The Exploitation, Extraction, and

Use of Mineral Resources:

Ways to Prevent the Environment
Impact
The minerals are contained in ores. After
processing, only the mineral is used, and
the remaining of the ore is disposed as
waste. These wastes, if not handled and
managed properly, can cause serious
environmental problems.
Mining generates a lot of wastes. For
example, a mine obtains one kilo of
copper. In the process of extracting one
kilo, 99 kilos of wastes are removed.
Simply put, ore will be one percent
(1%) useful mineral and 99% wastes. Can
you imagine how much waste is
produced in mining?
 Mining Waste Products and Their
Management
Heavy metal wastes can seep through soil making it
poisonous for plants to grow. Water sources can be
contaminated by the acid used in the mining
process. Tailings, a by-product of milling ores, can travel
from the dump ponds into the water source of nearby
communities. In the Philippines, some of these wastes
damaged mangroves, reefs, and impaired agriculture.
It is then crucial that waste
products be controlled to prevent
them from making a more
pronounced impact in our
environment.
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There are existing laws and regulations for mining
in the Philippines. One of the laws governing
mining in the Philippines is the Philippine Mining
Act of 1995 or RA 7942. This law aims primarily to
establish rules and regulations of mining practices
in the country and to attract foreign investors to
explore the potential of minerals in the country.
At the same time, the law also intends to balance the
mining industry, the culture, and the protection of
the environment. In 2012, Executive Order (EO) 79,
Series of 2012 aimed to strengthen the provisions of
the Philippine Mining Act of 1995. This EO imposed
stricter rules on the environmental protection and
waste management of different mining companies.
The key in making mining sustainable is to implement
and to practice responsible mining. This entails
determination from the mining companies to do their
part in abiding the law. Companies practicing
responsible mining assure that from step one, they
are looking forward to the rehabilitation steps that
they will take after their exploitation.
Responsible miners also consider the health,
livelihood, and homes of the communities
that will be affected by their ventures.
However, it does not end with the mining
companies. The government and residents
must also do their part in ensuring that
responsible mining is implemented.
KEY POINTS
• Mining is the primary method of mineral
extraction.
• Negative environmental impacts can result
from mining.
• Multiple ways are done by mining companies
and small-scale miners to lessen these negative
impacts.
• The government implements laws regarding
the environmental protection of areas
1. It contains the mineral to be extracted
and the rock wastes the mineral is
combined with.
A.HEAVY METALS

B.CYANIDE

C.ORE

D.TAILING
2. The by-product of milling ores that are
usually dumped in a pond or a water
reservoir are _.
A.HEAVY METALS

B.CYANIDES

C.ORES

D.TAILINGS
3. What is the average percentage of
wastes generated in mining?

A. 1% of the ore

B. 99% of the ore

C. 99% of the mineral

D. 1% of the mineral
4. One of the law governing mining in the
Philippines.

A. RA 7942

B. RA 7924

C.RA 9724

D.RA 7294
5. It is the primary method of mineral
extraction.
A. Mining

B. Cleaning

C. Watering

D. Loving
ANSWERS
1.C
2.B
3.B
4.A
5.A