Resource-saving and environmental protection in open pit mineral mining within the green economy framework

Abstract

Economic advance has resulted in a jump in global consumption of natural reserves. The Earth ecology is unable to cover growing requirements of people, especially in the developed countries. By experts’ estimates, the further economical expansion will become impossible soon. We need a new paradigm of progression. Innovation-based advance and expansion of energy-efficient green economy are essential. All this is of specific concern in the mining industry as it is the highest resource-consumer and affects appreciably the environment. This article illustrates large-scale disturbance of land resources in China and USA. In such conditions, it is required to develop and implement eco-innovation mineral mining technologies based on the decoupling principle, when there is mismatch and deviation of rates of economic growth and environmental impact in mining. In practical terms, the decoupling effect is interlinked with the strategy of resource-saving in subsoil management. A huge contribution to solution of the problems connected with the resource saving and environmental protection has been made by Academician V. V. Rzhevsky. Developed by him, the modern theory of open pit mining, including mineral accessing, mining systems and modes, all-round mechanization structures etc., makes it possible to create conditions for complete and efficient extraction of a mineral at the environmental conservation at the specified level. He superintended various-subject comprehensive studies in the mentioned area of science in all mineral mining regions of Russia (Ural, Kuzbass, Ekibastuz, Kursk Magnetic Anomaly etc.). A new school of underwater mining was launched. V. V. Rzhevsky has for the first time developed the classification of mining sciences and the inventory of studies in mining ecology and efficient subsoil management. Rational use of mineral reserves and environmental protection are still the topical problem in many mining regions of Russia. Specialists forecast further increase in load on the Earth’s interior environmental degradation in extensive mining sites up to their recognition as ecological disaster areas. Thus, under the circumstances, Russia wants the present-day ecological policy, modernization of the economy and improvement of its efficiency.