abandoned mine

Abandoned mines contain many hazards, including:

• Subsidence, or collapsing ground.
• Leftover blasting caps, dynamite and other (often highly unstable) undetonated explosives that may be accidentally triggered.
• Blackdamp, which accumulates in old mines and can cause suffocation.
• "Bad Air", or poisonous gases and lack of oxygen from unventilated tunnels.
• Hidden mine shafts, often hidden beneath bushes, grasses, and other vegetation that has grown up around the mine entrance, or boarded over with timbers that deteriorated to the point they can no longer support weight.
• Unstable tunnels, roofs and passageways, which are prone to cave-ins.
• Rotting, unsafe timbers and ladders, which are prone to collapse.
• The presence of venomous snakes, arachnids and other dangerous or aggressive animals.
• Deep, cold pools of contaminated water and flooded tunnels that carry a high risk of drowning, hypothermia or water-borne diseases.
• Poisoning from hazardous remnants of mined elements, including lead.
• Very dark (often pitch-black) and usually complicated layouts that are easy to get lost and/or trapped inside
• Radioactive materials: Some mines, especially uranium mines, can leave behind radioactive materials that pose a serious health risk. In certain areas around the world, radon may outgas from rocks in mines and accumulate in the tunnels, posing a similar risk.
• Falling rocks: Loose rocks can fall from the ceilings of old mines, causing injury.

• Department of the Interior – Bureau of Land Management – Abandoned mines are those mines that were abandoned before January 1, 1981, the effective date of the Bureau of Land Management's Surface Management regulations issued under the authority of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.){{Cite web|url=https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/abandoned-mine-lands/about-aml|title=Programs: Public Safety and Fire: Abandoned Mine Lands: About AML|last=blm_admin|date=2016-10-01|website=www.blm.gov|language=en|access-date=2018-04-12}}
• Environmental Protection Agency – Abandoned mine lands (AMLs) are those lands, waters, and surrounding watersheds where extraction, beneficiation or, processing of ores and minerals has occurred.{{cite web|url=https://www.epa.gov/superfund/abandoned-mine-lands|title=Abandoned Mine Lands|website=Superfund|date=9 March 2015 |publisher=U.S. Environmental Protection Agency|access-date=28 January 2018|quote=Abandoned mine lands (AMLs) are those lands, waters and surrounding watersheds where extraction, beneficiation or processing of ores and minerals has occurred. AMLs can pose serious threats to human health and the environment.}}

In the United States, there are thousands of abandoned mines. The precise number of abandoned mines in the United States remains unknown, ranging "from the National Park Service's tally of 2,500 on its lands to the Mineral Policy Center's assessment of 560,000 abandoned mines on public and privately owned lands."{{Cite web|url=http://www.peoplelandandwater.gov/osm/osm_03-20-07_keep-out-old.cfm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512202723/http://www.peoplelandandwater.gov/osm/osm_03-20-07_keep-out-old.cfm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-05-12|title=KEEP OUT! — Old Mines Are Dangerous (U.S. Department of the Interior)|date=2008-05-12|access-date=2018-04-12}} Many of these abandoned mines are associated with abandoned neighboring towns often referred to as ghost towns. Experts strongly warn against entering or exploring old or abandoned mines. In California, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arkansas, there are over 6,500 abandoned mines, according to infographic.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abandonedmines.gov/|title=Home {{!}} AbandonedMines|website=www.abandonedmines.gov|access-date=2019-04-25}}

File:Minedanger.jpg

In the U.S., the estimation is that approximately 80% of the abandoned mine lands (AML) sites pose physical safety hazards{{Cite web|url=https://www.fs.fed.us/geology/amlpaper.htm|title=National Reclamation of Abandoned Mine Lands|last=Greeley|first=Michael N.|date=2008-10-14|website=SME|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014175226/https://www.fs.fed.us/geology/amlpaper.htm|archive-date=2008-10-14|url-status=dead|access-date=2018-04-12}} and require more work in determining the proper safety of these lands.{{Cite web|url=https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/abandoned-mine-lands|title=Programs: Public Safety and Fire: Abandoned Mine Lands|date=2016-08-18|website=www.blm.gov|language=en|access-date=2019-04-25}}

