This book provides a definition of sustainable mining, and generally describes the international sustainable mining practices since 1992. The current status of mining practice in the Americas, Asia (with emphasis on India), and Europe is described in detail. Issues in sustainable mining practices addressed in this book include the large volume of waste generated during mining, mine closure planning, managing the environmental impacts of mining, land use planning, and energy use management. The exclusive specialty of this book is entrenched in the detail coverage of the sustainable mining systems and technologies that are currently used in developed countries.

Amongst others it emphasizes the following areas:

• Cleaner Production practices in Australia;
• Blasting impacts and their control in the U.S.;
• Minimizing surface water impacts;
• Minimizing groundwater impacts;
• Surface subsidence control in the U.S.;
• Use of environmental indicators in mining; and
• Emerging mining technologies that minimize environmental impacts.

Mineland reclamation is discussed in a great detail, with several examples of successful mineland reclamation in the U.S., and abandoned mineland reclamation in the western U.S. Waste management issues discussed in the book include:

• Tailings management, including risk evaluation of facilities;
• Waste rock disposal, including acid mine drainage control; and
• Hazardous waste management, with emphasis on maintenance wastes.

A chapter is devoted to Best Mining Practices for Sustainable Mining, with subchapters on small scale mining, tailings pond management, and hazardous waste management. This chapter highlights practices that have been successful in the U.S., and practices that are being developed in India for controlling small scale mining. The concluding chapter of the book presents several case histories of sustainable mining practices in the Americas (including sustainable exploration practices), Asia (with emphasis on India) and Africa (Tanzania and Zambia).