Abstract

Mining is an economic activity essential for the development of many countries worldwide, causing positive and negative impacts, together with posing great challenges to face them. Negative impacts are particularly evident in arid zones, where water scarcity and ecosystem fragility can make mining even more challenging. This paper gives a general view of mining in arid zones, its impact on the environment and local communities, challenges faced, and sustainable alternatives to minimize impacts, based on a circular economy (CE) and giving opportunities for reducing and valuing wastes. It focuses on water management, land restoration, and participation of communities where more sustainable practices are possible in Chile, a country well-known for its mining activity.