Iron extraction significantly impacts the environment, primarily through the destruction of natural habitats and biodiversity during the mining process.
Key Environmental Impacts of Iron Extraction
According to the provided reference on "Key Impacts," iron extraction, particularly through open-pit mining, requires disturbing large surface areas. This process involves the necessary removal of topsoil and vegetation to access the underlying iron ore.
This removal leads directly to a critical environmental consequence:
- Destruction of Existing Biodiversity: The habitats of various animal and plant species are destroyed during the time of material extraction. This loss impacts local ecosystems and can threaten species survival.
The process essentially clears the land, eliminating the foundation upon which local flora and fauna depend, fundamentally altering or eradicating the existing ecological balance in the mining area.
