Sand Mining Research Articles

Assessing heavy metal and physiochemical pollution load of Danro River and its management using floating bed remediation

River Danro in Garhwa (India) plays a vital role as a significant source of surface water and a crucial tributary of the North Koel River, ultimately joining the Ganga River Basin. Serving both urban-industrial and rural areas, the region faces challenges, including sand mining near Belchampa Ghat. This study aimed to assess physicochemical and heavy metals pollution at nine sampling locations, utilizing the Overall Index of Pollution (OIP), Nemerow Pollution Index (NPI), and Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI). OIP values indicated excellent surface water quality (0.71) in non-monsoon and slight pollution (6.28) in monsoon. NPI ranged from 0.10 to 1.74 in non-monsoon and from 0.22 (clean) to 27.15 (heavily polluted) in monsoon. HPI results suggested groundwater contamination, particularly by lead. Principal component analysis (PCA) and geospatial mapping showed similar outcomes, highlighting the influence of adjacent land use on water quality. Recognizing the significance of the Danro River in sustaining life, livelihoods, and economic growth, the study recommends implementing measures like floating bed remediation and regulatory actions for effective river management. The study acknowledges weaknesses in the current practical assessment methods for water contamination. These weaknesses make it difficult to put plans for cleaning up and controlling contamination into action. Because of this, future research on developing new in-place remediation techniques should focus on creating better ways to measure how effective the cleanup is.

Demarcating the granular frontier: planetary urbanization without an inside

ABSTRACT In its age of global crisis, sand has acquired a conspicuous profile as an urban resource and undercover vector of statecraft. Amidst mounting reports of the disastrous effects of sand mining stoked by intense cycles of urbanization and territorial expansion across the world, it is critical to understand the formation of sand’s granular frontiers, and how their differentiated expression through the global sand crisis demands a reconsideration of the theoretical frontiers of urbanization, territory, and global trade. Building on conceptualisations of sand’s granular geographies and its “geologising” of urban political ecology, this paper seeks to demarcate the theoretical and empirical terrain of sand’s granular frontiers, and how they problematize contemporary debates around urbanization’s “planetary” scope and its extractive underbelly. By reconnecting the frontiers of sand extraction and urbanization, this article theorizes the enclosure of geomorphology and where sand’s satiation of urban and state development is leading. In examining how sand’s simultaneous exclusion from formal processes of valuation and regulation structures urbanization in unpredictable ways, it seeks to provide an account of planetary urbanization without an inside.

Diversity and growth-promoting characteristics of rhizosphere bacteria of three naturally growing plants at the sand iron ore restoration area in Qinghe County

It is a great challenge to restore northern mines after mining and achieve optimal results due to the extremely harsh environment and climate, as in Qinghe County of Xinjiang Province, China. Qinghe County has a climate of drought, cold, strong winds, and high altitude. After sand and iron mining, the soil in this area contains a large amount of sand and gravel with extremely low organic matter, nitrogen deficiency, and a high pH of 9.26. Our preliminary studies disclosed that only three plants, including Caligonum junceum, Atraphaxis virgata, and Melilotus albus Medic, can grow naturally in this environment without any artificial management. For effective ecology restoration, this study explored the mechanism of plant-microbial interaction and stress resistance in this environment. It was found that although the soil condition in the sand iron ore landfill area is extreme, the bacterial diversity remained high, with Shannon and Simpson indices reaching 9.135 and 0.994, respectively. The planting of three types of remediation plants did not significantly improve, or even decreased, the soil bacterial diversity index, but greatly changed the composition of dominant bacterial genera. Significant differences in the composition of rhizosphere soil bacterial communities among these three remediation plants were observed. Potential new bacterial species accounted for 9.8 %, and the proportion of unique genera reached 30 % or 50 %, respectively. Among all the isolated strains, 74 % had nitrogen fixation and other growth-promoting properties. In summary, the soil microbial community structure in this extreme environment is unique and diverse. The types of remediation plants play a major role in the composition of the rhizosphere bacterial community structure, and the recruited growth-promoting bacteria are diverse and functional. This study may offer valuable information for further studies in vegetation restoration and aid in ecology restoration, especially under extreme conditions.