Every year, dozens are injured or killed in recreational accidents on mine property. While exploring abandoned mines can be dangerous, the majority of deaths on mine property are actually unrelated to mine exploration. The leading causes of accidental deaths on abandoned mine properties are drownings in open quarries and ATV accidents. These types of accidents often occur when people engage in recreational activities on abandoned mine sites without taking proper precautions or following safety guidelines. It is important for individuals to recognize the risks associated with these activities and to take steps to ensure their safety. Property owners and managers also have a role to play in preventing accidents by implementing safety measures and providing adequate warning signs and barriers. The U.S. Department of Labor notes that since 1999, "more than 200 people have died in recreational accidents at the surface and underground active and abandoned operations across the country."{{Cite web|url=https://arlweb.msha.gov/MEDIA/PRESS/2007/NR070319.asp|title=MSHA - News Release: 03/19/2007 - MSHA issues warning to children and adults to 'Stay Out and Stay Alive' -Dozens injured and killed each year in recreational accidents|website=arlweb.msha.gov|language=en|access-date=2018-04-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180128132915/https://arlweb.msha.gov/MEDIA/PRESS/2007/NR070319.asp|archive-date=2018-01-28|url-status=dead}} Due to these circumstances, the Mine Safety and Health Administration launched the "Stay Out – Stay Alive" campaign, which is a national public awareness campaign aimed at warning and educating children and adults about the dangers of exploring and playing on active and abandoned mine sites.

In the U.S., the Abandoned Mine Land Initiative, launched by the Western Governor's Association and the National Mining Association is also an effort focusing on reporting the number of high-priority AML sites.{{Cite web|url=http://www.westgov.org/wga/publicat/miningre.pdf|title=Cleaning up Abandoned Mines: A Western Partnership|last=|first=|date=2007-09-26|website=Western Governor's Association|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926044744/http://www.westgov.org/wga/publicat/miningre.pdf|archive-date=2007-09-26|url-status=dead|access-date=2018-04-12}} The initiative identifies, measures, and reports on the progress of current reclamation cleanup programs on an annual basis. In the Americas region, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Chilean Copper Commission (COCHILCO) co-hosted a workshop to address the problem of abandoned or "orphaned" mines.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mineralresourcesforum.org/docs/pdfs/abandoned_report.pdf|title=Abandoned Mines: Problems, Issues and Policy Challenges for Decision Makers. Summary Report|last=|first=|date=2007-01-29|website=Chilean Copper Commission (COHILCO) and United Nations Environment Program: Division of Technology, Industry and Economics|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070129151627/http://www.mineralresourcesforum.org/docs/pdfs/abandoned_report.pdf|archive-date=2007-01-29|url-status=dead|access-date=2018-04-12}} Including a representative from the UN, ten countries were represented from North, Central, and South America with an eleventh participant being Japan.

It can be hazardous and detrimental to reside close to an abandoned coal mining site. The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) was passed in 1977 in two parts: one to control the effects of active mines, and one to regulate abandoned mines.{{Cite web|url=https://www.osmre.gov/programs/aml.shtm|title=OSMRE Reclaiming Abandoned Mine Lands|website=www.osmre.gov|access-date=2019-04-25}} SMCRA also initiated an abandoned mine land fund, in which a fee was charged for each ton of coal produced. This revenue was distributed in part to the United Mine Workers Association (UMWA) towards retirement funds, as well as to the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) to continue operations. There is still around $2 billion in undistributed funds thus far.

• National Orphaned/Abandoned Mines Initiative – Orphaned or abandoned mines are those mines for which the owner cannot be found or, the owner is financially unable or unwilling to carry out clean-up. They pose environmental, health, safety, and economic problems to communities, the mining industry, and governments in many countries, including Canada.{{Cite web|url=http://www.abandoned-mines.org/en/|title=NOAMI {{!}} National Orphaned/Abandoned Mines Initiative|website=www.abandoned-mines.org|language=en-CA|access-date=2018-04-12}}
• The Ontario Mining Act describes "abandoned mines" as old land previously used for coal mining unused due to hazardous environmental and health effects.

