Impact Of Mining Research Articles

The Impact of Gold Mining on Children's Education in Lele Village District of Buru.

Gold mining also affects the education sector of local children, one of which is LeleVillage, located in Lolong Guba Sub-district, Buru Regency. This problem ispresented through qualitative research with descriptive methods that aim todescribe the conditions and situations related to the impact of waste gold mining inLele Village. The analytical methods used are participatory problem analysis andstakeholder analysis. The waste of gold mining in Lele Village is significant enoughto affect community income. However, the impact on education can be that childrenexperience a setback because children who participate in work tend to ignoreschool. When faced with economic problems, they have no choice, especially sinceworking in this waste gold mine is quick to make money. Therefore, it requires theattention of the local government as well as indigenous peoples to care aboutresolving the phenomenon of children working in mining areas, as well asschool-age people who do not continue their education.

Impacts of Surface Deformation Induced by Underground Mining of Metal Mines on Above-Ground Structures: A Case Study

The surface deformation caused by underground mining seriously affects the normal life and personal safety of local residents and also causes unfavorable factors for the safe and efficient exploitation of underground resources. While the study of surface deformation caused by underground mining of metal mines requires a large amount of measured data as support, the measured data is particularly scarce, which severely hinders the study of surface deformation caused by underground mining. In this paper, in order to study the impact of underground mining on surface structures in metal mines, we take the Fu Lao Zhuang Iron Mine in Anhui Province, China, as the research object and put forward a comprehensive measurement method based on the flat plate beam theory. Using empirical formulas combined with the methods of thickness-to-span ratio and the relaxation coefficient, etc., we carry out numerical simulation calculations for the displacement of the surface triggered by the mining of the ore body by using FLAC3D software. We calculate the maximum inclination deformation, curvature, and horizontal deformation values of the ground surface by referring to the displacement and deformation with reference to the displacement and deformation formula; the maximum tilt deformation, curvature, and horizontal deformation values of the ground surface are calculated, and finally, the permissible values of the design specifications are combined to make a judgment. The research results of this paper put forward the prerequisite for improving the surface deformation induced by underground mining.

Evaluating indicators of hydrologic alteration to demonstrate the impact of open-pit lignite mining on the flow regimes of small and medium-sized rivers

Our study provides a retrospective evaluation of the perturbances of the opencast mining on the small river. Based on a standard 'before-after-control-impact' approach, we assess the impact of disturbances on aquatic ecosystems. For this purpose, we used IHA (Index of Hydrological Alteration) statistics to fully quantify the impact of open-pit mine on flow regimes of small-to-medium-size rivers. The analysis results in flow data captured in the 33 parameters of the range variability approach (RVA) and five ecological flow components (EFC). This approach helped us comprehensively evaluate the alteration in the flow regime in areas of open-pit mining on the example of the Noteć River, a typical lowland river. We conclude that the level integrated hydrologic alterations to this river under the influence of the groundwater depression cone and water from the mine dewatering are high, as assessed by the RVA and EFC methods. Specifically, this work uses the IHA framework to verify the necessity of including a specific group of indicators. Our analysis shows that for the post-impact period on the investigated river, the functioning of the river ecosystem was degraded. One of the EFC components completely disappeared at both water gauge stations. There were also profound hydrologic alterations, such as increased frequency or duration of “extreme low flows” at one station; at the second station, “high flow pulses” occurred more frequently. More than 65 % of the altered parameters in five IHA groups were modified drastically. In the river section affected by the groundwater depression cone, both the minimum and maximum flows decreased by 20 % to 55 %. In the section where water from the mine dewatering is fed in, the minimum flows changed by + 170 to + 230 %. The use of the IHA tool provides an opportunity for environmental flow restoration of water conditions in degraded post-mining areas.

