Mining Ponds Research Articles

Assessment of heavy metals in water, sediment, Anabas testudineus and Eichhornia crassipes in a former mining pond in Perak, Malaysia

ABSTRACTThe concentrations of Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn and Zn were analysed in water, sediment, muscle of climbing perch fish (Anabas testudineus), and tissue of water hyacinth plants (Eichhornia crassipes) collected from a former tin-mining pond in Perak, Malaysia. The monitoring was performed during the minimum and maximum rainfall periods. The concentrations of As, Cr, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn in water exceeded the permissible limits set by the Interim National Water Quality Standards for Malaysia (INWQS). The risk index (RI) values determined for As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn in sediment presented a low degree of ecological risk. The order of the top three heavy metals measured in fish muscle was Zn > Fe > Al. The estimated daily intake (EDI) of As and Cr exceeded the allowable limits in both rainfall periods. The bioconcentration factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF) values of Zn in water hyacinth were 24.865 and 3.214, respectively. The concentrations of Cu and Zn in the plant tissue were significantly correlated (p < .05) with the concentrations of heavy metals in water. Overall, climbing perch and water hyacinth are excellent bioindicators of environmental impacts on water bodies.

Chronosequence Effect of Post Tin Mining Ponds to Metals Residu and Microecosystem Change

The ecological change caused by tin mining activity is among the most important sorts of problem in the environment, including heavy metals contamination and change of microecosystem. This article aim to identify speciation of metals and heavy metals in post tin mining aquatic ecosystem, particularly, disused tin mining ponds in West Bangka, Indonesia in a chronosequence effect study. S peciation of metals and heavy metals are detected by X-Ray Fluorescence. X-Ray Fluorescence analysis show that heavy metals in post tin mining ponds like Fe, Sn, and Cu and also some metals such as Mg, Si, Al, S, and P were detected with a different numbers. There is a speciation of heavy metals and metals in post tin mining ponds with chronosequence effect. It can become an important and basic study about potential bioremediator in the research locations. Further, researches about microecosystem change and interaction of microorganisms and heavy metals there can become an information to design an ecological management tool to manage this ecosystem so it can be used for primay or secondary activity.

Study algae and fungi interaction in some artificial open sand mine ponds in Kalak sub district- Duhok, Iraq.

Study algae and fungi interaction in some artificial open sand mine ponds in Kalak sub district- Duhok, Iraq.

Assessing the Ecological Effects of Mining in West Africa: The Case of Nigeria

Nigeria’s abundant solid minerals constitute some of the largest known deposits in recent years under different categories. With the activities in the sector characterized by production and a growing environmental decline often overlooked. This research uses a mix scale approach of descriptive statistics and GIS methodology in analyzing the ecological impacts of mining in Nigeria. Emphases are on the issues, environmental and spatial analysis of the trends, factors associated with the issues and current efforts. The results not only reveal large deposits and changes in production, Nigeria’s mineral deposits showed continual growth much of the time despite a few declines. From a -16.98% drop in 2010-2011, aluminium deposits rose by 22.64-63.08% in 2008 to 2009 and the other years. With time, Illegal mining in Pandogari, Niger state stretched through a 17.5 km2-130 km2 radius from 1992 to 1998. By the year 2000, mining operations extended further into a vast area measuring 200 km2 and continued in 2004-2006 with more incursions onto 254-312 km2. The heavy toll of mining on the environment comes with the declines in forest land area in Bukuru, Plateau state where forest area of 420.52 km2 in 1975 fell to 399.56 km2 by 1986. The downward slide continued almost 20 years after in 2005 with only 155.63 km2 area left with green cover. The other burden of pollution risks involves the 1,000 abandoned mine ponds, alongside 1,100-4,000 tin and columbite mines left behind from the mining booms of past eras in the 1960s and spread all over Jos, Plateau. These threats are compounded further by the 400 fatalities from lead poisoning triggered by illegal quarrying in Zamfara in 2010. The GIS mapping of the trends showed clusters of areas prone to hazards and the dispersion of solid mineral potentials in the nation with the impacts linked to socio-economic elements. For mitigation, the study offered suggestions ranging from education to regular assessment of ecological liabilities and the need for policy enhancement.

