Mineral Resource Potential Research Articles

A Systematic Review of the Indian Mining Regulations in Comparison to Saskatchewan Mining Law Where the First Nations Holds Mineral Title

The Indian Mining Regulations were adopted in 1954, revised in 1961, and amended in 1968 and 1978 as a means to promote mineral resource development on First Nation reserves, where First Nations hold title to the mineral resource. In this article, the Indian Mining Regulations, as part of a suite of regulations associated with the Indian Act, are outlined in relationship to Saskatchewan mining law. First is a general survey of First Nations’ mineral titles across Canada where the Indian Mining Regulations apply. This article then discusses the application of these Regulations; compliance with provincial law; the disposition of minerals; permits; leases; and, finally, the assignment of royalties. It is recommended that a critical review of mineral resource potentials, exploration, mine permitting, and standards for environmental monitoring and reclamation be established prior to any assignment of the existing Indian Mining Regulations against any mineral resource development that occurs on First Nation lands or reserves.

Mining land identification in Wetar Island using remote sensing data

Wetar Island is one of the 92 outer islands of Indonesia. On this island, there is a variety of geological potential that can be seen from the structure, formation and geological folds including mine geology potential energy and mineral resources. This makes the island having mining activities. Remote sensing data in the form of optical images, Synthetic Aperture Radar, microwave, laser, and others can be used to determine the mining activities in Wetar Island. This research was focused on mining land identification in Wetar Island. This study aimed to identify the mining land in Wetar Island using remote sensing data. The method used was the Vegetation Index Differencing, which calculated difference value of vegetation index temporally. Landsat satellite images of 1975, 1990, 2000 and 2005 were used for mining land identification. First Landsat satellite image must have had a geometric and radiometric correction. The results obtained were in the form of mining land identification and non- mining land area. These results are useful for monitoring the mining activities carried out on Wetar Island. The methods used may also be applied to monitor, identify, and evaluate various mining operations in other parts of Indonesia. Mining region that has been identified can be used for management and planning of maritime space.

Studi Keterdapatan Unsur Tanah Jarang REE Ce dan Y pada Berbagai Kolong di Pulau Bangka

Rare earth element REE is very potential future prospect mineral resources in Bangka Island, hence awell developed REE must have a high economic value in the future. As one of the biggest region thatproducing tin ore mining (cassiterite) for hundreds of years, REE potential not yet explored andexploited well until now days in Bangka Island, and was left abundant in ex-mining area. They carriedout from the tin ore mining and become mine waste or tailing and then through the stream flows to besuspension or bed load sediment. The aim of this study is to identify the present rare earth Ce and Ybased on shallow surface sediment samples and their spatial distribution from a number of mineponds called kolong. Primary data collection of shallow surface sediments has been collected onKolong Argotirto and Menjelang West Bangka District, Kolong PLN and Merawang in Bangka District,Kolong Rentensi Kacang Pedang and Pedindang in Pangkalpinang City. Geochemical sedimentsanalysis just for identification the presence of rare earth Ce and Y. Rare earth element of cerium(Ce) just presence in a few sample sediment, but for yittrium (Y) almost presence at all shallowsurface sediment 0,9 - 31,6 ppm. The spatial distribution of rare earth Ce and Y show heterogeneity inlaterally.

Characterization of Malaysian Monazite Concentrate for The Recovery of Thorium Dioxide

Malaysia has many potential mineral resources including some heavy and light rare earth element (HREE and LREE’s) minerals, such as Monazite and Xenotime. Their occurrence is in association with ores containing phosphates and oxides of Cerium (Ce), Lanthanum (La), Neodymium (Nd) and Thorium (Th). Mineralogical characterization of Malaysian Monazite concentrate for the recovery of Thorium dioxide (ThO2) has been carried out in this study. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) equipped with an Energy Dispersive X-ray Analyser (EDX) was used to assess the morphology and elemental composition of the mineral. The latter analysis showed that EDX surface analysis detected P-Kα Th-Mα, La-Lα, Ce-Lα and Nd-Lα as the major elements. The SEM micrographs with the EDX analysis revealed the morphological characteristics of Monazite which showed angled and irregular structures with dark coloured patches of Al, Si and Mn based inclusions. XRF analysis confirmed the presence of Th (8.52 wt.%) and U (0.25 wt.%). XRF also showed that the major rare earth elements (REE) of interest (> 5 wt.%) such as Ce, Nd and La were abundant in the mineral. XRD analysis identified LaPO4, CePO4 and NdPO4 as the major phases. Thorium phosphate (Th4(PO4)4) phase was not detected via XRD due to stronger X-ray reflection from the rare earth phosphates. The information collected from this study will help in developing a suitable process of treatment for the local Monazite, thereby facilitating the mineral to be used a domestic source of Th and other associated REE’s.

