ABSTRACT
Mining operations consist of excavation (extraction in pits and underground mine workings) to remove ore; beneficiation units, such as mills and processing facilities for upgrading or concentrating the ore; refining facilities for further purification of the metal and manufacturing of finished products. However, mining operations generate extremely large quantities of wastes some of which is shown in Table 2.1 of Chapter 2. This chapter deals with mining waste resulting from extraction and beneficiation processes. The chapter also covers acid mine drainage, a phenomenon which occurs from the dissolution and mobilization of metals from waste rock and tailings into surface water and groundwater. Other types of waste such as that emanating from the refining and manufacturing processes are discussed in Chapters 4 through 8.