English

English

Wing size-related reed habitat selection by Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) males

ABSTRACT In this study we explored the linkage between wing size of Great Reed Warbler males (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) and their habitat selection and relate these linkages to differences in reed habitat quality. We measured the wing sizes of males nesting in 6 different reed habitats. To explain reed habitat selection, we modeled male wing size as a function of 7 predictor variables describing reedbeds: proportion of managed reed; densities of mixed, old, and fresh reed; reed stem diameter; water depth; and fluctuation of water level. Mean wing size was greatest for males at large canals, intermediate at mining ponds and smaller canals, and lowest at marshes and very small canals. The proportion of managed reed and fluctuation of water level were negatively related to wing size, and water depth was positively related to wing size, which suggests that males with larger wings preferred reed habitats with little management in deep water with little fluctuation in water level. We concluded that the availab...

Assessment of impact of coal mining on ground and surface waters in Tozaklı coal field, Kırklareli, northeast of Thrace, Turkey

In this study, the surface and groundwaters of Tozakli Coal field were investigated in order to determine possible environmental impacts of coal mining on water pollution. The water samples were analyzed for chemical, trace metal and microbiological quality, and compared with international directives (EPA and WHO) in order to determine the impact of the mining activities as a source of pollution on bodies of water. Tozakli coal was lignitic rank, and sulfur content varied between 9 and 4 %. The pH values of the waters were between 8.04 and 6.92 for the mine ponds, and 8.7 and 6.6 for the groundwater and surface water. The Ca+2, Mg+2, Na+, K+, Cl−, SO 4 −2 and NO3 − values of the waters varied between 394.2 and 52, 195 and 1, 200 and 22, 6 and 1, 1 and 0.9, 756 and 20, 2.4 and 1.1 mg/l, respectively, in the mine ponds. All the major cation and anion and trace element concentrations were below admissible limits of both EPA and WHO, except for SO4 − and NO3 −. All the mine ponds and tap waters of the villages were contaminated by Enterococcus spp., while E. coli and total coliforms were only present in the mine pond waters. The geoaccumulation index (Igeo) values of the clay samples from the mining area revealed that the soils were moderately contaminated by Ni, whereas As and Ni concentrations had high anthropogenic shares due to coal mining. The surface and groundwaters of the study area were not polluted by the coal mining operations.

Assessing the diversity of the benthic oligochaete communities in urban and woodland ponds in an industrial landscape (Upper Silesia, southern Poland)

Studies were carried out in two mining pond complexes in an industrial landscape. The first complex (consisting of six ponds) was located in an urban area and the second one (consisting of six ponds) in a woodland area. The aims of the study were to assess the diversity of benthic oligochaetes and to evaluate which environmental variables are most important in determining variations in the community structure in ponds of varying location. In total, 21 oligochaete species were recorded (7–11 in the urban ponds, 11–15 in the woodland ponds). Aulodrilus pluriseta, Aulodrilus japonicus and Ophidonais serpentina were only found in the woodland ponds, while Potamothrix bavaricus only occurred in the urban ponds. Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri, Limnodrilus claparedeanus, Chaetogaster diaphanus and Ophidonais serpentina dominated in the woodland ponds, whereas Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri, Limnodrilus claparedeanus, Potamothrix bavaricus and Tubifex tubifex prevailed in the urban ponds. The total density of oligochaetes was higher in the urban ponds thought the values of the diversity indices were higher in the woodland ponds. The local diversity of the ponds was high, while the among-site diversity made only a small contribution to the regional diversity. Nonetheless, a cluster analysis divided all of the ponds into two distinct groups depending on their location. CCA analysis showed that conductivity, pH, total hardness, alkalinity, the concentration of chlorides and the content of organic matter in the bottom sediments were most associated with the distribution of some oligochaete species among the ponds studied.

