ENVIRONMENTAL HERITAGE OF OIL SHALE MINING
A. TOOMIK
Institute of Ecology,
North-East Estonian Department
15 Pargi St., Jõhvi
EE2045 Estonia
| Oil shale mining like every kind of exploitation of mineral
resources imparts a variety of impacts on the environment. One group of factors has a temporary
impact during the mining activities only, another group of factors leaves its footprints in
nature for a long time. Geological conditions, mining methods - underground or surface mining,
roof control methods and methods of reclamation determine the variety of landforms and their
parameters in postmining landscape. Long-time ecological observations and changing economical conditions can influence the current attitudes and criteria of assessments of the environmental impact caused by mining. |