What is Sand Mining?
Sand mining is a process of extracting sand from shallow shores of beaches, seas or oceans. Sand is also removed from river and ocean beds, digging pits along with from sand dunes or dredges. Oftentimes it is also extracted from coastal shores of beaches and therefore, is also known as Beach Mining.
Why is Sand Extracted? – Importance and Causes of Sand Mining
Sand extraction is a huge industry mainly because sand is used to prepare the concrete mixture used in construction. Due to modernization, urbanization and scientific advancement, there is a high demand for sand which is why the sand mining industry is booming rapidly. Especially since there is a race of constructing high skyscrapers, large building complexes and concrete islands among nations, sand is in high demand for various purposes to suit the modern lifestyles.
Sand is also used to mix with salt to melt ice or snow on roads and pavements and hence sand has found another use in the form of de-icing material in countries with colder temperatures. It is also used to reshape the coastal lines and shorelines when due to any reason such as soil erosion, coastal erosion or water receding effects has permanently altered the natural shore line. Sand is used to rehabilitate and renourish the beaches or coasts closer to how it looked before the alteration.
However, Sand mining also has its negative effects on the environment, few of which are briefly mentioned below:
Effects of Sand Mining:
Some of the Negative effects on the environment are:
- Degradation of Rivers: Sand mining naturally has a deteriorating effect of the river beds as constant and excessive sand mining decreases the depth and thickness of the river bed leading to its erosion, it forces the river to change its course and depletes the natural river bank limits. This may even pose a risk for flooding since the river bed is no longer sufficient enough to handle the course and flow of the water.
- Destruction of Habitat: Since the constant digging and interrupting the flow of degrades the river bed and leads to erosion, instream this also effects the aquatic habitat that destabilize their habitat due to fragmentation and interruption for mining sand. Damaging beaches and river beds cause the natural water composition and bedrock composition to be upset which can potentially lead to killing off several species of animals in the water due to destruction of their niche habitats.
Related: Anthropogenic Factors That Cause Species Decline
A prime example of species that have lost their habitat or are effected by sand mining practices are those of the Green Turtle– which need sandy banks for its nesting and laying of eggs and secondly the Indian Crocodiles (Gharials) are slowly going extinct because they are one of those species of crocodiles that require sandy beaches for living as it is their natural habitat. - Land Erosion: Some coastal communities are protected by the sand from storm surges, flooding etc. So, removing that sand causes the local community around that area to become vulnerable.
- Groundwater Recharge: Often sand mining leaves behind large gaping pits where sand used to be present beforehand, so this deep pit formations effect groundwater recharge due to the groundwater table no longer being replenished and as a result the drinking wells remain dry.
- Unstable Infrastructure: Due to unstable lands, deep pits and holes in the riverbeds and streams because of mining, any bridge constructed or future construction can be dangerous and will threaten the stability and endurance of the bridge. This poses a danger not only to people’s lives but also leads to a financial loss that went into constructing the bridge if proper monitoring, impact assessment and ecological study of the conditions of the riverbed has not been conducted.
- Water Turbidity: Many drinking water sources near places where sand mining or gravel mining takes place have problems of individual fine solute particles of sand to seep into the drinking reservoirs and aquifers below. This compromises the quality of the drinking water.
- Carbon Emissions: The transport, machinery operations, electricity usage in drillings and other equipment used in sand extraction and production, further refining and mixing all contribute significantly to the global GHG emissions.
Solutions for Sand Mining:
Since sand mining is crucial in this age as it widely used for glass, cement and other construction material, we can only hope the mitigate its negative effects by few of the following suggestions:
- New Policies need to be enacted that prioritize sustainable extraction of sand. No more than a certain amount of sand from specific place should be extracted annually.
- Allow different places or riverbeds to be able to recuperate and rehabilitate their ecosystems.
- Ban sand mining in rivers and areas where vulnerable or endangered species nest or live. Such as those of Green turtle or Gharials.
- Make sure that the local coastal communities that are firsthand impacted by sand mining and its consequences are present and participating in the reforms, policies and decision making.
- Shift to eco-friendly city blueprints. This shall involve less use of cement and sand in the process by incorporating older eco-friendly styles of architecture. Such as those with large courtyards and high arches and ceilings for cooling.
Conclusion:
Since Sand Mining itself is illegal in many parts of the world, one would think it is pretty much under control. however aside from many obvious environmental problems, sand extraction is often overlooked. Sand Mining is a billion dollar industry in the US legally and even that causes significant damage to the environment as the degradation that occurs does not remedy itself quickly nor does it recuperate soon. Better policies and more attention needs to be given to this as not only constructing with cement is less than ideal for the cities and humans in general but it is also the second most exploited natural resource in the world after Water.
You may also be interested in: Deep Sea Mining and Its Negative Effects on the Environment
Also check out: Mining Pollution – Causes, Effects, and Solutions
Check out: Environmental Impact of Extraction of Pearls (Pearl farming)
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