Hybrid off-river augmentation system as an alternative raw water resource: the hydrogeochemistry of abandoned mining ponds

The use of water from abandoned mining ponds under a hybrid off-river augmentation system (HORAS) has been initiated as an alternative water resource for raw water. However, it raises the questions over the safety of the use of such waters. In this study, the hydrogeochemical analysis of the waters is presented to assess the degree to which the water has been contaminated. Comparisons were made between sampling sites, i.e. abandoned mining ponds, active sand mining ponds and the receiving streams within Bestari Jaya, Selangor River basin. The aqueous geochemistry analysis showed different hydrochemical signatures of major elements between sites, indicating different sources of minerals in the water. Discharges from the sand mining ponds were found to contain elevated availability of dissolved concentrations of iron, manganese, lead, copper and zinc, among others. However, the quality of the water (from the main river) that is supplied for potable water consumption is at a satisfactory level despite being partly sourced from the abandoned mining ponds. In fact, all the metal concentrations detected were well below the Malaysia Ministry of Health guideline limits for untreated raw water. In addition, the results of the geochemical index analysis (i.e. geoaccumulation index, enrichment factor and modified contamination factor) showed that the rivers and abandoned mining ponds were generally unpolluted with respect to the metals found in sediments.

Habitat use and nesting success of the Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) in different reed habitats in Serbia

ABSTRACT We surveyed five reed habitats (mining pond, sand pit, large canal, small canal, and lowland river) in north-western Vojvodina (Serbia) between 2009–2011 to study habitat use and to estimate nesting success in an understudied region of the breeding range of the Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus). Data from 174 nests showed that habitat use differed considerably between habitat types but was not related to the area of the study site or the reed bed. Higher than expected numbers of nests along the small canal and the river suggested that Great Reed Warblers preferred these to other habitats for nesting. Habitat use was closely linked to the availability of reed edges and the quality of the reed stand. Overall Mayfield nesting success was 43%, slightly lower than in northern and western Europe. Nesting success was low along the small and large canal, where brood parasitism by Common Cuckoos (Cuculus canorus) and nest predation were high because of the nearby presence of tree lines that p...

Recruitment and abnormality incidence of a desert frog assemblage at an Australian copper mine

SummaryMetamorphlings of five desert frog species were assessed for morphological abnormalities adjacent to and remote from the Nifty Copper Mine in the Great Sandy Desert of Western Australia. Abnormality rates in the most abundant species Main's Frog (Cyclorana maini) at a remote pond were higher than that recorded in three of the four ponds adjacent to the mine. The overall abnormality rate of 2.5% therefore likely reflects the regional background levels at Nifty, which is lower than background levels at other Australian arid zone sites. Although higher rates of abnormalities were not detected in ponds adjacent to the mine, frog recruitment was inhibited in one brackish mine pond.

Abandoned mine tailings in cultural itineraries: Don Quixote Route (Spain)

Metallic mining wastes are a crucial environmental concern because of the accumulation and emission of toxic elements. The abandoned San Quintín mine tailings, from the exploitation of galena and sphalerite (Puertollano mining district, Spain), are surrounded by farmland and are crossed by the European Cultural Itinerary known as the “Don Quixote Route”. Geophysical, mineralogical and geochemical techniques have been applied to determine the geometry and composition of mine ponds and the possible occurrence of AMD that could entail ecosystem and human risks. Seven electrical resistivity tomography profiles were surveyed, and re-worked tailing samples of two ponds, five soil samples, nine water samples and gaseous mercury emissions were analyzed. Both mine ponds are ~8m deep and overlie Quaternary colluvial sediments deposited over Precambrian metasediments. The pond infilling is mainly composed of quartz and clay minerals, and minor amounts of gypsum and sulfides, with significant As, Cd, Hg, Pb, Sb and Zn contents. This metal emission source affects the underlying colluvial sediments and high Hg and Pb contents have also been found in nearby agricultural soils. AMD has been identified, but metal contamination in the stream that borders the tailings is below the USEPA's recommended limits. Although gaseous mercury emissions from a cinnabar stockpile increase in summer, the measured levels do not reach the WHO's recommended limit. The Enrichment Factor and Igeo indexes for As, Cd, Hg, Pb, Sb and Zn indicate strong to extreme contamination in the mine ponds and moderate contamination in the colluvial sediments/metasediments. Aeolian dispersion is the most important contaminant agent. The surrounding soils show strong to extreme levels of Hg and moderate to extreme levels of As, Cd, Pb and Sb. Restoration of these abandoned wastes is recommended to reduce the health risks for residents and tourists due to this aeolian contaminant dispersion.

