Environmental Degradation by Clays

In order to have a comprehensive idea of the negative impacts of cl s on the environment, the following two phenomena should be imderstood separately  

Most clay mines are surface mines, in which the miner and/or his machinery work in an excavated void which is open to the sky. The surface mines are of following types  

Open-pit mine In this type of surface mines, the overburden is removed from the mine and dumped to a disposal area. The desired material is worked from stepped horizontal benches. Each bench is separated from the adjacent benches by vertical shelves. The slope angle ranges 50°-70°. Since clay layers are softer than most materials and the exposed parts become very shppery in rainy season, a smaller slope angle is required to maintain stability of the mine. 

Open-cast mines They are surface mines in which the stripped overburden is not removed from the mine to be dumped in a separate disposal area, but is cast (i.e. hauled and dumped) inside the mine from where the desired material is already worked. 

All types of surface mines, including the clay mines, have some negative impacts on the environment in each of the three stages of operation, as briefly explained below. 

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ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION BY CLAYS FROM WASTE DUMPS... 

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