Environmental Impact and Transformations of Mine Tailings of Redi Mines in Sindhudurg District, Maharashtra, India

Mining is regarded as one of the primary causes of environmental degradation. However, the exploration of this activity causes soil degradation, environmental pollution, and an impact on the surrounding environment. The mine considered here as a case study is the Redi Mine, which annually extracts 0.035 to 0.04 million tonnes of iron ore.

Redi mines ore contain Fe, Mn as major elements and Al, Si as minor elements along with traces of Cr, Zn, Pb, Ni, Cu, and P. The toxic trace elements present in the ore have also contributed to the contamination of the environment. The different mining processes, machinery employed, transportation, metallurgy, and the types of waste management techniques used are the key contributors to the nature of mine tailings. Tailing studies have revealed that, in addition to elemental contaminations, the operations create acidic environments in the surrounding area, contaminating water, soil, and the overall environment, as well as contributing to air pollution. The systematic studies and chemical analyses, as well as the use of sophisticated instruments, explain the ideal case of mine tailings and their environmental impact.