Mining Concessions Research Articles

Carbon stock estimation of trees and poles in Karendan Forest, North Barito, Central Kalimantan

Abstract Kalimantan is known as one of the biodiversity hotspots. It harbours various endemic, rare, and endangered plant species. This research aimed to inventory plants and estimate the carbon stock of trees and poles in the Karendan forest, Central Kalimantan. The biomass and carbon storage of above-ground biomass (AGB) were measured using non-destructive methods. Around 88 species of tree stands were recorded, consisting of 51 trees and 61 species of poles (young trees). The average estimate of total carbon stock in the Karendan forest was 91.19 tons/ha, while the carbon stock value of trees was equivalent to poles, indicating forest regeneration. We observed forest disturbances caused by fires or selective logging in the past. The Dipterocarpaceae family (meranti) dominantly contributes to carbon biomass, either through its tree species, such as Shorea leprosula (25.07 tons/ha) and S. lamellata (5.05 tons/ha), or its pole species, including S. leprosula (3.39 tons/ha), and S. bracteolata (2.02 tons/ha). This family’s abundance of carbon-contributing trees indicates that the Karendan forest has a relatively high conservation value. The findings of this research are helpful for the management of coal mining companies, considering that this area is within the mining concessions.

Integrated vertical mining and processing for Critical Mineral: A case study in Obi Island, North Maluku Province

Abstract Harita Nickel Group in Obi Island, Indonesia pioneered the utilization of limonite nickel ore (Ni <1.5%) for electric car batteries in the country. Nickel mining in Obi Island transitioned from nickel mining in 2010 to integrated mining by establishing downstream processing of raw materials for stainless steel in 2016 and electric car battery in 2018. Pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical technologies are employed in factories within Harita Nickel’s mining concession area, notably PT Trimegah Bangun Persada Tbk (PTTBP). This vertically integrated mining and downstream processing in Obi Island, South Halmahera Regency, North Maluku Province, marks a significant advancement in Indonesia’s mining industry. The close proximity (<3km) of mining and factory locations ensures efficiency and low costs. In vertically integrated mining, companies seek to maximize the use of all materials involved in production processes, minimizing waste and optimizing resource utilization. This research focusing on the waste generated during nickel processing of RKEF can be repurposing into new products, reducing environmental impact and increasing sustainability. Nickel, a critical mineral, has garnered global attention, particularly since Indonesia emerged as the world’s largest nickel ore reserve. The extractive industry, employing pyrometallurgy technology, has rapidly produced stainless steel raw materials from nickel mining since 2016. Indonesia’s nickel ore, known as saprolite nickel with high nickel content (>1.7%), has been exploited since the 1970s, while the low-grade limonite nickel layer gained traction only around mid-2018. In the future, Harita Nickel project in western Obi Island will be developed as an Eco Industrial Park for a greater integration, highlighting the comprehensive benefits of vertically integrated mining and providing a more thorough and insightful evaluation of its potential.

Modelling the impact of past and future land-use changes on land cover degradation at territorial level in Eastern DR Congo

AbstractLand use and land cover (LULC) changes are recognized as drivers of environmental changes at the local, regional, and global levels. Detecting these changes is essential in developing land management plans and strategies. More particularly, the LULC changes constitute one of the sub-indicators used for setting the baseline for land degradation neutrality (LDN) planning and assessing the progress toward the sustainable development goal 15.3. This study aims to determine the implication of LULC dynamics on land cover degradation in Eastern DR Congo. This region has been subjected to uncontrolled LULC changes over the last three decades but the impact of these changes on land degradation has not been assessed yet at the territorial level. To fill this gap, the territory of Kalehe has been used as a case study to monitor the LULC changes during the 1987–2020 period based on the classification of Landsat images, to forecast the future LULC for the 2030–2070 period through the hybrid Markov-Support Vector Machine modeling, to determine the extent of land cover degradation associated with these changes and to assess the impact of biophysical and socio-economic factors on the occurrence of land cover degradation using the binary logistic regression model. The results reveal that the overall trends of LULC changes during the 1987–2020 period are the increasing of built-up area, shrubland, and cropland at the expense of forestland, wetland, and grassland. This situation is expected to continue in the future and contribute to the degradation of land cover within the study area. Under the current situation of LULC changes, 34.17% of the land has been subjected to potential degradation. Furthermore, under the business-as-usual scenario 28.28%, 27.28%, and 33.65% of the land will be degraded by 2030, 2050, and 2070 respectively. This land cover degradation is more likely to occur in the proximity of roads, localities, highly populated areas, mining concessions, and high-altitudinal zones. Since the current land use system is unsustainable, there is a necessity to implement sustainable land management strategies that take into account the biophysical and socio-economic specificities of this region to reverse the problem of land cover degradation.