Sustainability of alternative livelihood strategies in selected sand mining communities in the Ga South Municipality and Gomoa East District of Ghana

Sustainability of alternative livelihood strategies in selected sand mining communities in the Ga South Municipality and Gomoa East District of Ghana

Mechanical transport revealed by optical textures of heavy minerals in aeolian sand: A case study in the Badain Jaran Desert, Northwestern China

Determining whether and to what extent the relative abundance of heavy minerals in original detrital assemblage has been modified by mechanical transport is beneficial for understanding regional historical climate changes and acquiring modern sediment provenance information. Utilizing the frequency of surface mechanical optical textures of heavy minerals may be an effective approach to address this question. However, the connection between the frequency surface mechanical optical textures of heavy minerals and the variations in the relative abundance of these minerals remains uncertain. In this study, 12 modern aeolian sand samples were collected from the Badain Jaran Desert in hyper arid region of northwestern China, characterized by weak weathering to analyze their relative contents of five major heavy minerals. Then, 3796 transparent heavy mineral grains were photographed under the parallel light of a polarizing microscope, and the frequency of 13 surface mechanical optical textures were calculated. The results reveal that the variations in the relative abundance of heavy minerals are substantially influenced by mechanical transport. The decrease in the relative abundance of heavy minerals with weak mechanical stability primarily attributed to mechanical collision. Conversely, the variations in the relative abundance of heavy minerals with strong mechanical stability are primarily influenced by mechanical abrasion. Therefore, mechanical transport impact on the relative abundance of heavy minerals in regions with weak chemical weathering. Establishing heavy mineral characteristic indices for provenance studies using the relative abundance of mechanically unstable minerals may not directly indicate transport distance but rather the strength of wind forces, which have significant potential in palaeo wind regime studies. This study expands the research field of sediment surface micromorphology and has potential applications in inferring past climate changes and determining modern sediment provenance.

Sustainability of Corn Farming Systems on Post-Sand Mining Land in Malang, East Java, Indonesia

The sand mining activities leave a wide area ex-sand mining land. In Bambang Village, farmers who live in that area try to get their land back to produce agricultural activities that were used previously for sand mining. However, there are several obstacles to the sustainability of farming in this area, especially the matter of critical land issues, pest and disease attacks, unpredictability of price, and technology used still not optimized suboptimal use of technology. To analyze the sustainability index and the attributes that influence continuity of corn farming on post-mine sand land, a quantitative study was conducted used a five-dimension sustainability approach. This approach included the consist of ecological, economic, social, institutional, and technological dimensions. Data collected by distributing questionnaires to the respondents which are divided into 72 of farmers and five key informants, so that, total of respondents are 77 people. Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) and leverage analysis were used to determine the attributes that influence sustainability. The results of the research show corn farming continuity on post-sand mining land produce a sustainability index for about 54.86%. It is considered quite able to maintain in terms of the economic dimension (62.12%), social dimension (60.82%), and institutional dimension (60.27%). Though, the ecological dimension (46.88%) and technological dimension (44.23%) were classified as weak in terms of sustainability. Additionally, leverage analysis shows about 25 sensitive attributes which is influenced the sustainability of corn farming on post-sand mining land.

Legal Review of Environmental Law Concerning Illegal Sand Mining

This research aims to analyze the regulations, enforcement, and legal sanctions related to illegal sand mining in Batam City. Additionally, the study seeks to assess the environmental impact of illegal sand mining activities and evaluate the efforts made by the Batam City Government and law enforcement authorities in combating illegal sand mining practices. A normative juridical approach, particularly the statute approach, is employed in this research. The research methodology involves data collection, examination of legal regulations, doctrines, juridical aspects, and societal norms. The results indicate that authorities with jurisdiction should anticipate potential issues and environmental damage arising from illegal sand mining. Therefore, the protection of the environment and natural resources needs to be strengthened to ensure the safety of Batam City residents. The Batam City Government is expected to take decisive measures to halt illegal sand mining, including the implementation of criminal sanctions and confiscation of tools used by illegal actors in accordance with applicable regulations.

