Question

In the past mining companies were not made responsible for the clean-up of any of the mine sites. As a result, abandoned mines had a severe impact on the environment in Ontario. Which of these is not a result of these mining practices?

1) Chemical reactions producing sulphuric acid decrease soil and water PH in the area.
2) Acid leaching dissolves metals found in the soil thus allowing them to enter the water system.
3) Heavy metals which are left tailing ponds can dissolve and enter the water system.
4) Old and inefficient mining smokestacks contaminate the soils around abandoned mine sites.

Answer 1

Old and inefficient mining smokestacks contaminate the soils around abandoned mine sites.

Step-by-step explanation:

A smokestack, is a very tall channel commonly used in many instances to release gases produced by combustion processes directly into the air. These high towers are aimed at dispersing the gaseous pollutants over a wider area thereby minimizing their impact.

Old and inefficient smokestack do not contaminate the soil since they are very high towers that discharge gases directly into the atmosphere. Hence they are not part of the sources of soil contamination in abandoned mines.