Gold mining's environmental footprints, drivers, and future predictions in Ghana

The last two decades have seen a surge in gold mining operations around the world. Despite mining occupying a smaller geographical area compared to other land use/land cover (LULC) classes, it exhibits strong interconnections with various land uses and serves as a major driver for changes in mining landscapes. Understanding and evaluating historical and potential future LULC changes in these landscapes are crucial in assessing the environmental impact of mining. Traditionally, these assessments heavily rely on geospatial techniques, with limited emphasis on projecting future LULC trends. This research aims to monitor, analyse the drivers of change, and predict future changes in LULC under two scenarios: the “business as usual” scenario and the "remedial measures" scenarios. Utilising the CA-Markov model, this article predicts LULC changes and offers comprehensive insights into the environmental impacts of mining, combining geospatial and social research methodologies. The investigation spanned a 34-year period (1986–2020) and employed a blend of supervised and unsupervised image classification methods, complemented by interviews, focus groups, and field observations. The findings reveal substantial land degradation, water pollution, and a significant loss of forest cover, accounting for 27,333 ha (36%). Continuation of current mining practices is predicted to lead to further ecological deterioration.

Effects of stratified mining on the low-temperature oxidation and physicochemical properties of lower coal layers

To investigate the impact of stratified mining on the spontaneous combustion characteristics of lower coal in thick coal seams, an analysis was conducted on the macro pore structure, temperature rise, oxygen consumption characteristics, chemical structure, surface chemical properties, and functional group distribution of the upper and lower stratified coal samples (LSC, LSR) from the LinSheng Mine 1202 re-mining face. Post re-mining, the specific surface area, average pore diameter for adsorption, micropore volume, and mesopore volume of LSR showed a significant increase compared to LSC. The maximum mass loss rate for LSR was approximately three times that of LSC, and the characteristic temperature of LSR was lower. When the volumetric fraction of oxygen exceeded 12%, the oxygen consumption rate and CO generation rate of LSR surpassed those of LSC. The alkyl carbon content in LSR was 2% lower compared to LSC, while the oxygenated carbon content was higher by 4.37%. The oxygen content in LSR and the O/C ratio were higher than those in LSC. The structural order of LSR was lower by 11.3%, and the oxygen-containing functional groups were higher by 1.15%. These findings suggest that stratified mining increases the spontaneous combustion risk of lower coal layers. This study underscores the need for careful consideration of mining strategies to mitigate potential risks.

Effects of uranium mining on soil bacterial communities and functions in the Qinghai-Tibet plateau

The microecological effects of plateau uranium mining are still unknown. In this study, we used 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing to analyze the impact of plateau uranium mining on the microbial diversity and community structure of tailings soil, tunnel soil, and soil at different depths in an open pit. The results showed that uranium mining significantly reduced soil microbial community richness and diversity indicators, including Chao1, Pielou evenness, and Shannon index (P < 0.05). Uranium mining activities significantly reduced the abundance of RB41, Vicinamidactaceae, and Nitrospira (P < 0.05). Interestingly, the abundance of Thiobacillus, Sphingomonas, and Sulfuriferula significantly increased in the soil samples from various environments and depths during uranium mining (P < 0.05). Beta diversity analysis found that uranium mining resulted in the differentiation of soil microbial communities. Functional enrichment analysis found that uranium mining resulted in the functional enrichment of DNA binding response regulator, DNA helicase, methyl-accepting chemotaxis protein, and Helicase conserved C-terminal domain, whereas cell wall synthesis, nonspecific serine/threonine protein kinase, RNA polymerase sigma-70 factor, and ATP binding cassette transporter were significantly affected by uranium mining (P < 0.05). In addition, we also found that different uranium mining environments and soil depths enriched diverse microbial populations and functions to cope with the environmental pressures that were elicited by uranium mining, including Gaiella, Gemmatimonas, Lysobacter, Pseudomonas, signal transformation histidine kinase, DNA-directed DNA polymerase, and iron complex outer membrane receptor protein functions (P < 0.05). The results have enhanced our understanding of the impact of uranium mining on plateau soil microecological stability and the mechanism of microbial response to uranium mining activities for the first time and aided us in screening microbial strains that can promote the environmental remediation of uranium mining in plateaus.

Modeling the dynamics of leptospirosis in India.

