GeoLog

mines

Imaggeo on Mondays: The salt mine carving into the Carpathians

August 26, 2019
Imaggeo on Mondays: The salt mine carving into the Carpathians
Large similar folds in a salt mine in the Carpathians. Credit: Janos Urai (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu)

The image gives us a glimpse into the Slănic Salt Mine in central Romania, about 100 kilometres north of the capital city Bucharest. The region was actively mined for almost 30 years, from 1943 to 1970. The Slănic Salt Mine is the largest salt mine in Europe, and the facility consists of 14 large chambers, each more than 50 metres high. The cavities of the mine, more than 200 metres deep, carve in ...[Read More]

Imaggeo on Mondays: What happens to mines when they become redundant?

September 18, 2017
Imaggeo on Mondays: What happens to mines when they become redundant?
Ore processing plant, Messida, El Kala, Algeria . Credit: Issaad Mouloud (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu)

When the minerals run out, or it is no longer profitable to extract the resources, mines shut down. Prior to issuing a permit for the exploitation of a resource, most regulators require assurance that once the mine closes it, or the activities carried out at the site, will not present a risk to human health or the environment. Ongoing monitoring of a mine once it is decommissioned is required to e ...[Read More]