Mining and WaterMining and WaterOil-shale is the most Oil-shale is the most

valuable mineral in valuable mineral in Estonia.Estonia.

For years people have For years people have produced energy from produced energy from oil-shale. Energy for oil-shale. Energy for getting light and getting light and warmth: first lamp-oil, warmth: first lamp-oil, then fuel oil, now then fuel oil, now electricity- a universal electricity- a universal energy source.energy source.

Estonian Oil-shaleEstonian Oil-shale► The determined mining of oil-shale has beenThe determined mining of oil-shale has been extended over

80 years and more than 900 million tons have been excavated.

► Oil-shale is raw material for fossil fuel and chemical industry. Oil-shale is raw material for fossil fuel and chemical industry. By dry distillation a lot of oil is produced. Gas and some By dry distillation a lot of oil is produced. Gas and some sulphur compounds can be produced from oil-shale.sulphur compounds can be produced from oil-shale.

► Oil-shale is taken for an energetic Oil-shale is taken for an energetic ressource in more than 50 countries,ressource in more than 50 countries,but only some of them,including but only some of them,including Estonia, have mineral deposits Estonia, have mineral deposits worth of mining.worth of mining.

Mines and Opencasts in Ida-ViruMines and Opencasts in Ida-Viru► Estonia MineEstonia Mine► Viru MineViru Mine► Aidu OpencastAidu Opencast► Narva OpencastNarva Opencast

Mining- Positive and NegativeMining- Positive and Negative► POSITIVEPOSITIVE

*good incomes*good incomes*producing warmth *producing warmth and electricity and electricity

► NEGATIVENEGATIVE*polluting *polluting environmentenvironment*reduced *reduced subsoilwater, subsoilwater, empty underground empty underground

Dangers in Mining AreasDangers in Mining AreasWhen underground is empty after excavating,the ground starts When underground is empty after excavating,the ground starts

sinking.Consequences: fields and valleys with waving surface and sinking.Consequences: fields and valleys with waving surface and unexpectably appearing deep holes on roads and fields.unexpectably appearing deep holes on roads and fields.

Building houses there is impossible,which is obstructing for developing Building houses there is impossible,which is obstructing for developing communities.communities.

In Ida-Viru County such communities are called oil-shale communities. Illuka In Ida-Viru County such communities are called oil-shale communities. Illuka is one of them.is one of them.

On the territory of Illuka there are 2 mines: Estonia and Ahtme (Ahtme is On the territory of Illuka there are 2 mines: Estonia and Ahtme (Ahtme is closed).closed).

Mining and Subsoil WaterMining and Subsoil Water►Because of mining oil-shale, the Because of mining oil-shale, the

surface level of subsoil water has surface level of subsoil water has lowered.lowered.

►Oil-shale mining pollutes subsoil water. Oil-shale mining pollutes subsoil water. ►Excavating 1 ton oil-shale needs 10-15 Excavating 1 ton oil-shale needs 10-15

tons of water pumped out from the tons of water pumped out from the ground.ground.

The Level of Subsoil waterThe Level of Subsoil water►During the mining the water level During the mining the water level

lowers.lowers.►When mining is completed, the closed When mining is completed, the closed

mines become filled with water and mines become filled with water and the level of subsoil water possibly can the level of subsoil water possibly can be restored,but this is not certain. be restored,but this is not certain.

Wells on Mining TerritoriesWells on Mining Territories►Wells in many households are empty Wells in many households are empty

because of mining workbecause of mining work►New 38 m deep artesian wells are dug New 38 m deep artesian wells are dug ►When the mine lies near the household, When the mine lies near the household,

deep water wells are dug and water deep water wells are dug and water supply is built.supply is built.

► In some cases the mine supplies people In some cases the mine supplies people with water, bringing it with lorries.with water, bringing it with lorries.

ConclusionConclusion►Oil-shale mining has both advantages Oil-shale mining has both advantages

and disadvantages.For saving the and disadvantages.For saving the nature and environment,the best nature and environment,the best possible ways need to be chosen.possible ways need to be chosen.