Cause Analysis of Salinity Intrusion by Environmental Changes Considering Water Intake and Sand Mining on Seomjin River Estuary Using Model for Maintaining Corbicula Habitats

Anthropogenic development can strongly influence natural river processes, leading to environmental changes that negatively affect important habitats and biodiversity and consequently reduce economically important natural resources. This study investigated the effects of salinity intrusion on the habitat of the clam Corbicula japonica in the Seomjin River estuarine zone. We employed the Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code (EFDC) model, which incorporates topographic data and hydrological changes, to simulate salinity. Two salinity measurement facilities were installed in Seomjin River estuarine and operated to optimize the EFDC model. The results show that reduced flow rates due to intake have a negligible impact on the increased salinity. Maintaining optimal salinity (15–20 psu) during neap tides at the Seomjin River Bridge requires constant high flow rates, which poses significant challenges. Saltwater stratification is identified as the primary cause of pronounced salinity stratification, particularly during neap tides. Addressing this issue through river discharge and intake facility operation is challenging. Structural measures, including riverbed restoration and underwater barriers, are recommended to improve resistance to seawater intrusion. Future research should aim to develop scenarios to reduce salinity, quantify the reduction efficiency, and propose region-specific measures.

Identifying potential concerns on surface water resources usage through citizen scientific field investigation in the Province of Antique, Philippines

Abstract This research conducted a citizen scientific field investigation and water quality assessment of nine major rivers using only on-site equipment and a smartphone in the Province of Antique, Philippines. Potential issues concerning water resources management in the province were discussed with local governors and citizens while conducting the water sampling and on-site measurement. The results of water quality assessments revealed that some of the rivers have experienced high turbidity, caused by anthropogenic activities such as embankment, sand mining, and dredging. In highly populated basins, such as the Sibalom and Malandog Rivers, a high biochemical oxygen demand level (>7 mg/L) was confirmed by the water quality analysis using an iPhone. Since high consumption of groundwater has already affected the lives of people in the province, surface water usage shifting from groundwater, involving the construction of a facility treating physical and chemical parameters, is needed. The citizen scientific approach employed in this research can provide more realistic insights into local environmental concerns, which would not be possible through quantitative measurements of water quality.

Study of coastal land change in sand mining activities in Bandar Batauga Village, South Buton Regency, Indonesia

This research focused on land changes in Bandar Batauga Village, South Buton Regency, Indonesia, related to environmentally damaging sand mining activities. The primary objective of this research was to analyze land evolution in coastal settlement areas vulnerable to disasters, with an emphasis on the impact of sand mining until the year 2050. The research methods encompassed quantitative and qualitative approaches, including coastal change analysis using ArcGIS, in-depth interviews, and statistical methods. The research findings highlighted a significant increase in coastline changes, reaching an erosion area of 511.3 m² in 2022. Projections until 2050 indicate a potential maximum erosion of 1,157.22 m². This research employed the analytic hierarchy process, focusing on social, economic, physical, and biotic environmental aspects to formulate disaster mitigation strategies. However, implementing environmental management policies faces challenges, such as a lack of competence in relevant departments and low awareness among mining permit owners. Therefore, strategic recommendations involve enhancing human resource capacity, strengthening oversight, and providing economic support as critical steps to reduce mining activities.

