Abandoned mine

For the film, see Abandoned Mine.

An abandoned mine refers to a former mining or quarrying operation that is no longer in use and has no responsible entity to finance the cost of remediation and/or restoration of the mine feature or site. Such mines are typically left unattended and may pose safety hazards or cause environmental damage without proper maintenance. The term incorporates all types of old mines, including underground shaft mines and drift mines, and surface mines, including quarries and placer mining. Typically, the cost of addressing the mine's hazards is borne by the public/taxpayers/the government.[1][2][3][4]

An abandoned mine may be a hazard to health, safety or environment.

copper mine adit with bat gate in warren county, New Jersey
Pahaquarry Copper Mine adit, New Jersey, US
  1. ^ "Abandoned Hardrock Mines – Information on Number of Mines, Expenditures, and Factors That Limit Efforts to Address Hazards GAO 20-238" (PDF). GAO.gov. March 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-03-18.
  2. ^ Joseph F., Castrilli (2007). "Wanted: A Legal Regime to Clean Up Orphaned /Abandoned Mines in Canada" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-08-02.
  3. ^ "Managing Australia's 50,000 abandoned mines". www.mining-technology.com. 12 April 2015. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  4. ^ "With its mining boom past, Australia deals with the job of cleaning up". Mongabay Environmental News. 2020-08-20. Retrieved 2021-12-13.