Rescue and Translocation of Hispaniola Hutia (Plagiodontia aedium) in Pueblo Viejo, Cotuí Mining Concession Area.

Translocation of species is a common practice used in endangered species management and conservation plans, which can have the purpose of establishing new populations which are at risk of being wiped out, increase a species chance of survival or recovery, and to preserve genetic diversity. The present study details the rescue and relocation process of Hispaniola Hutia (Plagiodontia aedium) in the municipality of Cotuí, Dominican Republic. Data are presented for eight individuals, belonging to two different families, detailing capture methods, handling, reintroduction method, and behavior, as well as data on post-release monitoring for both families. It was found that the most efficient capture method was active capture by hand (6/8). The family groups were heterogeneous, although both families had in common the presence of a single adult male. The average weight of the individuals was 1.19 kg. Blood tests were carried out on the animals before being taken to the holding pens and compared with the values of other rodents, showing that hematic values for P. aedium were like those of another hutia species, Cynomys ludovicianus. During the period animals were held in pens before reintroduction, hutias showed trophic preferences for Clusia rosea and Guarea guidonea. The only supplementary food they consumed was Daucus carota. A fight was observed between members of different families during the acclimation period in the holding pen, between a subadult male and another dominant one, evidencing territorial behavior. Post-release monitoring of the families showed that the selection of habitat for relocation, based on the characterization of active burrows in the area, was successful in one of the two families relocated. One of the families abandoned the selected area for translocation during the monitoring. It is important to note that accurate population data of the targeted population, such as abundance and density, are necessary to guarantee the survival of the translocated animals in the new environment. The reintroduction method used in this study may serve as a baseline for future translocation projects for the species.

Ecological niche assessment and conservation status of colocolo pampas cat Leopardus colocola (Molina 1782)

Until 2021, Leopardus colocola was considered a species distributed across much of South America. However, recent studies have shown that it is a monotypic species, apparently restricted in its distribution to the central-northern region of Chile, distinct from other felines of the same genus. This change in its classification and distribution has sparked debate regarding its conservation status, which now requires a detailed assessment. In this study, we analyzed the species’ geographic distribution using ecological niche modeling and evaluated its conservation status according to the guidelines of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, considering the impact of mining concessions and Chile's road network. Presence records of the species were systematized, and a new ecological niche model was developed. Additionally, the Extent of Occurrence (EOO) and the Area of Occupancy (AOO) were calculated. The fragmentation and projected reduction of the niche model, along with the EOO and AOO, place the species under the Criteria B2ab (i, ii, iii), leading to its classification as “Endangered.” This study provides an updated view of the species' geographic distribution and conservation status in Chile. The results are crucial for future conservation efforts and offer a solid foundation for effective management strategies.

Investment Analysis of Public Road Relocation Project within The Mining Concession Area at Pit Gurimbang, Job Site Gurimbang Mine Operation - PT. BC

Investment Analysis of Public Road Relocation Project within The Mining Concession Area at Pit Gurimbang, Job Site Gurimbang Mine Operation - PT. BC

Socio-economic and environmental trade-offs in Amazonian protected areas and Indigenous territories revealed by assessing competing land uses.