Leptospirosis, a formidable zoonotic threat spawned by Leptospira, plagues tropical and subtropical realms. This study delves deep into tropical Indian states, namely, Kerala, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu, unraveling the dynamics of leptospirosis through a comprehensive mathematical model that embraces temperature-driven growth rates of Leptospira. Sensitivity analysis and parameter estimation techniques fortified the model's accuracy, unraveling the factors shaping leptospirosis transmission. Notably, the numerical results highlight the significant impact of rainfall, fishing, climate, mining, agriculture, and cattle farming on leptospirosis prevalence in the endemic states of India. Finally, our study urges resolute preventive action to control and combat leptospirosis in India. Strengthening surveillance, impactful awareness campaigns, targeted interventions, and improved hygiene practices among high-risk individuals are vital. Embracing these proactive strategies will alleviate the burden of leptospirosis and enhance public health in India and beyond.

Perceptions of environmental impacts of artisanal coal mining vis-à-vis the scientific reality: a case of a community in South Africa's Kwazulu-Natal Province

ABSTRACT The current study investigated the perceived impact of informal coal mining on the environment of a rural community in Blaauwbosch, KwaZulu-Natal Province, in South Africa. Data was extracted through questionnaires, focus group discussions and key informant interviews targeting perceptions from community members, government officials, informal coal miners, learners and educators of a local school on the environmental impacts of informal coal mining. After stratifying the participants, community members aware of the environmental impacts of coal mining cited poor air quality as the most critical impact of coal mining, while educators and learners mentioned landscape transformation. Community members were generally not satisfied with government's interventions towards containing the impact of coal mining, while educators and learners were somewhat satisfied as they felt government response was slow and laboured. Therefore, in addition to awareness campaigns within the community to improve information access regarding the disadvantages of informal coal mining, the government should intensify its efforts by implementing effective follow-ups on proposed responses. The government should also design interventions to address the area's high poverty and unemployment levels to reduce community engagement in informal coal mining activities.

Impact of ground surface subsidence caused by underground coal mining on natural gas pipeline

Underground mining of minerals is accompanied by a change in the rock mass geomechanical situation. This leads to the redistribution of stresses in it and the occurrence of unexpected displacements and deformations of the earth's surface. A significant part of the civil and industrial infrastructure facilities are located within the mine sites, where mining and tunneling operations are constantly conducted. Irrational planning of mining operations can lead to loss of stability and destruction of undermined facilities. Therefore, it is important to study the earth’s surface deformation processes during mining operations, which ensures safe and sustainable operating conditions. The research objective of this paper is to analyse the behaviour of a natural gas pipeline under the influence of underground mining activities, with a particular focus on understanding the effects of horizontal surface deformations and their potential impact on pipeline safety and structural integrity. Its performance and safety are determined on the basis of the found parameters of the earth's surface horizontal deformations and their comparison with permissible parameters characterizing the conditions for laying pipelines, depending on the mining-geological conditions and the degree of their undermining. Based on determined conditions for the safe undermining of the natural gas pipeline, it has been revealed that in its section between the PK212+40 and PK213+80 (140 m) pickets, the estimated parameters of the earth's surface horizontal deformations exceed their permissible values. This can cause deformation and damage to the pipeline. For the safe operation of the pipeline during the period of its undermining, in order to eliminate the hazardous impact of mining the longwall face, additional protection measures must be applied. It is therefore recommended that the gas pipeline between the PK212 and PK214+20 pickets be opened prior to the displacement process (200 m from the stoping face), thus reducing the density of the gas pipeline-soil system. Recommendations for controlling the earth’s surface deformations within the natural gas pipeline route are also proposed, which will ensure premature detection of the negative impact of mining operations.

Quantification of Vegetation Phenological Disturbance Characteristics in Open-Pit Coal Mines of Arid and Semi-Arid Regions Using Harmonized Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2

