Mining and the environment

1. Examine how early mining techniques² impacted on the environment. Your teacher will have a short quiz for you to try about the environmental impacts of mining techniques.

2. Read ‘Environmental devastation on the diggings³’.

3. Analyse Howitt's use of language and complete the ranking activity⁴, then share the completed file with your teacher.

1. Compare the extraction of gold using the open-cut⁶ method with underground⁷ mining, and categorise the facts in a quiz that your teacher will give you a link to.

In recent years the concern over the environmental impact of mining has led to new government legislation for mining and mineral exploration. When the price of gold goes up a lot, old gold mines become profitable⁸ again.

2. Read through the case studies⁹ to see how the Minerals Council of Australia is promoting these land and water management. Discuss with your classmates what protections should be in place for parks, private property and landowners.

3. What is the real price of gold? Examine the concerns of environmentalists, Aboriginal groups and local businesses at the Lake Cowal¹⁰ gold mine in NSW.

Become an active citizen and develop a plan of action for a campaign to support a particular point of view by one of the interested parties.