What is an environmental impact of strip-mining an area for minerals?

What is an environmental impact of strip-mining an area for minerals?

• A. Removes large sections of land from an area
• B. Creates new forest areas
• C. Builds mountains
• D. Floods valleys

Answer: (A)

Strip mining involves removing the topsoil and rock overburden to reach mineral seams, which disturbs and often removes large sections of land. That land is left exposed, vegetation is destroyed, and ecosystems are disrupted, making removal of big areas the most accurate environmental impact. It doesn’t create forests, isn’t used to build mountains, and while it can alter drainage and erosion, it isn’t simply described as flooding valleys.

Strip mining involves removing the topsoil and rock overburden to reach mineral seams, which disturbs and often removes large sections of land. That land is left exposed, vegetation is destroyed, and ecosystems are disrupted, making removal of big areas the most accurate environmental impact. It doesn’t create forests, isn’t used to build mountains, and while it can alter drainage and erosion, it isn’t simply described as flooding valleys.