Minimization of environmental impacts in gold mining

The environmental impacts of a gold mine can be minimized or even eliminated, based on related scientific and technical experience and management for pollution abatement, risk assessment, preparedness, stakeholder consultation and awareness build-up. An "Environmental Management Plan" should be designed at the pre-operation stage and should rigorously be implemented as a vital part of the plant activity during the entire operational period. This is to be contrasted with the currently adapted approach of protective measures built and operated mainly for the sake of complying with the initial control and licensing stages and then left to follow their own courses mostly without the necessary concern due to lack of the auditing programs of the regulatory agencies in Turkey, as in most of the developing countries. This study presents an overview of the road map for the minimization of environmental impacts present in gold mining and ore processing operations. The work covers the main concerns in the appropriate planning concept, regulatory and administrative commitments, required management and compliance monitoring systems for environmental protection.