Sustainable solutions to mining?

Mining generates a lot of waste. One way to prevent it from seeping out to the environment would be to store it - in dams.

Tailings are waste products of mining. They consist of residual metals and minerals, often containing water and chemicals from the extraction process. Most mining sites have tailing dams to store the tailings.

Baia Mare spill
(Taken from http://www.mediafax.ro/politic/elena-basescu-accidentul-din-ungaria-mult-mai-grav-decat-cel-produs-la-baia-mare-in-2000-7506314)

However, accidents do occur. The Baia Mare cyanide spill happened when the tailings dam gave way. Tailings which contained high amounts of toxic cyanide from gold-mining spilled out into nearby rivers.

Although it is good to have measures to control pollution, are these solutions carried out in the interest of the environment? Mining companies, like any other companies, are interested in profits. Given a choice, the majority would likely not bother with the environmental impacts. Fortunately, many countries have regulations in place that mandate some form of pollution control. But with profit driven mindsets, few companies will go great lengths to minimise environmental impact, and rather just meet the guidelines.

Recycling of metals
(Taken from http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/RecyclingMetal.php)

To reduce mining and limit the pollution, alternatives have to be considered. Recycling of metals is one option. Recycling of aluminium cans and scrap metal are examples we see daily. Besides reducing dependency on mining, recycling also saves almost 75% of energy compared to production from ores.

Another alternative is the production of synthetic diamonds. These are produced by mimicking natural conditions, i.e. high temperature and pressure. Most of the synthetic diamonds are for industrial uses, as there are economic concerns that excessive supply of synthetic diamonds will lower the value of diamonds. Furthermore, real diamonds are preferred when it comes to jewelry - just like how people rather have "real" than "counterfeit" products.

Although minimising environmental pollution is desirable, economic, political and even social obstacles stand in the way. Much is up to the leaders to pass and enforce environmentally-sustainable laws. On a smaller scale, public education - e.g. how goods are produced - will let consumers know the impact of their demand.


References

How are waste materials managed at mine sites | MiningFacts.org 

http://www.miningfacts.org/Environment/How-are-waste-materials-managed-at-mine-sites/

The Baia Mare Gold Mine Cyanide Spill: Causes, Impacts and Liability (ReliefWeb)

http://reliefweb.int/report/hungary/baia-mare-gold-mine-cyanide-spill-causes-impacts-and-liability

Will Synthetic Diamonds Take Over? (The Natural Sapphire Company Blog)

http://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/blog/will-synthetic-diamonds-take

Recycling Metal - Conserve Energy Future (ConserveEnergyFuture)

http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/RecyclingMetal.php