Impact of mining activities upon the environment of the Slovak Republic: two case studies

The effect of mining activities on the environment in the Banska Stiavnica- Hodrusa metal ore district and the Handlova-Cigel' brown coal district are presented. Waters draining freely from the mines transport large amounts of toxic elements into surface streams which contaminate broader surroundings . Slope movements, landslides and other slope failures caused by subsurface mining are particularly dangerous in the Handlova-Cigel' brown coal distri ct. To prevent further disasters, a monitoring system entitled 'Monitoring the effects of mining activities upon the environment' was begun in the ear ly nineties. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.