Active Mining Areas Research Articles

A Modeling Framework to Estimate the Transport and Fate of Mercury in Nationwide Surface Waters

The use of mercury in gold mining, as well as the presence of uncontrolled and illegal releases to the environment, continues to create severe pollution and public health risks for over 14 million people worldwide, particularly in developing countries. This study presents a modeling framework to estimate the fate and transport of mercury on a national-scale river network, where a physical-based conceptual model is implemented. Using the model, mercury concentrations are estimated for every river segment in the network, serving as a tool for effective management and control nationwide, enabling establishing intervention priorities. To test the framework’s suitability, it was applied to Colombia’s river network, a country with documented mercury pollution issues from gold mining. Results revealed persistent concentrations above 0.001 µg/L in all major basins, and concentrations close to 7 µg/L in active mining areas. The release of nearly 300 mines led to the contamination of river distance between 50 and 285 km downstream, exceeding local drinking water standards. The model results were validated with mercury concentration data of available studies in the country, showing small deviations between modeled and measured concentrations (<0.95 µg/L), confirming the robustness and suitability of the proposed framework as a screening assessment for national-scale mercury transport and fate.

Soil stressors on ecophysiology of bauxite mine impacted soil: Heavy metal-acidity-organic matter nexus.

Soil ecophysiology is adversely affected by various environmental hazards, particularly in mining regions. While there has been substantial research on the effects of coal, mica, copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn) mining on soil quality, the impact of bauxite mining operations on nearby soils has largely been overlooked in the literature. Therefore, this study aims to investigate how microbial activity and dynamics are influenced by soil stressors, such as acidity and heavy metals, in areas adjacent to active bauxite mines. Soil samples were collected from three adjacent locations of an active bauxite mine area at distances of<100m (S1), 100-500m (S2), and>500m (S3). The samples contained chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and cadmium (Cd), as well as elevated acidity and aluminum (Al). These conditions adversely affected the soil microbial indicators, including fluorescein diacetate (FDA), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and enzyme activity. The highest concentrations of labile metals (i.e., water-soluble and exchangeable) were found in soil mixed with mining waste (S1), whereas acidity and Al were highest in sparsely vegetated soil (S3). Total acidity, total potential acidity, pH-dependent acidity, and Al were significantly positively correlated. Moreover, the significant positive correlation among organic carbon (OC), acidity, Al, and microbial properties (FDA, MBC, and microbial enzymes) suggests a potential effect of OC in mitigating acidity in S3. The ratios of microbial properties with OC depicted a significant negative correlation with acidity and Al fraction, denoting that acidity and Al posed a deleterious effect on soil microbial health. The similarity percentage analysis identified acid phosphatase as the key enzyme accounting for ∼78% of the observed differences in enzyme composition across the sites. Visual MINTEQ modeling revealed that the sites were saturated with different Al-bearing minerals. Pollution load index (PI) and the geo-accumulation index (Igeo) values identified the region as heavily contaminated (PI>1). Finally, the health risk analysis revealed that Ni posed a potential carcinogenic risk for both adults and children.

Variscan Gornjane granitoid as an alternative cold-water reservoir in the ore-baring and mining area of eastern Serbia: Quantitative-qualitative characterization (Carpathian-Balkan belt, Getic unit)

The diminishing high-quality groundwater reservoirs have sparked significant interest in hard-rock aquifers, especially in active mining and raw material exploration areas. This paper aims to forecast the quantity and quality of alternative water resources in the area, thus facilitating the planning and design of the existing water resource systems. The focal point is the groundwater accommodated within basement-type alternative igneous aquifers nestled within an active mining and exploration province belonging to the Carpathian-Balkan fold-and-thrust belt (Banat-Timok Province/Banatitic Belt, sector in eastern Serbia). Despite their lower water-bearing capacity, we underscore the significant hydrogeological potential of natural water igneous-type aquifers, such as the Variscan Gornjane massif.For the first time, this research identifies different reservoirs across the granite massif, providing a fresh perspective on the regional water resource systems. By categorizing reservoirs based on porosity type, flow rates, depth of reservoir rocks (in the depth range of 50 m), and distribution, this study significantly enhances the forecasting of the new water resource system, underlining the importance of this research in the field of water resources and mining. In addition to faulted sections of granite, aquifers are formed in the area characterized by weathered and decomposed granite fragments, often referred to as gruss deposits. The gruss layer has a flow rate reaching up to 0.01 l/s. In terms of the water quality, the groundwaters of the Gornjane granite massif mostly do not contain elements that are above the maximum permitted concentrations for drinking water. However, the occurrence of the elements Fe Mn in some water samples and the presence of Al Pb in one sample, as well as Se, As, Cu, Zn, Ag, Cd, Ga, and Bi, suggest the contact of water with sulfide mineralization detected in granite rocks of Rudna Glava-Tanda-Luka area, raising concerns about potential water quality issues.