Open-pit mining activities inevitably affect the surrounding ecological environment. Therefore, it is crucial to clarify the disturbance characteristics of open-pit mining activities on the surrounding vegetation and scientifically implement ecological restoration projects. This study investigates the impact of open-pit coal mining in arid and semi-arid regions on surrounding vegetation from a vegetation phenology perspective. Initially, we construct a high-frequency time series of vegetation indices by Harmonized Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2 surface reflectance dataset (HLS). These time series are then fitted using the Double Logistic and Asymmetric Gaussian methods. Subsequently, we quantify three pivotal phenological phases: Start of Season (SOS), End of Season (EOS), and Length of Season (LOS) from the fitted time series. Finally, utilizing mine boundaries as spatial units, we create a buffer zone of 100 m increments to statistically analyze changes in phenological phases. The results reveal an exponential variation in vegetation phenological metrics with increasing distance from the mining areas of Heidaigou-Haerwusu (HDG-HEWS), Mengxiang (MX), and Xingda (XD) in northwest China. Then, we propose a method to identify the disturbance range. HDG-HEWS, MX, and XD mining areas exhibit disturbance ranges of 1485.39 m, 1571.47 m, and 671.92 m for SOS, and 816.72 m, 824.73 m, and 468.92 m for EOS, respectively. Mineral dust is one of the primary factors for the difference in the disturbance range. The HDG-HEWS mining area exhibits the most significant disruption to vegetation phenological metrics, resulting in a delay of 6.4 ± 3.4 days in SOS, an advancement of 4.3 ± 3.9 days in the EOS, and a shortening of 6.7 ± 3.5 days in the LOS. Furthermore, the overlapping disturbance zones of the two mining areas exacerbate the impact on phenological metrics, with disturbance intensities for SOS, EOS, and LOS being 1.38, 1.20, and 1.33 times those caused by a single mining area. These research results are expected to provide a reference for the formulation of dust suppression measures and ecological restoration plans for open-pit mining areas.

The socio-environmental impact of mining in a peripheral Andean region, 1776–1831

Abstract From an environmental-historical perspective, this article seeks to contribute to the characterization of mining and metallurgy developed in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries in the Argentine Cuyo region (Mendoza, San Juan and San Luis). It also seeks to examine the role they played in the region’s socio-historical dynamics, particularly in terms of the appropriation of available natural resources and the strategies employed in mining labours. The relationship among economic activities and the environmental configuration of the Cuyo territory and the social agents that lived there is analysed through four case studies that allow for greater understanding of the central role of sociopolitical causes in the definition of environmental transformations.

VALIDATING AN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING PRACTICES FRAMEWORK FOR THE GREENING OF ZIMBABWEAN GOLDMINING

The impact of gold mining on the environment remains a challenge despite its footprint being less than other mineral mining or farming. Through a comprehensive literature review, a conceptual framework was previously developed based on qualitative propositions to integrate environmental management accounting practices to address the impact of gold mining on the environment and other stakeholders. This work aims to enhance and validate our framework through interviews at mining companies and validate the resultant framework via a focus group at one of the mining companies. Some important findings from the interviews and the focus group are that government should play an active role in encouraging innovation in greening the sector, managing the environment, and providing safe water. The sector should be regulated and monitored; waste should be reduced through EMAPs, including Activity-Based Costing. Participants were less knowledgeable of other EMAPs, such as Material Flow Cost Accounting and Life Cycle Costing. Regarding sustainability, the sector’s negative impacts outweigh its positive contribution through failure to invest in greener technology. Illegal mining has further damaged the image of gold mining. Implications for theory and practice, management and policymakers are considered. Future work will involve case studies in Zimbabwean gold mines.

Potential Impacts of Mining to Resources along Carac-an Watershed, Eastern Mindanao, Philippines: Total Economic Value Estimate Runnint Title: Total Economic Value of Mining Impacts

Mining extracts minerals are important in the technological advancements of humanity. This leads to a progressive society, address relevant medical issues, food-security problems, and even creates various jobs. However, the externalities of mining activities like land-use changes are inevitable that could affect the resources and various users. Hence, this study was conducted to obtain an estimate of the total economic value of resources that are adversely impacted by mining activities, particularly the basic goods and services used by the people. Estimating the total economic value, includes computing the use and non-use values and the existence and bequest values. The study sites covered were within the Carac-an Watershed along the Municipalities of Cantilan, Madrid, and Carrascal. Primary and secondary data were obtained and used as basis in estimating the total economic value. Results showed that the total economic value of use and non-use goods and services along the Carac-an Watershed had amounted to PhP 4,569,224,709.00 per year. This can be considered as an environmental asset that would be lost as a consequence of mining operations. However, this economic value is too huge to be compromised by the externalities (e.g. pollution, deforestation, land use change and siltation) out of mining activities thereby putting the community and the environment at risk. While this finding was only based on estimated values, it is still imperative to revisit the implementation of mining operation. Further, relevant comprehensive study is recommended to fully capture the values of other resources not considered in this study.

