Environmental heritage of oil shale mining

Oil shale mining like every kind of exploitation of mineral resources imparts a variety of impacts on the environment. One group of factors has a temporary impact during the mining activities only, another group of factors leaves its footprints in nature for a long time. Geological conditions, mining methods underground or surface mining, roof control methods and methods of reclamation determine the variety of landforms and their parameters in post mining landscape. Long-time ecological observations and changing economical conditions can influence the current attitudes and criteria of assessments of the environmental impact caused by mining. (author)