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Resource Curse or Cure ? pp 179–194Cite as

An Overview of Mining and the Environment in Western Australia

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Part of the book series: CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance ((CSEG))

Abstract

This chapter identifies and explores the common environmental effects of mining in Western Australia (WA). Utilising unique state-specific data, we examine site-specific factors with reference to metals, mine life cycle, cumulative impacts and temporal disturbance. Emerging trends are discussed with specific reference to WA including in relation to production, ore grades, waste, scale, socio-environmental issues and mine legacy impacts. Finally we explore the constraints on effective environmental management imposed by the WA approach to mining development and discuss challenges for the effective environmental management of mining.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Specific or potential industry sectors such as uranium, rare earths, salt, mineral sands and others have additional/unique impacts (e.g. radiation exposure and radioactive waste).

  2. 2.

    Saleable iron ore is raw iron ore that has been beneficiated or processed to remove impurities, increase iron grade or allow blending of different ore types.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mineral Policy Institute, Perth, WA, Australia

    Charles Roche & Gavin Mudd

  2. Environmental Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia

    Gavin Mudd

Authors
  1. Charles Roche
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  2. Gavin Mudd
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Charles Roche .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Social Sustainability, Murdoch University, Perth, West Australia, Australia

    Martin Brueckner

  2. Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, West Australia, Australia

    Angela Durey

  3. John Curtin Inst. of Public Policy, Curtin University, Perth, West Australia, Australia

    Robyn Mayes

  4. Curtin Business School, Curtin University, Perth, West Australia, Australia

    Christof Pforr

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Roche, C., Mudd, G. (2014). An Overview of Mining and the Environment in Western Australia. In: Brueckner, M., Durey, A., Mayes, R., Pforr, C. (eds) Resource Curse or Cure ?. CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-53873-5_12

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