Recommendations for sustainable mining operations near glaciers

In Chile, most mining zones and extractive operations are located at high altitudes in the Andes Mountains, placing them near glaciers, mountain ecosystems, and high-altitude wetlands, among others. Operating in these areas presents unique and significant challenges due to environmental sensitivity, public concern over freshwater reserves, and the importance of these ecosystems.

Among the main concerns shared by the public and authorities is the removal or degradation of glaciers; this is due to the deposit of dust that affects their albedo and accelerates the melting of the glacier, or from vibrations that can affect the structure and its geo-form, and even variations in the water balance of these bodies and the physical environment with which they interact.

The preservation and management of glaciers are essential for environmental sustainability, and mining companies are necessary partners that must adopt a climate change adaptation approach.

Considerations for mining companies operating near glaciers

Mining operations in proximity to glaciers must consider several critical factors:

• Project design: Know and consider the proximity to glaciers and include this information to determine the restrictions and inherent risks associated with the location of future operations.
• Environmental impact: Mining activities can accelerate the retreat and thinning of glaciers due to the alteration of mass and energy balance. It is crucial to monitor these changes to understand and mitigate the impacts.
• Weather conditions: Climate variability directly affects glaciers. Precipitation and air temperature are essential variables that must be continuously monitored.
• Glacial dynamics: The stability and dynamics of glaciers can be modified by mining activities. It is necessary to evaluate glacial velocity and volumetric changes to foresee potential risks.
• Environmental legislation: Operations must comply with current environmental regulations and adapt to new laws that protect glaciers and the periglacial environment.

Short-term recommendations for miners

Actions for projects that are located in glacial environments should focus on collection and analysis of pertinent data and the implementation of immediate measures to comply with legislation and environmental commitments:

1. Basic monitoring: Update the geographical characteristics of glaciers near operations using satellite images and field validation. In our experience, it is optimal to perform this monitoring and updating annually.
2. Glacier mass balance model: Implement a model that allows determining actual ablation based on precipitation and air temperature measurements.
3. Annual frontal variations: Conduct annual surveys to define the surface conditions of glaciers and estimate changes in area and volume to determine if the modification of the glacier front is affected by mining activity or if it can be attributed to other factors.

Medium-term recommendations for miners

Actions should focus on data systematization and the implementation of more complex models:

1. Surface energy balance model: Install automatic weather stations on selected glaciers to model the heat available for melting.
2. Ablation induced by Sedimental Particulate Material (SPM): Conduct experiments to determine the factor of potential ablation increase and its relationship with dust accumulation.
3. Volumetric changes and instrumentation: Use topographic information surveys to define elevation changes of the glacier over time, to determine if the trend of volumetric change is affected by the operations. Validate this data with terrestrial and GPS measurements.

Long-term recommendations for miners

Actions should focus on intensifying measurements and implementing continuous and detailed monitoring:

1. Periglacial environment: Define the periglacial environment by installing high-altitude weather stations and conducting soil temperature measurements.
2. Permafrost: Install sensors to determine the existence and continuity of permafrost in depth and extent.
3. Hydrological modeling: Develop hydrological models to determine the hydrological role of glaciers at the sub-basin and micro-basin levels.

The sustainability of mining operations near glaciers depends on the implementation of a comprehensive action plan that considers short, medium, and long-term measures. It is essential to continuously collect and analyze data to better understand glacial dynamics and mitigate potential impacts on these features.

Complying with environmental regulations and adapting to new laws is crucial to ensure the preservation of these sensitive ecosystems. Adopting these recommendations will enable responsible and sustainable environmental management, minimizing the impact on glaciers and ensuring the continuity of mining operations.