Protected area (PA) assessments rarely evaluate socio-economic and environmental impacts relative to competing land uses, limiting understanding of socio-environmental trade-offs from efforts to protect 30% of the globe by 2030. Here we assess deforestation and poverty outcomes (fiscal income, income inequality, sanitation and literacy) between 2000 and 2010 of strict PAs (SPAs), sustainable-use PAs (SUPAs) and Indigenous territories (ITs) compared with different land uses (agriculture and mining concessions) across ~5,500 census tracts in the Brazilian Legal Amazon. ITs reduced deforestation relative to all alternative land uses (48-83%) but had smaller socio-economic benefits compared with other protection types and land uses (18-36% depending on outcome), indicating that Indigenous communities experience socio-economic trade-offs. By contrast, SUPAs, and potentially SPAs, did not reduce deforestation relative to small-scale agriculture (landholdings <10 ha) but did so relative to larger agricultural landholdings (70-82%). Critically, these reductions in deforestation frequently occurred without negative socio-economic outcomes. By contrast, ITs and SUPAs protected against deforestation from mining, but at the cost of smaller improvements in income and inequality. Our results suggest that although PAs in the Brazilian Legal Amazon substantially reduced deforestation without compromising local socio-economic development, efforts to secure Indigenous rights need additional interventions to ensure these communities are not further disadvantaged.

Politics of Mining: Ecological and Economic Dynamics in Maluku Utara

The mining issue in North Maluku Province has become a primary focus, resulting in serious impacts on the economic and investment climate. Challenges related to mining activities include environmental damage, pollution, land conflicts, illegal operations, and licensing issues. The conflict of interest among mining companies, the government, and local communities is worsening over time due to unmet community needs and a shift from protests to resistance. Factors influencing the escalation of conflict include centralization in decision-making regarding mining resources by the government, reducing the participation of local communities in policy processes. Additionally, the lack of concern from mining companies for the welfare of local communities, particularly regarding compensation and social impacts, is also a cause of escalating conflict. This research utilized a descriptive qualitative method. The research findings indicate that community opposition to mining concession policies is caused by neglect of the rights of local communities in terms of compensation, discriminatory treatment in workforce recruitment, and environmental damage post-mining. This underscores the need for holistic and sustainable solutions to resolve mining conflicts in the region, considering the interests of all involved parties.

Study around the Barroso mine (Portugal): Baseline levels of lithium for assessing future exposure and risks from Li mining activity

The energetic green transition is increasing the demand for lithium (Li) exploitation. However, the Li supply faces challenges like limited reserves and environmental concerns. This pioneer study aims to characterize the Li concentrations in the region around the Barroso mine, in Portugal, by collecting and analyzing samples of cabbage, potato, drinking and irrigation water and soil from two nearby sites, and performing a preliminary exposure and risk assessment of local populations. Li levels ranged between 20 and 589 μg/kg in cabbages (n = 23), 2.3–21 μg/kg in potatoes (n = 21), 1.1–5.9 μg/L in drinking water (n = 10), 1.1–15 μg/L in irrigation water (n = 23) and 35–121 mg/kg in soils (n = 23). Significant differences in Li content between sampling sites were observed only for cabbage samples. The risk assessment revealed that none of the participants exceeded the provisional reference dose (p-RfD) (2 μg/kg bw/day), with a hazard quotient (HQ) < 1, suggesting no health concerns for the population. It is expected that the studied area will be affected by the future expansion of the mine concession, thus this pioneer study is crucial for future research as it establishes a initial database for evaluating the potential impact of mining activity on the environment and the population's exposure to Li.

Hydrochemical Characteristics, Controlling Factors and Water Quality Evaluation of Groundwater Quality in Kono, Sierra Leone