The detrimental consequences of mining and inspiration for the Gandhamardan movement in western Odisha, India

AbstractMost of Odisha's mineral resources are situated in tribally controlled regions that are impacted by resource extraction operations. Being a mineral‐rich state, Odisha is becoming a popular investment location. The majority of the population is made up of indigenous people who have historically subsisted on the highlands' natural resources. Local people (most of them are tribal) of the Gandhamardan hills region have protested extraction, insisting that their rights to holy religious sites near the mine, traditional methods of subsistence and the environment be protected. The purpose of this article is to look into the impact of mining during the extraction phase in the 1980s, which was a driving element in the emergence of the resistance movement, as well as discuss the future expectations of mining and its effect. The paper is based on primary data that includes direct interview to 366 households. The purposive sampling method has been deployed to collect data from the participants of Gandhamardan movement (1980s). According to the findings, mining has impacted three vital areas, including religious beliefs, the environment and livelihood, prompting the local community to resist mining activities. These three areas were crucial for the emergence of Gandhamardan or BALCO (Bharat Aluminium Company) movement. The environmental component has received widespread support both domestically and worldwide. The State Government should have a clear strategy in place that acknowledges the economic relevance of managing forest resources in a way which improves local people's economic conditions with local economic development.

Kameloh Baru Village: A Case Study on the Impacts of Unlicensed Gold Mining on the Local Economy and the Environment Use

This study aims to determine the positive and negative externalities of Illegal gold mining activities of Kameloh Baru Village, Sabangau District, Palangka Raya City. This study uses primary and secondary data with data collection techniques carried out by observation, questionnaires and literature searches with a total of 125 respondents. The analytical method used is the non-parametric Wilcoxon test with SPSS 25 software which provides research results which can be concluded that there are positive and negative externalities in society. The research results show that; (1) There is a positive externality, namely an increase in people's income, that is, there is a difference before the mine and after the mine where the community's income has increased. As well as the level of education costs for children or family members of the community has also increased where the number of children attending school has increased, apart from increased public awareness, this has also been matched by the ability of the community to finance their children's education due to increased community income. (2) While the negative externalities that exist are the health, safety and environment of the people affected by gold mining activities resulting in increased health costs incurred by the community, decreased security conditions around the area, and river water pollution as a result of illegal gold mining

Mining in space could spur sustainable growth

Growth models with resources and environmental externalities typically assume that planet Earth is a closed economy. However, private firms like Blue Origin and SpaceX have reduced the cost of rocket launches by a factor of 20 over the last decade. What if these costs continue to decline, making mining from asteroids or the moon feasible? What would be the implications for economic growth and the environment? This paper provides stylized facts about cost trends, geology, and the environmental impact of mining on Earth and potentially in Space. We extend a neoclassical growth model to investigate the transition from mining on Earth to Space. We find that such a transition could potentially allow for continued growth of metal use, while limiting environmental and social costs on Earth. Acknowledging the high uncertainty around the topic, our paper provides a starting point for research on how Space mining could contribute to sustainable growth on Earth.

Selective separation of aluminum, silicon, and titanium from red mud using oxalic acid leaching, iron precipitation and pH adjustments with calcium carbonate

Red mud discharged from alumina production is a valuable metal resource of great importance in the context of the requirement to reduce the impact of mining on the environment and resource consumption. The efficient dissolution of iron from red mud by oxalic acid has been reported. Although the concentrations of aluminum, silicon, and titanium were also high in the red mud-oxalic acid leachate after iron precipitation, they have received little attention. The present study aims to recover aluminum, silicon, and titanium from red mud-oxalic acid leachate after the precipitation of iron. The leaching efficiencies of aluminum, silicon, and titanium in 1.0 mol/L oxalic acid at 80 °C, reached 63–75% after 2 h. Sodium hydroxide, calcium oxide, and calcium carbonate were chosen to adjust the pH of the oxalic acid leachate, and the effective separation of silicon and titanium from the oxalic acid leachate could be achieved at pH 4.0 by stepwise separation using calcium carbonate. A silicon dioxide primary product with a purity of 70.8% was obtained in addition to the aluminum hydroxide primary product. The stepwise selective separation of aluminum, silicon, and titanium from red mud-oxalic acid leachate could assist the values recovery and simultaneously minimize environmental hazards of the acidic leachate.

