What have you done today that did not involve a mineral?

Part 6: Out of sight, out of mine — A Saskatchewan mining perspective 

Most Canadian mines are in remote regions far from where most people live. This physical distance adds to a significant disconnect between our daily lives and the origins of the materials we rely on. It is easy to forget that everything we use, from smartphones to toothpaste, has a mineral origin. That is why we have been asking a simple but powerful question throughout this series: “What have you done today that did not involve a mineral?” This is where the “Historical Canadian Mines Hub: https://www.cim.org/the-hub/” comes in. This interactive tool is designed to spark curiosity and conversation, encouraging everyone to ask questions and then use the Hub to find answers about where the materials in their lives come from. Just as children learn that milk comes from cows, adults should recognize that most elements are recovered from minerals and know where and how those minerals are found.

While the Earth has endured ice ages and warming cycles long before humans arrived, the footprint we leave behind is unprecedented. Our mines, cities, and infrastructure permanently alter the landscape. What will become of the places we have mined, built upon, and changed? The answer depends on the choices we make today. If we want a future that respects both people and the planet, we must choose to make resource extraction more visible, understandable, and accountable. Together, we can build a legacy rooted in stewardship, education, and responsible resource use. Traditional educational approaches by the mining industry have not fully resonated with the public, so we must continue exploring new ways to inform and engage in the practice and necessity of mining.

To inform people of the importance of mining, the Canadian Mines Hub must be completely accessible to all. This year, we began exploring the land impact of mining in Saskatchewan. By zooming in on known mine sites, we drew polygons around visible surface areas affected by mining. For historical coal mines located on acreages, where no visible impacts could be identified, we applied an estimate of a 10-by-10-metre footprint. While this land impact analysis is not a visible feature of the Hub because of the significant effort required to keep mine property data current, an effort sustained through volunteer hours, it remains an ongoing internal project. For those following along, mines operating up to 2025 were updated by the end of 2025.

From this analysis, we estimate that the total visible land footprint of mining in Saskatchewan is approximately 500 km2. To put that into perspective, Saskatchewan spans about 650,000 km2, and the combined area of Saskatoon and Regina is 408 km2. This comparison helps ground the scale of mining in something familiar. It shows that while the footprint is notable, it remains a small fraction of the province’s total area. Like the cities mining builds, this space allows people to live the lives they are accustomed to, and the space is being put towards helping us.

To further contextualize human impact, we compared the number of mines to the number of active landfills. In 2013, Saskatchewan had approximately 500 active landfills and nine industrial landfills, compared to the 544 mines identified in our database. This comparison reminds us that wherever humans go, we leave behind waste, whether from mining, municipalities, or industry. Understanding and quantifying these patterns over time is essential to managing our collective footprint. It is worth noting that this comparison does not include the inactive landfills which also contribute to the long-term impact on the land.

Looking more broadly at land use, consider that in 2021, Saskatchewan had approximately 244,000 km2 of farmland and over 190,000 km of paved and unpaved roads. These figures reflect the vast areas dedicated to feeding people and connecting communities. It is reassuring to see that land used for waste disposal is only a small fraction compared to the land needed for essential human needs. While we have a great deal of space in Canada, we must think critically about how we use land and the long-term consequences of those choices.

As we reflect on land use whether for mining, landfills, or other human activities, we must also recognize how fortunate we are to have access to fresh water. Protecting this resource must be a priority. Our activities should never compromise water health. Unfortunately, places like Uranium City and Yellowknife serve as sobering reminders of the environmental damage that mining can leave behind. These stories need to be shared, and kudos must go to John Sandlos and Arn Keeling who documented these places in their recent books. Our shared reliance on minerals means we also share responsibility for the impacts resource extraction has on the Earth. Acknowledging where we have gone wrong is the first step toward doing better.

Moving forward, let’s commit to greater transparency in how we collect, share, and communicate Canadian mining data. Let’s help the public understand where minerals come from, not only from behind gates, but also from landscapes that have shaped our history and will define our future. Because if mining remains out of sight, it will stay out of mind. And that lack of visibility will not inspire the curiosity needed to answer the question at the heart of this series: What have you done today that did not involve a mineral? 

Connections within the industry can expand our knowledge. Donna Beneteau, an associate professor in geological engineering at the University of Saskatchewan, combines academic insight with industry experience in mining. Bruce Downing, a geoscientist consultant, based in Langley, B.C., combines research, education, geochemistry, and industry expertise. Tayyab Shah is a geospatial research manager and specialist in the Canadian Hub for Applied Social Research (CHASR) and a professional affiliate with the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies at the University of Saskatchewan.