Impact of Stone Mining on Soil Properties

Mining is an important economic activity for extracting industrial raw materials, precious metals and stones. Despite advancements in the technology of mining, the open-cast method of mining is taking place at both small-scale and large-scale levels in different parts of the world. Mining activities come with environmental consequences, particularly for soil ecosystems. Soils’ physical, chemical, and biological properties are disturbed, affecting their overall health and productivity. At the stone mining sites, native top soils are scarce, which are rich in organic matter and highly valuable for the restoration of the site. Mining-affected soils are generally shallow in depth and have unfavorable soil texture, structure, porosity, water-holding capacity, and low nutrient-holding capacity. Loss of vegetation leads to low organic matter content, which results in low microbial activity, reduced enzymic activity, organic matter decomposition, and nutrient cycling. Soil pollution and heavy metal contamination at the mining site and surrounding areas are also serious problems. Whether through surface mining, underground mining, or artisanal mining, alterations in these soil characteristics have implications for crucial processes such as water infiltration, nutrient cycling, and the overall health of ecosystems. Given the significance of these outcomes, it becomes imperative to implement well-defined strategies for mitigation and rehabilitation in order to mitigate the environmental consequences of mining on soil quality.