Analysis of Sediment Characteristics and Depositional Environment of Beach Sediment along the Pulmoddai Mineral Sand Deposit in Eastern Coast of Sri Lanka

Abstract Pulmoddai mineral sand deposit which extends about 800,000m2 is located in the Northeast coastal zone of Sri Lanka. It is the largest and well known heavy mineral sand deposit in Sri Lanka. High-quality Zirconium-bearing minerals like Rutile, Zircon, and Ilmenite are concentrated in this deposit. This study focuses to analyse the spatial distribution of the heavy minerals abundance and sedimentlogical characteristics of the deposit. Five miles (8 km) long stretch along the coast of this deposit was selected as the study area. Ten traverses representing two traverses within each mile are demarcated across the coastline and are running from inshore to backshore. Forty sand samples representing inshore, swash zone, berm, and backshore region were collected. These samples were analysed using a dry sieve and heavy liquid separation methods. According to statistical analysis, sediments in the Pulmoddai mineral sand deposit are mostly fine-grained, moderately to moderately well sorted. Also, these are negatively skewed to nearly symmetrical and mesokurtic in nature. According to the linear discrimination function, these sediments are shallow marine agitated depositions controlled by aeolian, fluvial and marine depositional environments under the high impact of turbidity currents. The average heavy mineral concentration at the inshore, swash zone, berm region, and backshore (dune) region is 5.95%, 10.87%, 12.82%, and 23.5% respectively. The concentration of the heavy minerals increases towards the backshore and also increases towards the southern part of the study area.

Agroforestry Implementation as Farmers Resilience Strategies to Support Farming System Sustainability Facing the Land Vulnerability at The Mount Semeru Slopes, Indonesia

The terrain on the slopes of Mount Semeru is characterized by arid conditions and an abundance of sandy soil. This has led to extensive sand mining operations in the area, extending even to privately-owned agricultural lands. These mining activities have generated adverse environmental effects, such as the depletion of vegetation, and pose risks of soil erosion and biodiversity loss. This study aimed to assess the influence of implementing agroforestry as a resilience strategy by farmers on the sustainability of farming systems in response to land vulnerability on the slopes of Mount Semeru. A quantitative approach was employed, and the study site was purposively chosen in Bambang Village, Wajak Sub-District, Malang Regency. The research employed a survey methodology, incorporating observation and interviews with respondents to gather information on the implementation of agroforestry, resilience strategies, and sustainability indicators across ecological, economic, and socio-cultural aspects. The data analysis utilized the Structural Equation Model (SEM). The findings indicate that farmers practicing agroforestry exhibit elevated resilience and enhance the sustainability of their farming systems across ecological, economic, and socio-cultural dimensions.

Environmental Impacts of Sand Mining: A Comprehensive Review

Environmental Impacts of Sand Mining: A Comprehensive Review

Plant diversity on coffee agroforestry land in the buffer zone of Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in East Java, Indonesia

Abstract. Zayadi H, Hakim L, Sudarto, Batoro J. 2024. Plant diversity on coffee agroforestry land in the buffer zone of Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in East Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 25: 1030-1036. Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (BTSNP) is facing threats to biodiversity due to land transfer functions and sand mining in rural areas. Land use conversion and sand mining in rural areas near BTSNP and Perhutani are threatening biodiversity through activities like land degradation, deforestation, forest depletion, and global climate change impacting local agriculture. Coffee farms in Poncokusumo and Wajak have been abandoned, leading to a decline in coffee farming and other agricultural commodities. Coffee-based agroforestry systems have been implemented to address this issue and improve soil fertility and vegetation diversity. This research aimed to identify and analyze plant diversity in coffee agroforestry land in BTNSP. The study was carried out in January-December 2022 in the village districts of Poncokusumo Sub-district (Sumberejo) and Wajak Sub-district of Malang District, which borders directly with BTSNP, collecting flora compositions and classifying them based on growth rate. The study identified 27 orders, 38 families, and 71 species of plants in the coffee fields. The presence of various plant species in the coffee fields contributes to the ecosystem's stability and the soil's quality. This research highlights the importance of the agroforestry system in promoting biodiversity conservation and sustainable coffee farming in the BTSNP area.

