The extraction and processing of minerals have frequently left an indelible mark on the territories and on the population

Mines and extraction quarries have often been located in sparsely inhabited areas, where the The immediate impact of the activities on inhabited places was little monitored and did not arouse great social concern.

In reality, these activities, if not managed with respect for the environment, can be silent poisoners of a territory or, as happened many times, resulting in real environmental disasters.

But what are these primary risks of mining for land and people:

- Habitat destruction: the opening of mines can lead to the destruction or alteration of natural habitats, with negative consequences on biodiversity

- Water pollution: mining can lead to the release of toxic chemicals or heavy metals into the water, contaminating the surrounding groundwater, rivers and lakes

- Air pollution: mining and mineral processing activities can release fine particles, harmful gases and other pollutants into the air

- Impact of noise and vibration: Mining can generate intense noise and vibration that can disturb wildlife and local communities

- Waste management: mining generates large amounts of waste, such as rock waste, slag and excavated materials

- Impact on land use: the opening of mines often involves the conversion of agricultural or forest land into industrial areas

Unfortunately, history has delivered us tragic episodes, occurred in Europe, which were generated by deficiencies in mining activities in Europe, which led to significant environmental damage and, consequently, negative and dangerous repercussions for the population which, directly or indirectly, came into contact with the pollution produced.

Of these disasters we want to mention three of particular intensity:

1. Aznalcóllar mine disaster (Spain, 1998). A tailings pond at a pyrite mine in Spain has ruptured, spewing about 5 million cubic meters of toxic and heavy metal-containing sewage into the Guadiamar River. The resulting pollution has severely damaged the river ecosystem, including surrounding farmland.

2. Romanian cyanide disaster (2000). The rupture of a dam containing toxic sewage from a gold mine in northern Romania caused an estimated 100,000 cubic meters of cyanide-tainted water to spill into the Tisza River. This has resulted in significant fish deaths and has had negative effects on water supplies for many communities.

3. Kolontár dam disaster (Hungary, 2010). The rupture of a dam containing toxic residues from an aluminum mine caused the highly corrosive red mud to spill over several cities and agricultural fields. This accident caused several deaths and had serious consequences for the local environment.

Aznalcóllar mine disaster (Spain, 1998)

The Aznalcóllar mine disaster is a serious environmental accident that occurred on April 25, 1998 in the region of Andalusia, in Spain.

The accident involved the failure of a tailings dam in the mine, located near the Doñana National Park.

The Aznalcóllar mine was dedicated to theextraction of minerals, especially pyrite, containing high concentrations of heavy metals such as lead, zinc and cadmium. The tailings dam, which was intended to hold back the toxic residues generated by the processing of the pyrite, suddenly gave way, causing about 5 million cubic meters of toxic sewage to pour into the surrounding region.

Sewage containing heavy metals and harmful chemicals flowed into the Agrio River, which in turn joins the Guadiamar River. This caused a vast contamination of the waters and soil along the rivers. The affected area included wetlands, natural habitats and farmland, creating a significant impact on the local ecosystem.

The incident raised concerns for the important nature reserve of the Doñana National Park, recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The park is a wetland of international importance and a crucial habitat for many species of migratory birds and other wildlife. The pollution caused by the Aznalcóllar disaster posed a direct threat to this precious ecosystem.

The Spanish authorities and environmental organizations quickly intervened to address the situation. Emergency measures were taken to contain the pollution and restore the affected area.

This included the construction of barriers to limit the spread of toxic sewage, the reclamation of contaminated land and the reintroduction of animal species and native vegetables.

The Aznalcóllar mine disaster has highlighted the importance of proper industrial waste management and safety measures in mines.

He underlined the need for tighter controls and greater accountability by mining industries in preventing harmful environmental accidents. The incident has also contributed to a greater awareness of the importance of conserving sensitive natural areas and the unique ecosystem of the Doñana National Park.

Cyanide disaster in Romania (2000)

The cyanide environmental disaster in Romania refers to a major accident that occurred on January 30, 2000, when a dam containing toxic sewage from from a gold mine broke down in northern Romania.

The accident caused a large amount of cyanide-contaminated water to flow into the Tisza River and later into the Danube.

The mine involved was the Baia Mare gold mine, located in the Maramureș region. Following the rupture of the retaining dam, approximately 100,000 cubic meters of contaminated water, containing high concentrations of cyanide and heavy metals, leaked into the Tisza River.

Cyanide is a highly toxic compound to living organisms and can cause irreversible damage to aquatic ecosystems.

Cyanide pollution has had disastrous effects on the fish fauna of the Tisza River and its tributaries. Thousands of tons of fish are estimated to have died from cyanide poisoning.

Furthermore, the Tisza River flows through several countries, including Romania, Ukraine, Hungary and Serbia, and the pollution has also spread to these territories, causing damage to the river environment and threatening local water resources.

Kolontár dam disaster (Hungary, 2010) 

The Kolontár Dam Disaster is a serious accident that occurred on October 4, 2010 in Hungary. The retaining dam of an aluminum mine located in the village of Kolontár broke, causing large quantities of highly corrosive red mud to spill into several surrounding towns and agricultural fields.

Red mud, also known as "bauxite mud", is a toxic by-product of the aluminum refining process.

They contain high concentrations of harmful chemicals, including heavy metals, such as arsenic and lead.

When the dam broke, a mass of highly alkaline red mud poured into the surrounding valley, covering everything in its path along its path.

The crash had devastating consequences. The cities of Kolontár and Devecser were the hardest hit, with houses and infrastructure completely submerged in the toxic sludge, ten people lost their lives in the accident and many others were injured.

The pollution has had a significant impact on the local environment, destroying farmland, killing wildlife and contaminating water resources.

The Hungarian authorities have declared a state of emergency and have launched an extensive cleanup and cleanup operation. Emergency crews worked to contain the mud and try to prevent it from reaching the Danube River.

A system of temporary dikes has been built to prevent further spills and efforts have been launched to clean up affected areas and restore the environment.

Automatic translation. We apologize for any inaccuracies. Original article in Italian.