Reflection on contemporary issues and questioning: (AS-IV)
You have read about mining of minerals like baryte or cool. In what was
you think this affects lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere.
Answers
Explanation:
Atmosphere:
Pollutes the air with dust. This affects wildlife and creates poor air quality in the area.
When coal is burned it releases many harmful chemicals into the air, such as methane (greenhouse gas) and contributes to global warming
Biosphere:
Destroys plant and animal habitats (kills plants, destroys resources that animals use) and causes animals to leave or die (read more about mining and biodiversity here)
The release of chemicals is harmful to humans and causes many deaths (eg. mercury, which harms entire food chains)
Lithosphere:
Mountaintop removal, where tops of hills and mountains are removed to reveal coal.
A great deal of soil and land is removed, permanently altering the landscape (read about mining and erosion here)
Hydrosphere:
Chemicals produced dissolve in nearby lakes/rivers and spread,
contaminating water (read about water pollution and mining here )
Destroys aquifers (underground freshwater).
Hope this helps mate.