The Gold Mining Industry in South Africa Essay - 1011 Words

Gold mining in South Africa has a large impact on the environment, the economy and social structure in South Africa. The environmental impact of gold mining on the environment includes water, air and noise pollution. The mining industry in South Africa is one of the largest in the world. It provides jobs for hundreds of thousands of people in the mining industry alone. The mining industry also indirectly provides jobs for about 400 000 with the goods and services that the mines require to run successfully. Some of the typical impacts that mining in South Africa has on the environment are that it can lead to a loss of biodiversity because of a transformation in the natural habitats and ecosystems. The mining industry also usually requires†¦show more content†¦The environmental damage a mine causes lasts for a long time, even after the mine has been closed for long the effects can still be seen for example the places where rock has been dumped, the tailings (the material that is left over after the valuable part of the ore from the worthless part.) dams, and the old shafts that have not been removed are likely to have long-term effects. Other side effects of mining such polluted water and solid waste can continue damaging the environment long after the mine has been shut down. Mining can also cause the loss of productive land, air pollution from harmful chemicals released into the air as well as general safety risks that are associated with mining. It can also negatively affect the people living in settlements near the mines. As harmful as gold mining is to everything and everyone around it, it is very important for the economy. South Africa has a large amount of mineral resources and is one of the leading countries when it comes to exporting raw materials. Gold is one of the biggest raw material exports and it makes up a third of all of South Africa’s exports. For over a century South Africa produced more gold than any other country in the world, but in 2007 China took over as the leading gold producer. Gold was once the foundation of South Africa economy, but as the economy has grown it has become less dependent on gold mining. In the 1970’s and 1980’s gold mining was very important to the South African economy, itShow MoreRelatedHeading East From The Netherlands, Dutch Traders (Afrikaners)1149 Words   |  5 Pagesheaded north taking land from indigenous inhabitants and founding their own republics. With the discovery of diamonds and gold, immigration intensified and indigenous inhabitants were expelled from the country now known as South Africa. 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