The mining sector in Asia has often been characterized more by poor rather than by good environmental management. Thus, "mining and the environment' occupy contested terrain. This article focuses mainly on the small-scale mining sector, with examples drawn from the region.

Due to continuous removal of topsoil, which is appropriate for agricultural purposes, is being used in production of conventional fired clay bricks, which results in depletion of natural resources for agriculture. Due to rapid industrialization, enormous quantities of wastes are generated by industries. In the present research work, efforts were made by Regional Research Laboratory (RRL), Bhopal to develop stabilized copper mine tailings bricks for 35, 50, 75 and 100 kg compressive strength, using copper mine tailings waste in combination with sand and cement.

In the Chaibasa region of the West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand, India, an abandoned chrysotile asbestos mine is a health scourge for villagers and former mine workers. A massive pile of asbestos waste mixed with chromite has lain atop the hilltops of Roro village for two decades, gradually seeping into the land, water, homes, and bodies of the tribal communities living at the foothills of Roro. To investigate the status of the asbestos waste and its impact on the community and the environment, a fact-finding team made a preliminary assessment.

Coal mining is one of the core industries that contribute to the economic development of a country but deteriorate the environment. Being the primary source of energy coal has become essential to meet the energy demand of a country. It is excavated by both opencast and underground mining methods and affects the environment, especially water resources, by discharging huge amounts of mine water.

In vitro bioaccessibility (IVBA) studies were carried out on samples of mercury (Hg) mine-waste calcine (roasted Hg ore) by leaching with simulated human body fluids. The objective was to estimate potential human exposure to Hg due to inhalation of airborne calcine particulates and hand-to-mouth ingestion of Hg-bearing calcines.