Assessing Species Richness with Camera Trap Surveys During Five Years of Large-Scale Mining Disruptions

In the Northern Cape Province of South Africa, an investigation was launched into the impact of large-scale open-pit mining on wildlife ecology and populations, more specifically on the animal species richness and detection rates across different vegetation types. Using camera traps, we monitored a 43,000-hectare area, which included active mining areas and adjacent lands, over a period of five years (2020–2024). Data on 44 animal species ranging from small mammals to large megaherbivores were collected, with a large variation in species richness across the study site being observed. The detection of species that are of conservation concern, such as the vulnerable Temminck’s ground pangolin (Smutsia temminckii) and endangered mountain reedbuck (Redunca fulvorufula), highlighted additional potential risks that mining activities pose to biodiversity in the area, emphasizing the importance of monitoring biodiversity in areas that are impacted by large-scale anthropogenic and mining activities. Furthermore, the results suggest that some areas may require a more targeted approach to conservation in order to mitigate the disruptive effect of mining. Benchmarking the species present and proving the presence of endangered and vulnerable species prove the successful first steps into understanding habitat disruption caused by mining activities and will guide future conservation and management efforts.

Risk assessment and sources associated with potentially toxic elements in suspended particulate matter: A karst river perspective in active mining area

Study regionDaiyang River Basin, a typical karst river basin impacted by mining activities in Guizhou, Southwest China. Study focusRivers are fundamental components of regional water security, but they are facing potentially toxic elements (PTEs) pollution caused by mining activities. This study investigated the concentration, behavior, risks and sources of nine PTEs in suspended particulate matter (SPM) from mining-impacted karst rivers, which are essential for the safety and management of karst water environments. New hydrological insights for the regionThe contents of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Sb and Hg exceeded the corresponding local soil background values, with Zn and Cu being the most important pollutants. These elements caused a very high potential toxicity risk to the basin and unacceptable carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks to the local residents. Correlation analysis and the positive matrix factorization (PMF) model indicated that Ni, Cd, Zn and Cu were mainly derived from mixed sources of geological background and anthropogenic activities (30.95 %), Hg, Sb, and As were related to coal mining and combustion sources (28.91 %), while Pb, As, Cr and Sb were mainly contributed by natural sources (40.15 %). Furthermore, mixed sources, mining-related sources and As were identified as priority control factors in the study area. These insights can provide powerful support for decision-makers to develop control policies and reduce PTEs pollution in karst areas.

Leveraging machine learning and Landsat time series for high-resolution mapping of mining-induced vegetation changes in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Quarries are open pit mines, where construction materials such as granite and clay are extracted from the earth's surface, leading to a major disturbance of vegetation and subsequent degradation of ecosystem services. Assessing mining-associated degradation over time remains a challenge. This paper uses a temporal series of Landsat satellite image extracted from Google Earth Engine (GEE) for monitoring mining effects on land cover around the West African city of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. We conducted a binary classification of quarry and non-quarry using Landsat 9 images. To account for varying quarry patterns, we applied the LandTrendr algorithm to analyze images from 1990 to 2022, mapping annual vegetation disturbance and recovery. This generated high-resolution land cover maps with over 90 % accuracy across 257 quarries (38 km²). LandTrendr identified disturbance years with 87 % accuracy and assessed recovery in abandoned quarries. Remote sensing accuracy was validated through fieldwork and analysis of historical aerial photos. Our findings revealed that major disturbances coincided with new quarrying activities, particularly during urban expansion from 2005 to 2019, with NDVI decreasing by 0.3 in active mining areas. Vegetation recovery was observed in 23 % of the abandoned quarries, with NDVI increases by 0.15 within five years post abandonment, particularly in clay quarries. The strongest recovery occurred in given up abandoned from 2015 to 2019, aligned with increased conservation efforts. Our approach offers valuable insights into mining impacts and vegetation resilience in semi-arid environments, informing sustainable urban planning and environmental management in rapidly transforming regions of West Africa.