Groundwater is a major source of drinking water and is considered an imperative component of the accessible water assets across Sierra Leone and many parts of the world. The degradation of groundwater can jeopardize drinking water availability and human health. 29 groundwater monitoring samples with 16 water quality parameters were analyzed. Descriptive statistics, Piper plots, Arc GIS spatial interpolation, Gibbs plots, ion ratio analysis, Wilcox diagram, water quality index (WQI), and entropy-weighted water quality index (EWQI) were used to investigate the hydrochemical characteristics, controlling factors and evaluate the groundwater quality in the study area. The results revealed that the groundwater mean concentration of NO3− in the mining concession was 34.00 mg/L which was above the permissible limit, Ca2+ and HCO3− are higher in the Koidu community compared to the mining concession water, indicating weakly alkaline with dominant anions and cations of HCO3− and Na+ + K+ respectively, and the hydrochemical types were mainly HCO3−·Ca2+ and HCO3− ·Na+. The order of anion concentration in groundwater was HCO3− &gt; NO3− &gt; SO42− &gt; Cl− and HCO3− &gt; SO42− &gt; NO3− &gt; Cl− in the mining concession and the Koidu community respectively. Cations were Ca2+ &gt; Na+, K+ &gt; Mg2+ &gt; Fe²⁺, and Ca2+ &gt; Na+ &gt; Mg2+ &gt; K+ &gt; Fe²⁺ in the mining concession and the Koidu community respectively. The interpretation of WQI and EWQI analysis exhibits 55.17% excellent, 17.24% good, 20.69% medium, 6.90% very poor, and 27.59% excellent, 24.14% good, 34.48% medium, 3.45% poor, and 10.34% very poor water respectively. Most of the sampling sites display similar trends to the WQI and EWQI. The solute source of groundwater was mainly controlled by water-rock interaction, cation exchange and the weathering of silicate and carbonate rocks were jointly the main contributors to the formation of the chemical components of groundwater in the study area, among which the main controlling factors of the groundwater were leaching, precipitate concentration and anthropogenic activities, and sulfate rock and carbonate rock dissolution. The overall water quality in the study area was suitable for human consumption but was polluted to an insignificant extent by mining activities. This study provides theoretical support and a decision-making basis for developing, utilizing, and protecting water resources in the study area.

Towards sustainable ASM-based livelihoods: The role of institutional arrangements in the formalization of artisanal and small-scale mining

Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) is an essential livelihood for millions in the Global South. However, this sector faces numerous challenges, including informality, inconsistent policies, and marginalization. Nevertheless, ASM has development opportunities, and its formalization may help to address some of these challenges. This research emphasizes the role of institutions as a mechanism through which artisanal and small-scale miners can become formal, whereby institutions provide rules and put in place incentives and constraints, reduce uncertainty, create means of exercising power, and influence access to opportunities and choices. This paper presents a case study on the formalization program implemented between 2014 and 2020 through a contractual agreement between a large-scale mining company and several ASM local associations in a gold mining project in Buriticá, Antioquia, Colombia. The contractual system allocated specific areas within the mining concession to ASM operators and agreements on extraction methods, marketing of produced ore, access to geological and mining knowledge, technical capacity, and financial assistance. Formalization allowed ASM operators to adopt technical and business procedures that supported their transformation. The study highlights the barriers that need to be overcome by informal artisanal and small-scale miners and their partners to operate in the formal sector. The Buriticá case study provides relevant insights into the formalization process, identifies various aspects that contribute to the ASM development process, and presents some challenges that policymakers and other stakeholders must consider to address the challenges within the ASM sector.

Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Impact on Soil and Agriculture: Evidence from Upper Denkyira East Municipality, Ghana

The gold mining industry in Ghana has made a substantial contribution to the country's economic growth by generating diverse employment opportunities, both directly and indirectly, in mining communities. This has the potential to mitigate poverty and improve the quality of life for individuals and households in rural areas, where climate change is having a disproportionate impact on small-scale farmers. Nevertheless, it is crucial to recognize that this sector has also resulted in detrimental environmental impacts. A total 150 key informants in Upper Denkyira East Municipality, comprising representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Forestry Commission, the Mineral Commission, and other stakeholders, were interviewed using standardize questionnaire to ascertain the impact of mining on the soil, agriculture and the environment. The study also employed inductively coupled plasma to assess the concentration of heavy metals in soils at a small-scale mining site. The soil analyses indicated high concentrations of heavy metals, such as mercury, arsenic, nickel, zinc, and iron. The Weighted Average Index, which was used to assess the impact of mining, revealed that communities face challenges such as deforestation, low crop yields, water pollution, land tenure issues, and a high cost of living. The study's analyses of measures to address small scale mining challenges revealed that alternative livelihood, law enforcement, training and support, and access to mining concessions were perceived as suitable for addressing artisanal and small scale mining. The study concluded that stricter mining regulations, promoting sustainable mining practices, and providing comprehensive training to miners on environmental protection and land reclamation can help mitigate the negative impacts of artisanal and small-scale mining. Additionally, supporting alternative means of livelihood for mining communities, such as agriculture or eco-tourism, can reduce reliance on mining and promote sustainable development.

