INFLUENCE OF OPENCAST MINING ACTIVITY ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND ON MAN – AN ANALYSIS WITH THE USE OF GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS

• Published in: International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference SGEM Vol. 2; pp. 493 - 500
• Main Authors: Gorniak-Zimroz, Justyna, Pactwa, Katarzyna
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Sofia Surveying Geology & Mining Ecology Management (SGEM) 01.01.2016
• Subjects: Air conditioners; Atmosphere; Conflicts; Construction; Cultivation; Deformation; Deformation effects; Deformation mechanisms; Economic conditions; Environmental impact; Environmental protection; Exploitation; Flora; Geographic information systems; Geographical information systems; Information systems; Investment; Minerals; Mining; Natural environment; Natural resources; Open pit mining; Permanence; Plants; Publishing; Remote sensing; Roads & highways; Rocks; Satellite navigation systems; Science; Spheres; Strip mining; Surface water; Underground mines; Underground mining; Underground structures; Vibrations; Water pollution; Poland
• ISSN: 1314-2704
• DOI: 10.5593/SGEM2016/B52/S20.063

Mining is perceived by ecological societies as a sphere of economic activity which avails of natural resources and negatively impacts human health and life as well as on specific elements of natural environment, causing modifications of permanence character. According to subject literature the environment of mining grounds may be divided into three basic spheres: rock mass including: rock formations, underground mining structures, underground waters and mine air; terrain, including: ground, Inland surface water, flora and civil structures and atmosphere. During mining exploitation works each of these spheres becomes subject to negative impact. The strength of exploitation's impact on the natural environment is conditioned, among others, by the type of exploited material, the size of deposit, mining methods and re-working of minerals. Within the article the impact of opencast mining activity of mining activity on individual elements of environment has been characterized. Negative effects in the form of area deformation or liquidation of cultivation and farming may be caused by shocks, pollution into atmosphere, noise and vibrations. In order to conduct the analyses which characterize the results of the above noted factors GIS tools have been used which may be applied in order to visualize many issues concerning the conducted mining activity and thus become useful while solving conflicts and fighting social resistance towards new mining investments. Research described within the article has been conducted for the area of Lower Silesia, located within the south-western region of Poland.