What happens to old mines?

All mines ultimately close. In the past, when environmental requirements were not as stringent as they are now, some mines were abandoned creating legacy issues. Ways of resolving this are being looked into with clean up funds being established in some jurisdictions, alternative uses being found for old mining sites in others and an ongoing dialogue exists between governments, communities and industry on the subject.

The Post Mining Alliance is, for example, one organisation working towards finding solutions to this challenge (http://www.edenproject.com/foundation/60.html ). With the more stringent closure standards being put in place globally mines are now rehabilitated to an agreed standard as defined by that country’s legislation. Shafts are closed and tailings storage areas re-vegetated. The infrastructure of the mine, such as buildings and offices, is typically either decommissioned or put to alternative use, for example as workshops, or businesses, or other industrial facilities.

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