Influence of the Atlantic inflow on trace metal enrichments in sediments and particulate matter of the NW Alboran Sea (SW Mediterranean)

Trace metal contents and fluxes in downward particulate matter and dated sediment cores of the NW Alboran Sea are analysed in this study with the aim of assessing the role of the Atlantic inflow on their transport. Increases in Zn, Cu and Pb were detected in downward particulate matter collected by sediment traps after river flooding events and after the Aznalcollar mining spill. Their arrival coincided within the recently estimated time range for river particles discharged into the Gulf of Cádiz to reach the Alboran Sea, indicating that their transfer is enhanced during events of increased river inputs of contaminated particulate matter. This also suggests that the effects of potential tailing dam failures in the Gulf of Cádiz watersheds could reach the Alboran Sea. These trace metals also increased in the sediment cores from the continental rise since the second half of the 19th century, suggesting that contaminated particles have been continuously transferred towards the Mediterranean Sea since that time, when mining concessions and production increased in the SW Iberian Pyrite Belt.

A Changing Landscape: Exploring the Relationship between Clean and Clear Status Policy, Coal Mining, and Deforestation

Coal plays a crucial role in energy generation in developing nations and serves as a vital source of power amidst growing energy demands. However, coal mining often acts as a primary driver of deforestation and poses significant environmental challenges. Indonesia, a country with extensive forest areas and a significant coal producer, has implemented a Clean and Clear status policy to address regional and administrative issues related to mining permits. This study aims to assess the impact of this government permit for coal mining in forest areas using the fixed effect panel data method, offering insights into the relationship between coal mining activities and deforestation trends. The analysis focused on the period from 2010 to 2019 and covered 110 regencies in Indonesia, providing a comprehensive understanding of the spatial and temporal dynamics of forest loss. The estimation findings indicated a negative correlation between the areas allocated for coal mining concession permits and forest areas, underscoring the need for stringent regulations and effective land management practices. Therefore, it is recommended that the Clean and Clear status policy not only be applicable during the permit granting phase, but also prioritize post-mining periods to ensure the completion of land reclamation activities.

The conflict between Rights of Nature and mining in Ecuador: Implications of the Los Cedros Cloud Forest case for biodiversity conservation

Abstract Global emergence of Rights of Nature (RoN) has gained momentum since Ecuador became the first country to constitutionally recognize it in 2008. The shift from perceiving nature as an object, to granting it legal subjecthood, can revolutionize protection of ecological systems. In 2021, Ecuador's Constitutional Court issued a landmark ruling, halting mining in the Los Cedros Protected Forest. Three pillars form the basis for legal protection of Los Cedros: (i) the right to timely, Free Prior Informed Environmental Consultation, (ii) application of the Precautionary Principle in risk to RoN, and (iii) the Right to Water. We analyse the Court ruling to identify legal frameworks applied then map and rank mining risk to other protected forests, Indigenous territories, unprotected native ecosystems, biodiversity and areas of water resource conflict to determine potential scale of conflict between mining and RoN. 7813 mining concessions of 22,812km2 overlay 9.2% of Ecuadorian mainland, 2323 concessions (29.7%) overlap 16,081km2 of protected forest (4781 km2, 20%), Indigenous territory (6473 km2, 8%) and native vegetation outside protected areas and Indigenous territories (13,390 km2, 9%). With 80% of their protected forests at risk from large‐scale mining, the most impacted Indigenous communities are the Shuar. Synthesis and applications: The Los Cedros legal case in Ecuador sets a precedent for using RoN to challenge mining in 4781 km2 of similar Protected Forest, with potential to protect an additional 16,081 km2 of Indigenous lands and biologically important ecosystems. However, lack of biological data for these areas will necessitate extensive data collection, possibly through community‐empowering citizen science. Our study emphasizes the urgent need to integrate indigenous and traditional ecological knowledge (ITEK), law and ecology. We propose a new transdisciplinary field of ‘ecological forensics’ to support nature protection within the RoN framework. Our research also identifies areas where RoN could effectively protect nature and that are likely to be of high investment risk for the mining industry. The final recommendation is to reconsider mining concessions in Ecuador, especially in ecologically sensitive areas, Indigenous territories, high biodiversity areas, and regions with water resource conflicts, to maintain ecological integrity and social harmony. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Excess Pore Pressure Migration Analysis Due to High Embankment Construction – Case Study East Kalimantan

