Impact of Open-Pit Mining on the Environment: Case Study of the Porphyry and Diabase Mines Company in Krzeszowice

Abstract

Every mining activity harms the elements of the environment. It is minimized by several corrective actions or modern pro-environmental technological solutions. Porphyry and Diabase mines in Krzeszowice are an important element of the Polish mining sector, and the aggregates extracted there are widely used in road construction, railways, and construction. The article assesses the impact of the activities of Porphyry and Diabase Mines sp z o.o. on the environment in the following areas: landscape change, waste management, air pollution, noise and vibration, mining damage, as well as impact on water conditions and landslide hazards. The presented analysis showed that the impact on the environment was limited thanks to the implementation of numerous pro-ecological actions, such as the reclamation of post-mining areas, selective deposition of mining waste on the dump, reduction of dust emissions and a drainage system that does not have a negative impact on water conditions and groundwater quality. The actions taken by the Company support sustainable management of the open pit mine and minimise the impact on the environment.