Thermal desorption technique to speciate mercury in carbonate, silicate, and organic-rich soils

Thermal desorption is a well-assessed technique to speciate mercury (Hg) in soils and sediments. However, the effects related to the different matrices are still not properly assessed. In this study, thermal desorption was applied to Hg-free calcite mixed with Hg standard and soils rich in carbonate and silicate minerals, as well as organic matter. Hg0, HgCl2, HgO, α-HgS, β-HgS and organo-mercuric compounds were recognized, pointing out that the soil matrix operates notable differences in terms of breakdown temperatures of the Hg-compounds and suggesting that the mineralogical composition of soil has to be investigated before applying the thermal desorption technique. Furthermore, the presence of Hg0 was carefully evaluated since, as already observed, it forms Hg2+, which increases mercury mobility in the pedological cover with important consequences for those soils contaminated and located close to decommissioned or active mining areas and/or industrial sites (e.g. chloro-alkali industries). Experimental runs were thus carried out by using carbonate-, silicate- and organic-rich soils doped with liquid Hg. It was observed that Hg0 tends to be oxidized to form Hg+ and then Hg2+ as a function of soil matrix and reaction time. Surprisingly, the oxidation rate is rather fast, since after 42 days the initial content of Hg0 is halved, thus following an exponential decay. This implies that in Hg0-polluted areas, the fate of the resulting Hg2+ can be that to: i) be adsorbed by organic matter and/or Fe–Mn–Al oxides and/or ii) feed shallow aquifers. This study is a further step ahead to understand the behavior of Hg in contaminated soils from industrial and mining areas where liquid Hg is occurring in different soil matrices and may provide useful indications for remediation operations.

Wastes in Underground Coal Mines and Their Behavior during Mine Water Level Rebound—A Review

Backfill materials of various origin and composition, abandoned machinery, oils, PCB, gallery support material and cables are the main wastes occurring in underground coal mines during the period of their abandonment. Bearing in mind that under increasing societal pressure most if not all underground coal mines are going to close sooner rather than later, it is important to understand the interactions of these waste materials with rising mine water during mine water level rebound to prevent adverse environmental effects, especially on surface and groundwater. To this end, the composition of mine water at decant points as well as the hydrogeochemical, temporal and spatial dynamics of mine water during rebound requires quantification. In the first part of this paper, an overview of waste materials in underground coal mines is presented. The second part focusses on the experiences gained in the Ruhr area, a closed underground coal mining region in western Germany, where mine water rebound has been ongoing for decades. In this regard, the mine water modeling program Boxmodell was applied during regulatory approval procedures to predict the hydrodynamics and hydrogeochemical development of the water rebound. The results of these investigations allow deep insights into the interactions of rising mine water with wastes as well as the complex chemical evolution of mine water and potentially occurring contaminants (e.g., PCB). The experiences regarding wastes in underground coal mines and the geochemical evolution of rising mine water gained in the Ruhr area can be utilized to support the planning of mine closure in currently still active underground coal mining areas worldwide.

Assessment of open-pit captive limestone mining areas using sentinel-2 imagery with spectral indices and machine learning algorithms

Limestone mining is a significant economic activity in India, accounting for around 10% of the GDP however, it has certain negative environmental consequences. The objective of this study is to determine the spatial distribution area of captive limestone mines using remote sensing datasets, spectral index, and machine learning algorithms and compare their area estimation with industrial field survey reports for the financial year 2019. The study area includes a limestone resource area of 2226.16 ha with an excavation area of 487.10 ha in 2019. In the present research, we used a high-resolution Sentinel-2A satellite dataset to map and compute the active mining area by implementing the Normalised Vegetation Index (NDVI), Iterative Self-Organizing Data Analysis Technique (ISODATA), K-Nearest Neighbours (KNN), and Random Forest (RF) algorithms in the QGIS 3.18 software tool. The RF classifier estimated a limestone mine area of 379.57 ha with user accuracy (UA) of 97.25% and producer accuracy (PA) of 99.18% with a kappa coefficient value of 0.957. The mine area was estimated at 417.47 ha with a UA of 98.99% and PA of 99.10% and kappa value of 0.947 of the KNN method, The NDVI method estimated 469.92 ha with a UA of 93.63% and PA of 92.04% and kappa value 0.685. This research confirmed that the RF classifier well performed in classification with overall accuracy (OA) of 95.79% to KNN (OA of 94.78%), NDVI (OA of 79.84%) classifiers, and ISODATA poor in classification with OA of 64.16%. This research assists limestone mine owners and environmental engineers in making environmentally sustainable decisions, eco-friendly mine design, and monitoring.

