Abstract
The study examined some physical and chemical characteristics of soils in an unmonitored mining community in southwestern Nigeria. This study aimed at determining if the active (recently mined), abandoned mines, adjacent farmland, and a relatively less-disturbed forest re-growth region in the community exhibit significantly different or similar characteristics. The main hypothesis is that sites of artisanal gold mining activities are characterized by higher concentrations of toxic metals than the farmland and forest sites. A 25 by 25 meters plot was demarcated in each sample area and soil samples were obtained from 0 to 15 cm soil layer (at 5 by 5 m subplot level). Soil samples were analyzed for particle size distribution, pH, organic C, total N, available P, exchangeable Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, and Na+, total acidity, and selected heavy metals (Zn, Hg, Cu, Mn, Cd, Pb, and Fe). The study showed that soils at the active and abandoned mine sites were more of sandy particles, and contained significantly higher concentrations of heavy metals but lesser concentrations of soil nutrients than the farmlands and the relatively undisturbed areas in the study area. The study concluded that artisanal gold mining activities caused severe soil degradation and loss of important soil nutrients in the area. The impact of the mining activities is a major threat to qualitative food security and sustainable livelihoods in the area.
Highlights
The African continent contains about 30% of the world’s mineral resources, and possesses the largest known reserves of strategically important minerals, including gold (Bradshaw, Giam, & Sodhi, 2010; Darimani, Akabzaa, & Attuquayefio, 2013; Edwards et al, 2014; Ericsson, 1991; Mutemeri & Petersen, 2002; Taylor, Mackay, Kuypers, & Hudson-Edwards, 2009)
This paper reports an investigation into the physical and chemical characteristics of soils in one of the gold mine sites in the southwestern Nigeria, and compared the characteristics with those of adjacent farmland and a forested region
The main hypothesis is that sites of artisanal gold mining activities are characterized by higher concentrations of toxic metals than the farmland and forest sites
Summary
The African continent contains about 30% of the world’s mineral resources, and possesses the largest known reserves of strategically important minerals, including gold (Bradshaw, Giam, & Sodhi, 2010; Darimani, Akabzaa, & Attuquayefio, 2013; Edwards et al, 2014; Ericsson, 1991; Mutemeri & Petersen, 2002; Taylor, Mackay, Kuypers, & Hudson-Edwards, 2009). Nigeria is one of the countries in the sub-Saharan Africa where mining formed huge source of export prior to oil boom period in 1970s (Ericsson, 1991). National interests in mining started to decline, since the oil boom period, causing increased sporadic, informal uncoordinated or unmonitored management of the existing and potential mines that resulted into intensified artisanal mining activities in the country (Edwards et al, 2014). Artisanal mining activities are an informal procedure, which though have found to cause severe environmental disruptions, have been linked with economic benefits (including employment opportunities, tourism, technology advancements, and accessibility to both native and migrant populations) (Canavesio, 2014). The informal mining activities are characterized by low productivity, a lack of capital, poor technology, hazardous working conditions, land degradation, and pollution (Emel, Huber, & Makene, 2011)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