Southeast Asia's dynamic sand trade and the need for better data

Sand is a vital resource for modern structures but there is limited information on the scale of sand mining or what happens to the sand after it was mined. Here, we focus on Southeast Asia (SEA) as rising affluence and population growth has turned the region into a global sand mining hotspot. We estimated the sand extraction budget in each Southeast Asian country and quantified the volume sand that was exported and imported. In addition, the destinations in which the sand was exported to were detailed and we also clarified the origins of the imported sand. Our analysis revealed that locally mined sand was mostly consumed domestically, and sand was imported if supply was insufficient. In addition, the sand trade in SEA was also predominantly regional. Unfortunately, our understanding of the sand trade in SEA was hampered by limited and inconsistent data. For example, missing data meant that production and trade flows were unavailable for some years. The volume of sand traded between each country was also uncertain due to the mismatch of trade data. Additional information on the type of sand traded was also lacking. The reliability and credibility of existing data should be strengthened to improve material accounting.

Gravel and River sand mining activities in Maroua (Far-North Region, Cameroon): Environmental and Socioeconomic aspects

Sand and gravel mining are amongst the main factors that induces significant impacts on environment, as a result of growing need for building materials and as a source of income for rural communities. This study was conducted to assess the socio-economic and environmental effects of these activities in Maroua, Cameroon. Its objectives include a description of artisanal mining method and identification of its socio-economic and environmental impacts. The study was conducted in a multidisciplinary approach. During the fieldwork, data were collected using questionnaires and focused group discussions were undertaken with those responsible for managing natural resources in the that area. The results reveal that sand mining activity alter river morphology at a faster rate than normal river process, where river reduction of the extraction areas is significantly larger. These activities were responsible for quick resource depletion and adversely affecting the environment and causing disturbances such as, ecological balance, soil degradation, pollution, infrastructure destruction, as well as conflict between miners and communities. Despite the negative impacts, mining activities generate income for all parties involved in the value chain, including the government. Accordingly, based on the research results, there are concerns about sustainable extraction practices by implementing strict rules and government policies.

Effect of Iron Ore and Copper Ore Tailings on Engineering Properties and Hydration Products of Sustainable Cement Mortar

Abstract The prohibition of river sand mining has drawn the attention of researchers in finding practicable alternatives. In the approach of finding these alternatives, it is essential to ensure minimal or zero impairment to the ecological balance, which can be mainly attained by making use of industrial waste/byproducts. The wastes from the mining industry are the major contributors in causing impairment to the environment, and their influence on the stability of mortars on using as fine aggregates needs to be systematically investigated with the view of long-term performance concerns. Thus, the present study explores the applicability of mine tailings and finding the optimum dosage in cement mortars by investigating the engineering properties and microstructure development with the aid of qualitative and quantitative analysis associated with hydration products. The studies confirm that the increased consumption of portlandite for secondary hydration reactions followed by the additional formation of calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) and calcium aluminum silicate hydrate (CASH) phases in mine tailing-based mortars helped in achieving a quality microstructure. These additional formations of CSH and CASH phases are also confirmed through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy by identifying the shift of Si-O-Si stretching vibration bands toward a lower wavenumber. The lowering of calcium/silicate atomic ratio and increased formation of mineralogical compounds related to CSH and CASH in x-ray diffraction patterns also confirms the same. Gismondine, chabazite, and hillebrandite are the additional phases formed and found to take part in refining the pore structure. This enhanced performance of mine tailing mortars was also verified with the aid of a modified Andreasen and Andersen particle packing model. The formation of high-quality microstructure is reflected in the hardened properties of optimized cement mortar in the proportion of 20 % for iron ore tailing and 30 % for copper ore tailing.

