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Mining the Comstock introduced changes into the environment,
locally and more widespread. These changes may be categorized in
mine wastes or urbanization. This section provides some material
for discussion of these changes. Influence of Mining presents
initial consideration into the support industries that developed
because of the mining. The further consequences of the
development of these industries is left to the readers to
consider. The urbanization section discusses some of the effects
of gathering all the people needed to run the industries. The
mine wastes section brings out the problems that former mining
techniques and accepted societal disregard for the environment
caused. Modern regulations and mining practices have reduced that
type of damage caused to the environment, but vigilance must be
maintained. The photograph of mine dumps north of Virginia City
illustrates a change to the environment from the juniper and
pinion pin-dotted hills of undisturbed land to the taller Jeffrey
pines that grow on the naturally hydrothermally altered rocks
brought to the surface by the mining. The form of the landscape
has also changed. 
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