Mapping mining waste and identification of acid mine drainage within an active mining area through sub-pixel analysis on OLI and Sentinel-2

Mapping mining waste and identification of acid mine drainage within an active mining area through sub-pixel analysis on OLI and Sentinel-2

Micronuclei frequency and exposure to chemical mixtures in three Colombian mining populations

The Colombian mining industry has witnessed significant growth. Depending on the scale and mineral extracted, complex chemical mixtures are generated, impacting the health of occupationally exposed populations and communities near mining projects. Increasing evidence suggests that chromosomal instability (CIN) is an important link between the development of certain diseases and exposure to complex mixtures. To better understand the effects of exposure to complex mixtures we performed a biomonitoring study on 407 healthy individuals from four areas: three located in municipalities exploiting different-scale mining systems and a reference area with no mining activity. Large, medium, and small-scale mining systems were analyzed in Montelibano (Córdoba), artisanal and small-scale mining (ASGM) in Nechí (Antioquia), and a closed mining system in Aranzazu (Caldas). The reference area with no mining activity was established in Montería (Córdoba). ICP-MS measured multi-elemental exposure in hair, and CIN was evaluated using the cytokinesis-block micronucleus technique (MNBN). Exposure to mixtures of chemical elements was comparable in workers and residents of the mining areas but significantly higher compared to reference individuals. In Montelibano, increased MNBN frequencies were associated with combined exposure to Se, Hg, Mn, Pb, and Mg. This distinct pattern significantly differed from other areas. Specifically, in Nechí, Cr, Ni, Hg, Se, and Mg emerged as the primary contributors to elevated frequencies of MNBN. In contrast, a combination of Hg and Ni played a role in increasing MNBN in Aranzazu. Interestingly, Se consistently correlated with increased MNBN frequencies across all active mining areas. Chemical elements in Montelibano exhibit a broader range compared to other mining zones, reflecting the characteristics of the high-impact and large-scale mining in the area. This research provides valuable insights into the effects of exposure to chemical mixtures, underscoring the importance of employing this approach in the risk assessment of communities, especially those from residential areas.

Fuzzy logic-based determination of ventilation parameters in active mining areas

Fuzzy logic-based determination of ventilation parameters in active mining areas

Similarities and Proximity Symmetries for Decisions of Complex Valuation of Mining Resources in Anthropically Affected Areas

After 1990, when the economic system changed in Romania, the mining industry was the most controversial field from a productive-economic point of view and subject to reforms and transformations for efficiency. Currently (2022), there are nine main mining perimeters in which the production of useful, energetic, and nonenergetic mineral substances is operational, and in others it has decreased or stopped. Still active mining areas need economic and ecological assessments to identify similarities and proximity symmetries for informed exploitation decisions and feasible complex resource utilization. The main objective of our study is to define a framework for the theoretical and practical contribution to the substantiation of decisions and expressions of interest regarding future investments in mining projects for useful and energetic and non-energetic mineral substances in Romania. Investments in the mining industry are expensive, with major risks and subunit success rates for specific geotechnological conditions. The purpose of the research is to provide the methodology for using some variables of similarities from proximity mining deposits in the stage of exploitation or post-exploitation affected by anthropogenic activity in the national geological territory through a case study of Romania. With the help of statistical scales, the research results highlight that in the exploitation and post-mining perimeters in Romania, the states of “affect” and “post-affect” anthropic, respectively, of eco-economic damage are in a maximum proportion of approximately 36% in relation to the ideal situations of no affect. For a mining investment project, knowing similar or symmetrical exploitation and post-exploitation properties and situations, and from the geological deposits in the vicinity, premises are created for optimized strategic and tactical decisions, based on reality and, above all, for the provision of expressions of interest for new investments that have a programmed, expected success rate.

Fish consumption habits of pregnant women in Itaituba, Tapajós River basin, Brazil: risks of mercury contamination as assessed by measuring total mercury in highly consumed piscivore fish species and in hair of pregnant women.

