Impacts of mining and smelting activities on environment and landscape degradation—Slovenian case studies

Historical mining and smelting activities have significantly altered landscapes through physical and chemical changes, with erosion of mine wastes and atmospheric emissions from smelters identified as primary contamination sources. A study comparing four Slovenian sites—Idrija (500-year Hg mining), Meža Valley (500-year Pb-Zn mining), Celje (100-year Zn smelting), and the Drava River alluvial plain—revealed that rainfall patterns, river gradients, topography, and wind directions control pollutant dispersion. These findings, derived from a literature review, highlight global parallels in environmental degradation linked to industrial heritage, offering insights for conservation efforts at UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Almadén and Idrija.

Žibret, G., Gosar, M., Miler, M., & Alijagić, J. (2018). Impacts of mining and smelting activities on environment and landscape degradation—Slovenian case studies. Land Degradation & Development, 29(12), 4457–4470. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.3198