ABSTRACT
The purpose of the environmental monitoring in and around a mine is to identify changes in the environmental parameters as a consequence of mining, in relation to the baseline conditions that existed before the commencement of mining. The environmental conditions monitored include (1) physical characteristics, such as water flow and geotechnical stability, (2) chemical characteristics, such as water quality (pH, sulphate, alkalinity, acidity, iron, electrical conductance, major cations and anions, etc.), and (3) biological characteristics (fauna and flora and biodiversity).