The Tapajós River basin in the Amazon region, Brazil is one of the most active gold mining areas in the world. In this study, we evaluated fish consumption habits and mercury exposure in 110 pregnant women in the city of Itaituba by measuring their total hair mercury concentrations. In addition, we investigated seasonal differences in mercury concentrations in two highly consumed piscivorous fish species, tucunaré (Cichla spp.) and pescada (Plagioscion squamosissimus). Total fish mercury concentrations (THg) during the dry season were 0.62±0.07 mg/kg for Cichla spp. and 0.73±0.08 mg/kg for P. squamosissimus. During the rainy season they were 0.39±0.04 and 0.84±0.08 mg/ kg, respectively. Of our participants 44 % declared that they ate Cichla spp. and 67 % P. squamosissimus. Mean mercury concentration in their hair was 1.6±0.2 mg/kg and was above the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) reference dose of 1 mg/kg in 48 % of them. Mean fish THg concentrations were also above the joint Food and Drug Administration and US EPA safety limit of 0.5 mg/kg for P. squamosissimus during both seasons and for Cichla spp. during the dry season only. These results show that pregnant women should avoid consumption of these piscivorous fish species during pregnancy and call for a regular programme to monitor Hg levels in that area.

Radar Interferometry as a Monitoring Tool for an Active Mining Area Using Sentinel-1 C-Band Data, Case Study of Riotinto Mine

Soil instability is a major hazard facing the mining industry in its role of supplying the indispensable mineral resources that our societal challenges require. Aiming to demonstrate the monitoring potential of radar satellites in the mining sector, we analyze the deformation field in the Riotinto mine, Spain. We propose a new method for combining ascending and descending results into a common dataset that provides better resolution. We project the LOS measurements resulting from both geometries to a common reference system without applying any type of geometric restriction. As a projection system, we use the vertical direction in flat areas and the slope in steep topographies. We then identify and remove outliers and artifacts from the joint dataset to finally obtain a deformation map that combines the two acquisition perspectives. The results in the Atalaya pit are consistent with GNSS measurements. The movements observed in the rock dumps were unknown before this study. We demonstrate the great potential of the Sentinel-1 satellite as a complementary tool for monitoring systems in mining environments and we call for its use to be standardized to guarantee a safe and sustainable supply of mineral resources necessary for a just technological transition.

Predators in a mining landscape: Threats to a behaviourally unique, endangered lizard

AbstractPatchy resource distribution can cluster predator activity around areas of the highest productivity in ecosystems. For the endangered Western Spiny‐tailed Skink (Egernia stokesii badia) in Western Australia, the log piles that they permanently inhabit in an otherwise patchy, arid landscape, represent a potentially reliable, high abundance food source for predators. Not only are encounter rates by potential predators of E. s. badia likely to be influenced by vegetation structure at the microhabitat scale but also E. s. badia occurs in a region where mine sites and associated infrastructure, such as landfill sites, likely concentrate generalist predators (e.g. Feral Cats and corvids). We assessed the influence of the presence of coarse woody debris (CWD) and distance to the landfill on predator behaviour towards E. s. badia through plasticine model experiments, unbounded point count bird surveys and camera trapping. We found that CWD inhabited by E. s. badia attracted a greater relative activity of corvids compared with uninhabited CWD, or control sites without CWD. The relative activity of corvids and predatory birds combined increased with decreasing distance from the landfill. Preferential hunting by corvids at CWD inhabited by E. s. badia compared to both uninhabited CWD and open sites suggests that inhabited CWD may be targeted by generalist predators in the region, and that adaptive management may be required for species conservation around active mining areas.

Deformation monitoring of Surakachhar underground coal mines of Korba, India using SAR interferometry

Underground mines around the globe experience the deformation/subsidence due to the wornd practiced of the mining activity or by the geological failure. In this study deformation monitoring of Korba underground coal mines in Chhattisgarh, India was performed using the Synthetic aperture radar remote sensing. In this study, the Surakachhar 5/6 underground coal mining region of Korba area and its surrounding are considered for deformation/displacement monitoring. The displacement estimation was generated using Advanced Differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (ADInSAR) technique: Persistent Scatterer SAR interferometry (PSInSAR) and Ground-based investigation for validation and impact assessment have also been performed. PSInSAR results, obtained by processing of 17 Sentinel-1A images (Feb-2015 to Feb-2017) showed that multiple areas above the underground mining have been deformed around 3 mm/year to −21 mm/year along the radar line of prospect. Deformed regions are mainly on the surface of active mining areas and settlements. Deformation mapping using PSInSAR with ground-based investigation provides an account learning of Surakachhar underground mining activities, consequences such as sag, pit and cracks in the area. This technique helps to predict the hazard-prone deformation/subsidence zone and to prevent serious damage due to roof failure in the near future.

