Resources: Free Online Training on Responsible Mining

Impactmin offer free online training courses where you can learn more about the impact of mining. Here Peter Gyuris, the project manager of Impactmin, writes to tell us more about what the courses have to offer.

In its strictest sense, the term “Mining” refers directly to the activity of extraction of metallic or non-metallic resources from the Earth’s crust (Merriam-Webster). More commonly, the term “Mining” also refers to intricately associated processes such as urbanization and development of primary and secondary industries. Besides those physical aspects, the enormous social implications of mining have to be taken into account, and therefore form an integral part of the ImpactMin project (Impact Monitoring of Mineral Resources Exploitation).

The overall aim of the ImpactMin project was to identify and develop tools and approaches for monitoring environmental and social impacts of mining-related activities, using an array of methods and remotely sensed information. As the ImpactMin project (co-funded by the EU, contract number: 244166) clearly illustrates, the terms “Mining” and “Environmental Impact” cover a very wide range of situations. Mining has taken place since prehistoric times, is taking place today and will continue to take place in the future, and with our living planet under increasing environmental pressure because of growing population and higher standards of living, it is of great importance that the environmental aspects of mining are responsibly managed. Therefore it is essential that appropriate tools and guidelines are developed to monitor environmental impacts.

Recently, in the final stage of the project, the accumulated scientific knowledge and the case study conclusions are available in an easily digestible format via the ImpactMin training facility at http://impactmin.geonardo.com and through our public reports.

Some of the available topics are:

• mining activity effects on soils, vegetation, biodiversity, waters
• mining, society and its implications
• carbon footprint reduction techniques in the mining industry
• use of revolutionary earth observation tools for environmental impact monitoring
• geospatial information and data standards, coordinated earth observation (GEOSS)

The ImpactMin project and its results  show that it is possible to achieve responsible and sustainable mining operations. Also observation techniques are developing to support the needs of precise environmental monitoring making possible informed decision procedures.  Guidelines that are applicable by mining companies about “how to do business” and best practices/recommendations offered for decision makers can reach their intended objectives in the mining industry too.