The effect shipper, carrier, and supervisory management data mining of online freight platforms on the innovation of financing model for Chinese financial institutions

The application of e-commerce and digitization in the logistics industry has given rise to the emergence of online freight forwarding platforms that connect shippers and carriers for the efficient transportation of goods. Online transactions on the platforms generate a large amount of data, creating opportunities to gain valuable insights through data mining techniques. However, against the backdrop of the Chinese government's accelerated efforts to create a new three-dimensional dynamic logistics landscape of "Internet + Logistics," the traditional financial service models of Chinese financial institutions are struggling to meet the evolving needs of these platforms. This research and innovation project explores the impact of data mining on the operation of online freight transportation platforms and the development of innovative financing models by Chinese financial institutions. A mixed research methodology was used to collect primary data, combining quantitative analysis, qualitative questionnaire analysis, and relevant interviews to collect and analyze the data. By analyzing financial data such as transaction volumes, creditworthiness indicators, and risk factors on these platforms, various data mining algorithms are utilized to mine and predict models. Further evidence is presented to analyze the relationship between shippers, actual carriers, freight platform managers, and financial service innovations that transact through online freight platforms and to propose new types of financing service solutions that can support the growth and sustainability of the logistics industry. These financing models have the potential to increase financial inclusion, reduce credit risk, and facilitate capital flows in the freight industry.

Artisanal small-scale mining, farm labour attraction and household welfare in Ghana

The discourse on the impact of artisanal small-scale mining (ASM) has often concentrated on land degradation, and surface water pollution. How ASM is increasingly attracting farm labourers (FL) in mining communities is rarely discussed. Drawing insight from selected mining communities, which combines the perspectives and experiences of small-scale miners, farmers, academics, and policymakers, this article uses the endogenous switching regression model to identify the determinants of FL attraction to ASM as well as the drivers of labour welfare. The model estimated the impact of labour supply on consumption expenditure per adult equivalent. The results show that FL decision to shift to ASM sector is constructed around welfare incentives. For instance, FL who joined ASM increased their consumption expenditure per adult equivalent by 66.6 percent. The article established that ASM provides crucial livelihoods to rural households. Meanwhile, if proper incentives such as fertilizer subsidy and agriculture extension intensification are not put in place, the labour attraction by ASM will have detrimental effects on food security. Therefore, proper regulatory frameworks should be enforced by duty-bearers to regulate the activities of ASM as it provides welfare improvements to farmers. Lastly, further studies should investigate the decency of labour supply services to ASM.

Poverty induced artisanal mining impact on municipal water utilities; the case of kpapi river in Minna, Nigeria

That unemployment, poverty, artisanal mining, and community vulnerability are interwoven is re-emphasizing the reality of life. This study assesses the effect of artisanal mining activities on River Kpapi and the adjoining settlements in Minna putting into consideration Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG8). Observatory field survey was carried out on the entire river channel, and laboratory analysis of water samples taking to determine its hydro-chemical and Water Quality Index (WQI) characteristics using the silver nitrate method of the American Public Health Association (APHA) and the Water Quality Index (WQI) mathematical model. Questionnaires were also administered to the adjoining communities on river water usability. The result revealed that the hydro-chemical parameters heavy metals of Cd, Pb and Cr2+ with mean concentrations of 0.04 ​mg/l, 0.39 ​mg/l and 0.44 ​mg/l respectively are above WHO permissible limit. Also, the WQI varies from 2045.35 ​at middle course, 2709.89 ​at the upper course and 30.87.46 ​at the lower course is above the tolerance level for human consumption. The study, therefore, recommended that both the riparian and the solid mineral law should be under the state government to ease implementation and that the artisanal miners and that inclusive planning should be adhere to in all policy formation.