Evaluation of the Effects of Mining Exploitation on Economic Indicators and Sustainability of the Rural Population Case Study: Bhogdakandi Rural District - Zanjan County

Objective: Mining is a critical environmental resource, with its primary and most significant impacts being economic.Subsequent effects arise later and are dependent on proper consideration and evaluation.When managed effectively, mining can contribute to the formation of value-added chains in other economic sectors and lay the foundation for achieving sustainable development goals.This research aims to examine the effects of mining exploitation on the economic indicators and population stability of rural areas in Boghdakandi district.Methods: The research is applied in nature, employing a descriptive-analytical methodology.Data collection utilized library and field methods, including: Observation (general and individual), Interviews (structured) and Questionnaires (closed and Likert scale).The questionnaire's face validity was assessed by experts, and its reliability was confirmed with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.802.The study's statistical population comprised the households of Boghdakandi district, which, according to the 2015 census, included 2,227 households.Using Cochran's formula, the required sample size was calculated as 314 households.Data analysis involved both descriptive statistics (mean, frequency distribution, and standard deviation) and inferential statistical tests (One-sample T-test, Pearson Correlation, and Kruskal-Wallis test). Results:The research findings reveal a significant relationship between mining exploitation and the economic indicators of the studied villages.Key results include