Section 2: Metal Mining

Releases by Metal Mines

The metal mining sector’s total disposal or other releases reflect the high volume of materials managed on-site at metal mines. As shown in this figure, more than 99% of the sector’s releases are on-site land disposal. On-site land disposal by metal mines has fluctuated in recent years, decreasing significantly in 2012 and then increasing again in 2013. Several mines have reported that changes in production and changes in the chemical composition of the deposit being mined are the primary cause of these fluctuations in the amount of chemicals reported. Metal mining facilities typically handle large volumes of material, and even a small change in the chemical composition of the deposit being mined can lead to big changes in the amount of toxic chemicals reported nationally.

In 2013, the metal mining sector reported the largest quantity of total disposal or other releases, accounting for 47% of the releases for all industries. It also represents almost three quarters (71%) of the on-site land disposal for all sectors in 2013.

This page was published in January 2015 and uses the 2013 TRI National Analysis dataset made public in TRI Explorer in October 2014.