Mining operations are considered one of the main sources of environmental degradation. The extraction of all these products from the lithosphere has a variety of side effects. Depletion of available land due to mining, waste from industries, conversion of land to industry and pollution of land, water and air by industrial wastes, are environmental side effects of the use of these non-renewable resources. Public awareness of this problem is of a global nature and government actions to stem the damage to the natural environment have led to numerous international agreements and laws directed toward the prevention of activities and events that may adversely affect the environment.