many people that see mining as a danger to the environment and the economy. Waste products and other pollutants caused or created from mining can have harmful effects on the surrounding environment. The economy is also an issue as mining is not as profitable as it once was. Despite these views, many mining companies still believe that mining can bring profitable results while still keeping the environment safe. With the recent undertaking of the Back Forty Project, concerns have been raised over the issues of the possible environmental dangers of mining near water sources and the impact (or lack thereof) on the economy.

The article starts off with a photo of the Robert W. Scherer power plant in Georgia, which burns 12 million tins of coal every year. This plant happens to be the largest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. Coal provides 40% of the worlds power needs, but it also produces 39% of the global CO2 emissions. With 8 billion tons of coal burned annually it is by far the dirtiest fossil fuel, killing thousands with mining accidents and air pollution. The consequences of our coal usage include mountaintop removal mining, which removes entire mountaintops and places it into the valley; this leads to acidification of streams due to the chemicals used in the mining process. This is because coal use is full of externalities that we try not to think about, because we like the fact that we have power whenever we need it.

Because the Mongolian mining sector is considered to be the most harmful donor to environmental destruction unless it is correctly managed and controlled. Therefore, it has been observed with the deepest concern that chaotic coal mining and other mining operations strip the top soil without required environmental remediation. Furthermore, outnumbered and disordered mining activities that cover nearly the entire country lead to water pollution, dried up of fresh water resources, encroachment on protected areas, mercury and sodium cyanide poisoning. For example, according to statistics of the Ministry of Environment, Green Development and Tourism of Mongolia, “More than 18610 rivers, lakes, and streams were counted in 2007, but it decreased to 12861 in 2011, which covers one third of the Mongolian fresh water resource dried up within 4 years.” In addition, uncontrolled, disorganized distribution of exploration and mining licenses accelerated environmental destruction.

The world as we know it, is continuously evolving. With an increase in population, there exists a great deal of economic and social needs. The earth is enriched with a vast of diverse precious minerals which play a significant role in our lives. These minerals are used in many sectors such as medicine, construction, agriculture etc. To extract these precious minerals from the earth’s crust, extensive mining operations are carried out daily. These operations comprise drilling and blasting of ores to attain the minerals. During these operations great harm and damage is being done on the environment.