A 42-inch pipeline traverses a predominantly flat right-of-way (ROW), running from south to north in East Kalimantan. Adjacent to the ROW, a coal mine concession was located on the western side, while the Mahakam River lies a further 3 km to the east. A mining waste dump has been constructed since 2010, situated in an area underlain by soft alluvium soil (Qa). The waste was stacked, reaching heights of up to 75 meters, with its toe approximately 200 m from the edge of the ROW. In 2016, a failure occurred in the ROW, causing the 42-inch pipeline to shift a maximum of 6.8 m horizontally, and rise by 2.0 m within a 300 m span. A geotechnical investigation was then conducted, consisting of 7 CPTu with dissipation testing. The CPTu results indicated high pore pressure, with a layer of soft clay ranging from 15 to 32 m thickness found in the ROW area. A hypothesis was formulated suggesting that the soft clay was not fully consolidated. Hence, the failure of the pipeline was possibly caused by the migration of excess pore water pressure accumulated during the construction of the waste dump. Results of the investigation indicated that the permeability coefficient was 2.5 times greater in the horizontal direction compared to the vertical ones (kh/kv = 2.5), allowing the pore water pressure to migrate more easily in the horizontal direction. This study aims to elucidate how the migration of excess pore water pressure in the horizontal direction influences ground stability. The analysis was conducted using finite element software MIDAS GTS NX, with the kh/kv varying from 2.5 to 100 times to explore excess pore pressure movement behaviors. The results of this study confirm that excess pore pressure migration can occur horizontally if the horizontal permeability coefficient is larger than its vertical counterpart. Thus, this study highlights that the greater the permeability coefficient and the larger the ratio, the further the excess pore pressure travels. Moreover, the horizontal displacement increases with the permeability coefficient ratio.

Detecting the effects of opencast mining on ecosystem services value in arid and semi-arid areas based on time-series remote sensing images and Google Earth Engine (GEE)

Ecosystem Services Value (ESV) are the various beneficial functions and products that natural ecosystems provide to humans, and are important indicators for evaluating ecosystem conditions and human well-being. Opencast mining is one of the human activities that severely damage the surface environment, but its long-term impact on ecosystem services lacks systematic assessment. This study takes the Ordos opencast mining area as an example, and calculates the value of ESV from 1990 to 2020 based on the Google Earth Engine platform. Mann-Kendall Tau-b with Sen’s Method (Sen + mk test) and Joinpoint regression model were used to analyzes its spatiotemporal variation characteristics. Further revealed the impacts of opencast mining on ESV as well as the trend of ESV changes. The results show that: (1) The dynamic ESV levels in the study area fluctuated considerably from 1990 to 2020 with an overall decreasing trend of 89.45%. (2) Among nine types ecosystem services, most of them were significantly different (p < 0.001) between mining areas and control areas, with biodiversity protection (BP), climate regulation (CR), gas regulation (GR), soil formation and retention (SFR), water supply (WS) and waste treatment (WT) showed a significant decrease between 1990 and 2020. (3) In the past 30 years, the ESV of the study area showed an overall improvement trend, where the improved area accounted for 48.45% of the total area of the study area. However, the degraded area also accounted for 21.28, and 17.19% of the area belonged to severe degradation. With 67% of the significantly degraded areas distributed within mining concessions. (4) The trend of ESV changes in the mining impact areas and the control area showed significant differences. The ESV of the control area increased continuously, with an average annual percentage change (AAPC) of 0.7(95%CI:0.50 ~ 0.9, P < 0.001) from 1990 to 2020; while the ESV of the mining impact areas first stabilized and then decreased significantly, with an AAPC of − 0.2(95%CI:− 0.3 ~ − 0.1,P < 0.001) from 1990 to 2020. This study provides scientific support for formulating ecosystem management, restoration plans, and payment for ecosystem service policies, which is conducive to achieving regional sustainable development and improving human well-being.