Analysis of tailing pond contamination in Galicia using generalized linear spatial models

We statistically analysed the chemical components present in waste water from mines in Galicia (NW Spain). These elements pose a risk to public health and the environment, most particularly in the event of a failure in the containment structure of a pond or dam. The statistical processing of the data, which started with an analysis of the typical contaminants present in mining ponds and dams, pointed to the potential limitations of using non-spatial models for spatially structured data. Our results indicate the greater potential of the generalized linear spatial model over the generalized linear model for analysis of spatially structured data. We also show how a misspecification of the model for analysing spatial data can lead to misleading conclusions, which might lead, in turn, to poorly designed protective or corrective measures.

Gross Alpha and Beta Activity Concentrations in Surface Water Supplies from Mining Areas of Plateau State, Nigeria and Estimation of Infants and Adults Annual Committed Effective Dose

A radiological characteristic of surface waters of the mining areas of Plateau State, Nigeria covered by the Naraguta Topographical sheet 168 was carried out in the month of March 2012. For this purpose forty – eight (48) surface water samples were collected from 25 mine ponds and 23 streams. Analysis included gross alpha and gross beta activities using MPC – 2000 – DP and estimation of committed effective Dose to the different age groups of the general public. The results obtained showed that the gross alpha activities ranged from (0.047±0.010 – 6.640±0.032)Bq/l with a geometric mean of 0.410±0.016Bq/l for mine ponds samples while the Data Article Mangset et al.; PSIJ, 5(4): 241-254, 2015; Article no.PSIJ.2015.025 242 gross beta activities for mine ponds ranged from (0.001±0.009-6.680±0.039)Bq/l with a geometric mean of 0.125±0.010Bq/l. Also the gross alpha activities for stream water samples ranged from (0.140±0.011 – 4.310±0.013)Bq/l with a geometric mean of 0.642 ±0.015Bq/l and the gross beta activities for stream samples ranged from (0.040±0.001 – 1.170±0.018)Bq/l with a geometric mean of 0.250±0.008Bq/l. The annual committed effective dose for all age groups was calculated and they showed elevated values above the ICRP acceptable standard of 0.1mSv/yr. This implies that infants and children who are more susceptible to radiation dose through water ingestion may be exposed to high radiation health risk.

Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination in Surface and Ground Water Resources around Udege Mbeki Mining District, North-Central Nigeria

The study assessed the surface water and groundwater chemistry with special concern to heavy metal contaminations/pollution in Udege Mbeki mining district. A total of eight mine ponds, eight hands – dog wells, three streams and one adit water samples were analysed for their heavy metals contents. The heavy metal concentrations ranged as follows: Cd (0.000-0.110 mg/L), Cr (0.003-0.146 mg/L), Co (0.110-1.260 mg/L), Cu (0.000-0.260 mg/L), Fe (0.015-8.398 mg/L), Pb (0.0001-1.853 mg/L) and Ni (0.001.112 mg/L). Concentrations of Cr, Cu and Ni are generally within the maximum permissible limit of the WHO (2006) guideline, whereas concentrations of Fe, Co, Pb and Cd are above the maximum permissible limit. The contamination/pollution level was estimated based on the geoaccumulation index (Ige0), enrichment factor (EF) and heavy metal pollution index (HPI). Sources of the heavy metals in the waters of the area are mainly anthropogenic. The heavy metal pollution index (HPI) calculated was 559.12, which is far above the critically pollution index value of 100 and therefore depict that the waters of the area are critically polluted with regards to heavy metals.

Comparing Heavy Metal Mobility in Active and Abandoned Mining Sites at Bestari Jaya, Selangor

Recent issues on water scarcity have become major public concerns due to availability of safe potable water. The use of abandoned mining ponds as an alternative source of raw water supply has been recently initiated by the Selangor state water authority. This study investigates the potential mobility of heavy metals in both active and abandoned mining ponds at Bestari Jaya ex-mining area. The concentrations of heavy metals in abandoned mining ponds were below the Malaysian Ministry of Health allowable limits. Fe and Mn were found at concentrations above the limits of the Ministry of Health standards for raw water quality (2000) at the active sand mining area. There was an inverse relation between Fe and Mn in water and in sediment as pH changed. The concentration of heavy metals in water and sediment were Fe>Mn>Zn>Pb>Cu.

