Abstract
Largely dependent on gold mines for their economic survival, many mining towns in the Far West Rand fear the effects of the inevitable impact of mine closure, not only on the economy but also on social stability. Large-scale environmental degradation in the form of sinkholes and widespread radioactive pollution exacerbate such fears. Based on an analysis of mining impacts and potential threats for post-mining developments provided in Part I, this 2nd paper in a 3-part series aims to stimulate thought, through the discussion of potential opportunities centred on the rich water resources of the area. This is in full recognition of a subsequent need to assess the economic and technical feasibility of identified opportunities in more detail. Many opportunities are based on the concept that perceived mining liabilities may have the potential to be turned into assets. Examples include the restoration of dewatered karst aquifers and their use for storing large volumes of water, protected from evaporation losses, combined with artificial groundwater recharge and harvesting as well as underground generation of hydropower. This could well be complemented by other water-based developments such as aquaculture, agriculture and different forms of tourism relating to water, karst and mining. Possibilities for using waste land such as sinkhole areas and slimes dams include the establishment of a large game reserve on donated land as well as using tailings for biofuel production and generating solar- and wind-based electricity. Lastly, the re-establishment of a uranium-related industry is explored; this could capitalise on existing infrastructure and former expertise and benefit from the envisaged development of uranium as a strategic resource in SA. In view of the current media attention given to negative environmental and healtheffects, it is, however, questionable whether such development would be acceptable to local residents.Keywords: post-mining development, karst, groundwater storage and harvesting, subterranean hydro-energy generation, tourism, wasteland transformation, uranium industry, research opportunities
Highlights
Based on the analysis of century-old mining impacts relating to deep-level gold mining, and their potential to threaten sustainable post-mining developments (Winde and Stoch. 2010a), this paper aims mainly to stimulate ideas and concepts on how to meet the challenges associated with mine closure
Efforts are currently underway at the Water Research Group of the North-West University (NWU) (Potchefstroom Campus) to tap into this wealth of data by retrieving, collating and archiving available data and information using Geographical Information Systems (GIS), electronic databases as well as a hard copy library currently containing some 4000 entries
It is suggested that post-mining development efforts explore opportunities to capitalise on the existence of these exceptional karst features, based on an improved understanding of karst processes as outlined before
Summary
Based on the analysis of century-old mining impacts relating to deep-level gold mining, and their potential to threaten sustainable post-mining developments (Winde and Stoch. 2010a), this paper aims mainly to stimulate ideas and concepts on how to meet the challenges associated with mine closure. Owing to the nature of such an approach it must be stressed that all concepts presented will need further investigation to establish technical and, more importantly, economic feasibility
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