13/03/2019 - Environment

KEY POINTS

Consequences of Bauxite ore Mining

Positive

·        Aluminium acts as most important raw material in many industries like defence, alloy manufacturing, aviation etc.

·        Contributes reasonable share of export of aluminium metal from the country.

·        Provides employment to tribal people.

Negative

·        The dust generated in the process of excavating bauxite will affect the health of workers and people in surrounding areas.

·        Then, the leaching of bauxite in streams and rivers will do considerable harm to soil fertility and aquatic life.

·        The storage of highly alkaline red mud (RM) generated as a by-product in the Bayer process of extraction of alumina from bauxite by using a hot solution of caustic soda and lime.

·        Because of its high alkanility and traces of toxic heavy metals, the disposal and storage of RM remain a massive challenge for alumina producers.

·        RM is disposed of in ponds, lakes and streams after building a lining wall. Even then, a certain amount of seepage takes place, damaging soil in surrounding areas and all life forms.

Remedial Measures

·        Recycling Red alkaline mud to obtain iron, extract rare earth metals.

·        RM too could be used for making a host of building and construction materials, including cement and bricks.

·        Application of Nanotechnology to increase the efficiency of extraction.

·        Land reclamation by mining companies.

Pls review

Kindly review thanks

Answer.