Distribution of Heavy Metals in Surface and Ground Water in Mkpuma Akpatakpa and Environs

The inhabitants of Mkpuma Akpatakpa have resorted to the usage of water accumulated in the abandoned mine ponds and boreholes due to inadequate potable water within the area. Lead Zinc deposit which is typical of the Benue Trough has been mined within the area, leaving heaps of mine tailings at the site. A total of seven (7) water samples were collected and geochemically analyzed with the main objective of assessing their distribution in the waters of the study area. The results revealed the concentration of Arsenic to be high in both surface and groundwater ranging from 0.1 to 0.492mg/l. which exceeds the WHO limit for portable water. Constant exposure to Potentially Harmful Elements (PHEs) such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), zinc (Zn), and arsenic (As) have shown to have cumulative effects on human health since there is no homeostatic mechanism which can operate to regulate their toxicity. Heavy metals are released into the environment by natural and anthropogenic processes and these increase their concentration, hence leading to pollution. As the populace continues to be exposed to such hazardous element in their drinking water, the health implication could be prevalent overtime if not arrested.

Factors influencing the appearance of spider (Araneae) and beetle (Coleoptera) assemblages in nests of great reed warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus

The appearance of spider (Araneae) and beetle (Coleoptera) assemblages found in nests of great reed warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus was studied, firstly to investigate breeding success and the amount of precipitation as potential factors which might affect the abundance and species richness of both groups. In addition, we compared the diversity of spider and beetle assemblages between nests found in different reed habitats, and considered the position of nests (above water or dry ground). In this study we selected five different randomly chosen reed habitats: two mining ponds, two small canals and one large canal. Great Reed Warbler nests were collected either shortly after fledging, or after the clutch had failed. Altogether, 12 species of spider and 19 species of beetle were collected. In both groups there was no significant difference in abundance between successful, lost and cuckoo-parasitized nests; however, there was a significant difference in species richness between the three nest categories in spider assemblages, which was not the case in beetle assemblages. The amount of precipitation did not affect beetle or spider abundance; only the species richness of spiders showed significant growth. Furthermore, we found no significant relationship between vegetation cover and the species richness and abundance of spiders and beetles. The diversity of both groups differed significantly according to reed habitat: beetle assemblages were most diverse by the large canal and spiders at the mining ponds.

Molecular diversity of the methanotrophic bacteria communities associated with disused tin-mining ponds in Kampar, Perak, Malaysia.

In a previous study, notable differences of several physicochemical properties, as well as the community structure of ammonia oxidizing bacteria as judged by 16S rRNA gene analysis, were observed among several disused tin-mining ponds located in the town of Kampar, Malaysia. These variations were associated with the presence of aquatic vegetation as well as past secondary activities that occurred at the ponds. Here, methane oxidizing bacteria (MOB), which are direct participants in the nutrient cycles of aquatic environments and biological indicators of environmental variations, have been characterised via analysis of pmoA functional genes in the same environments. The MOB communities associated with disused tin-mining ponds that were exposed to varying secondary activities were examined in comparison to those in ponds that were left to nature. Comparing the sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the pmoA clone libraries at the different ponds (idle, lotus-cultivated and post-aquaculture), we found pmoA genes indicating the presence of type I and type II MOB at all study sites, but type Ib sequences affiliated with the Methylococcus/Methylocaldum lineage were most ubiquitous (46.7 % of clones). Based on rarefaction analysis and diversity indices, the disused mining pond with lotus culture was observed to harbor the highest richness of MOB. However, varying secondary activity or sample type did not show a strong variation in community patterns as compared to the ammonia oxidizers in our previous study.

Economic Performance of Small Scale Private Irrigation Scheme: A Case Study of the Tin Mining Ponds of the Jos Plateau, Nigeria

Increasing the crop water productivity in smallholder farming is important since the productivity is often low but has the largest potential to be enhanced. In Nigeria, tomato and pepper forms a very important component of many households' diet. Their production is mainly a smallholder activity characterized with low productivity compared to the world average. In explaining the low productivities of the farmers, it is necessary to look into the profitability of their farm enterprise to show the close links existing between productivity and farm income. This study estimates the profitability of tomato and pepper production using the gross margin analysis to determine the farm income on smallholder farms of tin mining ponds of the Jos-Plateau. Empirical result indicates that tomato and pepper production are profitable. The average rate of return to a naira invested in tomato and pepper production were N0.87k and N1.49 respectively. To fully tap the potential of increase productivity and farm income, the study recommends that expanded access to improved technologies for tomato and pepper production should be extended to the farmers through extension services. Implications for policy are discussed.