Final answer:
Mining collapses are not a consequence of moving from underground mining to surface mining; this risk is associated with the former, not the latter. Surface mining leads to increased land degradation, air and water pollution, and changes to the landscape, but not the collapses seen in underground settings. Therefore correct option is C
Step-by-step explanation:
The consequence that is not associated with moving from underground mining to surface mining is c. mining collapses. Underground mining can pose a significant risk of collapses due to the destabilization of the ground above the voids created by the mining activity. However, in surface mining, also known as open-pit or strip mining, soil and rock overlying the mineral deposit (the overburden) are removed, which reduces the likelihood of collapses seen in underground mining settings. Instead, surface mining often leads to increased land degradation, air and water pollution, and changes to the landscape.
For example, mountaintop mining (MTM) involves the removal of mountaintops to expose coal seams, which is a form of surface mining that has been particularly criticized for its negative environmental impacts. The waste from MTM is usually disposed of in adjacent valleys, burying streams and destroying existing habitats, therefore impacting the entire ecosystem. Similarly, poverty and the exploitation of natural resources can lead to environmental degradation, with activities like deforestation for agriculture, timber industry, and mining affecting land stability, causing erosion, and damaging water supplies with pollutants, negatively impacting local habitats and ecosystems.