Environmental Aspects of Phosphate and Potash Mining United ...

Introduction
4
Figure1.2
The mineral fertilizer life cycle
The flow of the macro-nutrients phosphorous and potassium
Source : Concept for the schematic is drawn from the Natural Resouces
Canada report "Sustainable Development and Minerals and Metals"
Figure1.3
The mining life cycle
to concentrate ore
planning
Source : Concept for the schematic is drawn from the Natural Resouces
Canada report "Sustainable Development and Minerals and Metals"
1.3 The Life Cycle of the Phosphate
Rock and Potash Mining Industry
The industry approach to environmental issues has
moved from ‘end-of-pipe’ solutions, towards a pollution
prevention strategy. This strategy requires an
integrated, holistic view of activities. Tools have been
developed to assist management, including cleaner
production, life cycle assessment and industrial ecology.
Each of these looks at the life cycle of the product
or service, to identify where the major environmental
issues or problems may arise and where the most costeffective
solutions can be developed. Planning for the
life of the mine, including closure and site rehabilitation,
permits a more efficient and environmentally
effective outcome. It identifies and creates opportunities
for improving the economic and environmental
performance of the operation. Previously unrecovered
resources may be retrieved and former wastes converted
into useful products.
A schematic view of the mining life cycle is depicted in
Figure 1.3. This highlights the sequential nature of the
activities of the phosphate rock and potash mining
industry. Emphasis is placed on closing the circle, or
life cycle, with the rehabilitation of the site, and on the
importance of planning for this from the outset.
Activities of the mining life cycle may include:
Prospecting and exploration to identify potential
economic mineral deposits;
Assessment of the mineral deposit to determine
whether it can be economically extracted and
processed under current and predicted future
market conditions;
Design, planning and construction of the mine,
handling, processing plant and associated infrastructure
such as roads, power generation and
ports;
Removal of the overburden or mining of the
underground declines, shafts and tunnels to access
the ore;
Extraction of the ore;
Handling of the ore from the mine to the beneficiation
plant;
Beneficiation and primary processing of the ore to
produce a concentrated product (phosphate rock
and potash);
Treatment and disposal of solid and liquid wastes;
Closure of the mining operation after exhaustion
of the economic ore reserve and completion of
rehabilitation; and