What negative impact did gold and silver Mining have in the West? 1/10 cities near the mines, foster criminals. As long-term residents too, ghost towns were left behind. After the mines stopped producing three mining camps , resources of many contagious diseases for mass migration from the east coast led to social tension among on mer

chants and miners. Furthermore, the environmental impact of mining in the West included deforestation, water pollution, and soil erosion, leading to long-term damage to the ecosystem and wildlife habitats. Additionally, the exploitation of indigenous populations and forced displacement of Native Americans from their ancestral lands further exacerbated social and cultural tensions in the region.