What is meant by the following quote? Historically, the ...

[asd123]

What is meant by the following quote? Historically, the environment has borne a great deal of the
  cost of extracting raw materials; the consumer has paid only part of the real cost. What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

What is the safety consideration behind why cyanide, in heap-leach recovery operations, is kept at very
  low concentrations and kept highly alkaline? What will be an ideal response?

[matt95]

Answer to Question 1

The cost of correcting negative environmental impacts of mining is intangible. Extensive damage has
been done to the environment, and the ultimate cost of this is unknown. The EPA's superfund for
cleanup of the nation's worst toxic and hazardous waste sites is a good example of part of the cost.
Consumers will be paying the true cost for many years to come

Answer to Question 2

This is to prevent formation of poisonous cyanide gas, the stuff of World War II gas chambers.