ENVIRONMENTAL HERITAGE OF OIL-SHALE MINING

Oil shale mining like every kind of exploitation of mineral resources imparts a variety of impacts on the environment. One group of factors has a temporary impact during the mining activities only, another grou p of factors leaves its footprints in nature for a long time. Geologic al conditions, mining methods underground or surface mining, roof cent ral methods and methods of reclamation determine the variety of landfo rms and their parameters in postmining landscape. Long-time ecological observations and changing economical conditions can influence the cur rent attitudes and criteria of assessments of the environmental impact caused by mining.