Soil Amendment and Tillage to Reduce Phosphorus Loss in Coastal Western Australia

Phosphorus (P) runoff is a major factor contributing to water quality decline in waterways and waterbodies of coastal Western Australia (WA). Soils with naturally low P retention or those with increased P saturation from P application have higher risk of P loss via leaching or runoff. Substantial research has been carried out to minimise P loss via leaching and runoff through modifications of soil P retention capacity. We review literature of P retentive soil amendments, natural clays and tillage of soil to lift clay to the surface to increase P retention and reduce P loss from poorly retentive sandy soils and P stratified soils, and which have been tested for efficacy and safety. This review includes published research, previously unpublished trial data, research in unpublished reports and published research in limited circulation with particular emphasis on the Swan Coastal Plain due to unabated P loss and limited uptake of soil amendment in the region to combat it. Key findings are that amending leaching sands with bauxite residue from alumina refining, neutralised used acid (NUA from mineral sands processing) and clay, as well as tillage or mixing of P stratified soils have been shown to be very effective at reducing P loss. Increases in plant productivity have been found, depending on conditions such as soil pH and soil test P. For the materials tested, soil amendment did not lead to undue uptake of trace elements or concerning levels of radiation. Trials of NUA have shown Mn is close to acceptable limits or slightly exceeds them and is the subject of further research to determine application rates and field conditions required to minimise Mn or other contamination. The P retentive effect of soil tillage is restricted to soils with high P levels in the soil surface and higher P retention below the surface, reachable by soil tillage equipment.

Crassothonna moniliformis (Asteraceae, Senecioneae), a new species from the Albany Centre of floristic endemism, South Africa

Crassothonna moniliformis is described as a new species from the Eastern Cape province, South Africa. The species is a prostrate, succulent-leaved perennial herb distinguished from Crassothonna capensis in having slender, weak, trailing, distantly branched stems, with nodal adventitious roots developing precociously, forming diffuse patches to ±50 cm diam., with erect to ascending, usually red-purple, globose-obovoid to obovoid to subclavate leaves 10–25 mm long, and a more slender synflorescence bearing fewer capitula (1–4 per flowering shoot) with fewer ray florets (7–9) and functionally staminate peripheral disc florets. The species is geographically localised, with the known Extent of Occurrence and Area of Occupancy <10 km2, and is habitat-restricted, growing in shallow sandy sediments overlying exposed sandstone pavements among coastal thicket. The single known population is threatened by sand mining and informal housing encroachment. Based on the IUCN Red List categories and criteria, a conservation assessment of Vulnerable (VU – D2) is recommended.

Exploring nature's filters: Peat-mineral mix for low and high-strength oilfield produced water reclamation

Nature-based solutions are encouraged for treating oilfield produced water from oil and gas extraction, a crucial undertaking that aligns with the Canadian oil sands industry's ambitious goal of zero waste, and the globally recognized Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) pertaining to water conservation and ecosystem preservation. This study explored the use of peat-mineral mix (PMM), a leftover of inevitable oil sands mining, for treating low and high-strength wastewaters during biofiltration, which contained large molecular weight (44.3 kDa), which include alcohols, aliphatics, aromatics, and ketones, and can impart high toxicity to both fauna and flora (MicroTox: 99 %). The breakthrough curve indicated an effective initial adsorption phase driven by advection within the column dynamics. For complete organics removal and mechanistic insights, the wastewater was re-circulated in a continuous mode for up to 42 days. Here, we found that chemical oxygen demand was reduced from ∼85,000 mg/L to ∼965 mg/L). Kinetics investigations along with physicochemical characterization of PMM and wastewater suggested that chemisorption and anaerobic digestion contributed to the overall removal of contaminants. Chemisorption, led by hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions, was the dominant mechanism, with a limited contribution from physical adsorption (surface area: 2.85 m2/g). The microbial community within the PMM bed was rich/diverse (Shannon > 6.0; Chao1 > 600), with ∼ 50 % unclassified phylotypes representing ‘microbial dark matter’. High electric conductivity (332.1 μS cm−1) of PMM and the presence of Geobacter, syntrophs, and Methanosaeta suggest that direct interspecies electron transfer was likely occurring during anaerobic digestion. Both low and high-strength wastewaters showed effective removal of dissolved organics (e.g., naphthenic acids, acid extractable fraction, oil and grease content), nutrients, and potentially toxic metals. The successful use of PMM in treating oilfield produced water offers promising avenues for embracing nature-based remediation solutions at oil refining sites.