Mercury and Arsenic Discharge from Circumneutral Waters Associated with the Former Mining Area of Abbadia San Salvatore (Tuscany, Central Italy).

Dissolved and suspended toxic elements in water discharged from abandoned and active mining areas pose several critical issues, since they represent a threat to the environment. In this work, we investigated the water, suspended particulates, and stream sediments of a 2.1 km long creek (Fosso della Chiusa) that is fed by waters draining the galleries of the abandoned Hg mining area of Abbadia San Salvatore (Mt. Amiata, Tuscany, central Italy). The geochemical results show evidence that the studied matrices are characterized by relatively high concentrations of Hg and As, whereas those of Sb are generally close to or below the instrumental detection limit. Independent of the matrices, the concentration of As decreases from the emergence point to the confluence with the Pagliola creek. In contrast, Hg concentrations display more complex behavior, as water and sediment are mainly characterized by concentrations that significantly increase along the water course. According to the geoaccumulation index (Igeo), sediments belong to Class 6 (extremely contaminated) for Hg. The Igeo of As varies from Class 6, close to the emergence, to Class 2 (moderately contaminated), dropping to Class 0 (uncontaminated) at the confluence with the Pagliola creek. Finally, the total mass load of Hg and As entering the Pagliola creek was computed to be 1.3 and 0.5 kg/year, respectively, when a mean flow rate of 40 L/s was considered. The calculated loads are relatively low, but, when the Fosso della Chiusa drainage basin is taken into account, the specific load is comparable to, or even higher than, those of other mining areas.

Characterization of Particulate Matter Species in an Area Impacted by Aggregate and Limestone Mining North of San Antonio, TX, USA

Aggregate and limestone mining in San Antonio’s Bexar and Comal counties in Texas, USA, has caused considerable health concerns as of late. Aggregate mining actions can result in localized air quality issues in any neighborhood. Furthermore, heavy truck traffic, hauling, and transportation of the mined material contribute to pollution. In this research, PM species were sampled at four locations north of the San Antonio city limits. The data were collected using a TSI Air Quality Sampler that sampled PM1, PM2.5, PM4, PM10, wind speed, wind direction, temperature, and relative humidity. Continuous data with 1 min averages were recorded during the study period from August to September 2019. The instrument was stationed at every location for a period of 7 days each. The four locations were a ranch, an open field, a residential compound, and an elementary school. PM1 and PM2.5 concentration levels were lower compared to PM10 concentrations at all four studied sites. Our results suggest that PM concentrations are primarily impacted by mining activities. PM species were highest at the residential compound due to its proximity to an active mining area, resulting in deleterious health effects for neighbors living in the vicinity of the sampled site.

Satellite Image Based Spatio-Temporal Variation Assessment in Captive Limestone Mines for Long-Term Viability

Land use and Land cover mapping are crucial applications for planning and disaster mitigation as well as prevention. Such mapping is possible via satellite imagery. Every pixel in the training set must be labelled in order to employ machine learning techniques combined with image analysis for such land cover mapping. This paper mainly concentrates on the mining sector for assessing sustainable land environmental management plans. Google Earth mapping is one of the most efficient, economical, and reliable methods for better understanding of spatial and temporal changes of limestone mining area with less human efforts. High-resolution Google Earth images are used in assessing the temporal changes of the Limestone mine area in Kadapa district from 2011 to 2020. Google Earth Pro open-source software was used to extract images of captive limestone mines, which were then clipped using a polygon tool to aid in the creation of a land-use region occupied by the active mining area. It was found that the active mining area variation rate is in the Dalmia Cement Limestone mine is 308.49% which is the highest compared to Bharathi Cement Limestone Mine mining area variation rate (240%), which is second, and the lowest mining area variation rate is found in the Niduzuvvi Limestone Block-1 area, which is 11.67%. Based on the overall impact of limestone mining in the study area, it is recommended that all stakeholders especially mine and cement plant owners; pay close attention to the area’s land environmental issues. The proposed technique is used for quality assessment in terms of prediction accuracy. The system so developed is observed to outperform existing systems implemented with the benchmarks counterparts.