The Use of Spatial Data in Granite Deposit Life Cycle Assessment

Abstract

This paper discusses the possibilities of using spatial data coming from geographic information systems – systems which acquire, store and process spatial data – to assess selected stages in the life cycle of a granite deposit, i.e. deposit exploration, development and post-mining management. The unit processes occurring in the particular stages in the life of a granite quarry were described on the basis of the literature on the subject. For each of the processes the categories of mining impacts on the particular environmental and human components were specified. Spatial data acquired from many sources (indicated in the paper) were used in the analyses. Analytical results are presented for only for the selected stages in the life of the granite deposit. The result maps show, among other things, the impact of the mining activities on three groups of objects: environmental objects, social objects and technical objects and indicate the objects located in a debris scatter danger zone around the places where blasting works are carried out, and in a ground seismic vibration hazard zone. Moreover, it is shown that using basic data acquired from geological documentation one can create a terrain model with wireframe models of stratigraphic layers in the deposit and on this basis built a deposit block model and then use it in further deposit life cycle assessment to acquire data, such as the overburden volume, the resource volume and the output volume. An example of the application of the geoprocessing tools in excavation post-mining management planning to highlight environmental qualities and enhance the attractiveness of the area for its future user is presented.