There are approximately 10,139 abandoned mines currently in Canada.{{Cite journal|last=Olszynski|first=Martin|date=2017|title=Reconsidering Red Chris: Federal Environmental Decision-Making after MiningWatch Canada v Canada (Fisheries and Oceans)|journal=SSRN Working Paper Series |doi=10.2139/ssrn.2970751|issn=1556-5068}} Research is being done to utilize geothermal systems in these abandoned mines as a renewable heating source and has shown to be quite cost-efficient.{{Cite conference|last=Arkay|first=K|date=1993|conference=1st Springhill Geothermal Energy Conference, Springhill, Nova Scotia |title=Summary report |publisher=Geological Survey of Canada|doi=10.4095/183976|doi-access=free}}

{{see also|Illegal mining in Chile}}

A 2003–2005 survey by the National Geology and Mining Service published in 2007 showed that there were 213 abandoned mines and mining facilities in Chile.{{Cite news |title=Minas abandonadas: una amenaza letal para miles de chilenos |last=Ramos |first=Marcela |date=2010-10-26 |url=https://www.ciperchile.cl/2010/10/26/minas-abandonadas-una-amenaza-letal-para-miles-de-chilenos/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |work=Ciper |language=es}} Some particularly dangerous or environmentally hazardous mines assesed as such by experts in 2011 are Faena Casilla (iodine) in Tarapacá Region, Montecristo (copper) in Antofagasta Region, La Higuera (copper and gold) in Coquimbo Region, Ex Minera Las Palmas (gold) in Maule Region and Ex Central Plegarias (coal) in Biobío Region.{{Cite news |title=Expertos identifican las 14 faenas mineras abandonadas más riesgosas del país |last=Ramos |first=Marcela |date=2011-03-11 |url=https://www.ciperchile.cl/2011/03/10/expertos-identifican-a-las-14-faenas-mineras-abandonadas-mas-riesgosas-del-pais/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |work=Ciper |language=es}} Some abandoned mines are in use by artisanal miners known as chuculleros.{{Cite web |title=chucullero |url=https://www.tesauroregional.cl/terminos/3598 |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=Tesauro Regional Patrimonial|publisher=Centro de Documentación de Bienes Patrimoniales |language=es |quote=Término utilizado para designar, por lo general, a pirquineros especialmente dedicados a la tarea de extraer pequeños volúmenes de oro. El término también se usa de forma negativa para identificar a los extractores ilegales de metales preciosos.}}{{Cite web |title=Dos muertos deja derrumbe en pique minero clausurado |url=https://www.mch.cl/negocios-industria/dos-muertos-deja-derrumbe-en-pique-minero-clausurado/ |date=2011-01-11 |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=Minería Chilena |language=es}}{{Cite journal |title=Urban Symbiosis: A Study of Company Town Camp Followers in the Atacama Desert |journal=North-South Canadian Journal of Latin American Studies |last=Porteous |first=J. Douglas |volume=3 |issue=5–6 |pages=210–221 |year=1978|doi=10.1080/03841367.1978.10816461 }}

Abandoned mines may be reused for other purposes, such as pumped-storage hydropower.{{cite web|url= http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2017/03/german-coal-mine-to-be-reborn-as-giant-pumped-storage-hydro-facility.html|title= German Coal Mine to Be Reborn as Giant Pumped Storage Hydro Facility|accessdate= 30 May 2020|archive-date= 9 July 2019|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190709081435/https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2017/03/german-coal-mine-to-be-reborn-as-giant-pumped-storage-hydro-facility.html|url-status= dead}}

• Mine caps
• Pirquinero
• RECLAIM Act

{{Reflist}}

• {{Commonscatinline}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20190629041925/https://www.abandonedmines.gov/ Abandonedmines.gov]- United States Federal Mining Dialogue Workgroup web portal
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20141129021319/http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/Abandoned_Mine_Lands.html Abandoned Mine Lands]- Department of the Interior - Bureau of Land Management
• [https://www.nps.gov/subjects/abandonedminerallands/index.htm Abandoned Mineral Lands] - Department of the Interior - National Park Service
• [https://www.fs.fed.us/science-technology/geology/aml Abandoned Mine Lands] - Department of Agriculture - United States Forest Service
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20071127150028/http://www.msha.gov/sosa/SOSAhome.asp Stay Out - Stay Alive] - Department of Labor - [https://www.msha.gov/ Office of Mine Safety and Health Administration]
• [http://www.abandoned-mines.org/en/ National Orphaned Mine Initiative] - Canada - National multi-stakeholder Workgroup

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Category:Mining in the United States