“Nosotros en la tierrita tenemos esperanza”: defensa del territorio contra la minería en Ixtacamaxtitlán, PueblaV

Mexico occupies first place in mining exploration in Latin America, a situation that has caused alarm among native peoples because the implementation of extractive projects threatens their vital space. The objective of this paper is to analyze the actions of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of the Ixtaca Project in Ixtacamaxtitlán, Puebla, as well as the strategies of territorial defense undertaken by the communities to stop its expansion. Data was gathered through one survey, one workshop and various interviews conducted in three communities affected by the project. Results discuss three actions of CSR: 1) job offers; 2) investment in community infrastructure; 3) support for social events. Three main defense strategies were identified: 1) collective agreements refusing to sell water to the company; 2) legal litigations in favor of the right to be consulted as native peoples; 3) the strengthening of peasant agriculture thanks to the defense of the ejido, the conservation of irrigation water and the support received from the federal program Sembrando Vida. The paper concludes that, despite the negative impacts of RCS actions, these strategies have proven effective because mining concessions have been cancelled and some families have returned to agriculture.

Experiences of mine closure cover with geosynthetics in Peru

Peru is internationally recognized as one of the countries with significant mining reserves. According to the Department of Energy and Mines (MINEM), as of December 2021, a total of 672 mining concession holders were registered and declared in the Monthly Statistical Declaration (ESTAMIN). Likewise, 44 mining concessions are in the closure stage (progressive, post-closure and final). In addition, Peru has 7956 Mining Environmental Liabilities (MEL) as of 2020, according to the inventory approved by the Department of Energy and Mines, which need to be remediated as they constitute a permanent and potential risk to the health of the population, the surrounding ecosystem and property. As part of the closure of these MEL and closure of some mining components, the use of geosynthetics has increased in Peru, and we speak specifically of the closure cover in slopes, platforms, sidewalks and others, which has become relevant as an alternative solution for soils selected as part of a traditional closure, the objective of this work is to present a series of experiences of the application of geosynthetics in mine closure covers, which intervene in the physical, geochemical and hydrological stability. It is worth mentioning that geosynthetics have been applied in Peru for more than 30 years in mining projects.

Integrating earthquake-based passive seismic methods in mineral exploration: Case study from the Gerolekas bauxite mining area, Greece

As the global need for aluminum constantly rises, bauxite is considered to be a critical mineral, and the mining industry is in search of new and effective exploration solutions. In this context, we design and implement a purely earthquake-based passive seismic survey at the Gerolekas bauxite mining site in Greece. It is a very difficult exploration setting, characterized by rough topography, limited accessibility, and a very complex geotectonic regime. We gather a passive seismic data set consisting of four months of continuous recordings (May to August 2018) from 129 stand-alone 3C seismological stations. We then analyze this data set and extract 848 microearthquakes that will serve as sources for the application of local earthquake tomography (LET) and transient-source seismic interferometry (TSI) by autocorrelation. We apply LET to estimate the 3D P- and S-wave velocity models of the subsurface below the study area and TSI by autocorrelation to retrieve the zero-offset virtual reflection responses below each of the recording stations. The velocity models provide a relatively coarse image of a previously completely unexplored part of the mining concession, whereas the higher-resolution virtual reflection imaging illuminates in detail the different interfaces. We also reprocess three lines of legacy active seismic data that were shot in 2003, using the LET P-wave velocity model for depth migration, and confirm the improvement of seismic imaging. Finally, we evaluate the obtained results using well data and jointly interpret them, extracting useful information on the expected target depths and indicating that earthquake-based passive seismic techniques can be an innovative and environmentally friendly option for mineral exploration.