Assessment of the Mineral Resource Potential of Atlantic Ferromanganese Crusts Based on Their Growth History, Microstructure, and Texture

The decarbonisation of our energy supply is reliant on new technologies that are raw material intensive and will require a significant increase in the production of metals to sustain them. Ferromanganese (FeMn) crusts are seafloor precipitates, enriched in metals such as cobalt and tellurium, both of which have a predicted future demand above current production rates. In this study, we investigate the texture and composition of FeMn crusts on Tropic Seamount, a typical Atlantic guyot off the coast of western Africa, as a basis for assessing the future mineral resource potential of Atlantic Seamounts. The majority of the summit is flat and covered by FeMn crusts with average thicknesses of 3–4 cm. The crusts are characterized by two dominant textures consisting of either massive pillared growth or more chaotic, cuspate sections of FeMn oxides, with an increased proportion of detrital and organic material. The Fe, Mn, and Co contents in the FeMn oxide layers are not affected by texture. However, detrital material and bioclasts can form about 50% of cuspate areas, and the dilution effect of this entrained material considerably reduces the Fe, Mn, and Co concentrations if the bulk samples are analyzed. Whilst Tropic Seamount meets many of the prerequisites for a crust mining area, the thickness of the crusts and their average metal composition means extraction is unlikely to be viable in the near future. The ability to exploit more difficult terrains or multiple, closely spaced edifices would make economic feasibility more likely.

Copper prospectivity in Tibet, China: Based on the identification of geochemical anomalies

The Qinghai–Tibet Plateau is an important mineral-rich region and is well known for its copper resources. This study investigates stream-sediment geochemistry in assessing the potential for Cu resources in the region. A spectrum–area model is used to process large volumes of data with multifractal and power-spectrum analysis. The model can be used to separate geochemical anomalies from geochemical background levels thus eliminating the influence of different geomorphological landscapes. It is recognised from this study that geochemical anomalies are closely related to deep-seated faults forming terrane boundaries that are multiply deformed and intruded by granites. Second order structures related to these tectonic zones are commonly mineralised and are considered highly prospective for mineral resources. The results of this study indicate that geochemical anomalies are useful for identifying potential Cu mineral resources.

Heavy mineral resource potential of Tista river sands, Northern Bangladesh

ABSTRACTSurface and borehole sampling along a ∼80 km section of the lower Tista river, northwestern Bangladesh, indicated that the river sands offer significant potential as a heavy mineral (HM) resource. Characterisation of sediments from the surface to 15 m depth showed that the sand-sized component was dominated by quartz, feldspar, mica, lithic fragments, amphibole and pyroxene group minerals. The most common particle size was between +125–500 μm with 84 wt-% of all material reporting to this size range. Laterally spaced sampling indicated slight grain size coarsening upstream. Heavy liquid separation studies revealed that HMs such as amphiboles, micas, garnets, aluminosilicate (Al2SiO5) phases, ilmenite and zircon made up ∼10.99% (on average). The percentage of valuable HMs (ilmenite, rutile, zircon, monazite, garnet) was 2.47% (average). Detailed borehole sampling and resource mapping of a large, mid-channel sand bar showed that placer-style HM accumulations occur upstream and along the margins of the bar.

Model Pengelolaan Sumber Daya Mineral Berbasis Pemberdayaan Masyarakat menggunakan Inklusi Keuangan

Indonesia memiliki potensi sumber daya mineral seperti emas, perak, tembaga, nikel, timah, timah, aluminium, besi, mangan, kromit, minyak bumi, gas alam, batu bara, yodium, berbagai garam, berbagai mineral industri (asbes, bentonit, zeolit, belerang, fosfat, batu kapur dan lainnya), batu mulia termasuk berlian dan bahan bangunan. Diduga, potensi sumber daya mineral yang dimiliki Indonesia peringkat ke-6 di dunia. Tak dapat disangkal, sumber daya mineral sebagai salah satu sumber daya alam, merupakan sumber daya yang sangat penting dalam mendukung perekonomian Indonesia. Bahkan beberapa jenis mineral, yaitu minyak dan gas, telah menjadi landasan ekonomi. Namun, sumber daya mineral belum dikelola untuk kesejahteraan maksimum masyarakat, terutama masyarakat sekitar yang masih tergolong miskin. Setelah melakukan penelitian, dibuat model pengelolaan sumber daya mineral berdasarkan pemberdayaan masyarakat melalui inklusi keuangan, yaitu pelatihan, penyediaan teknologi tepat guna, Bantuan, Pasca Pengelolaan dan Pembiayaan.

A GIS-based tool for the China National Mineral Resource Assessment Initiative: A case study of gold deposits in the Bayan Obo Group, Inner Mongolia, China

This paper describes a software tool and its application to the China National Mineral Resource Assessment Initiative (CNMRAI). The initiative was carried out throughout China from 2007 to 2013, creating collaborations among geological societies from institutions such as academies, universities, companies, and local geological surveys. A geographic information system (GIS)-based tool was designed, providing functions for database management of the multiple original spatial datasets, modelling, targeting, estimation, and visualization to assist participants in assessing mineral resource potentials. During this initiative, geologists used the tool to generate mineral potential maps and assess undiscovered resources for the 25 major types of mineral resources in China. First, the requirements of the tool were introduced; second, the framework and major functions of the tool were delineated and developed; and third, a case study of gold resource assessment from a project of the CNMRAI in the Bayan Obo region, Inner Mongolia, China, was discussed. In addition, the mineral potential map was displayed by terrain rendering. This paper also provides interpretations of the results of a prospectivity analysis based on conceptual geological models. Discussions of the new requirements and techniques for modelling and assessing will be used to further develop the Mineral Resources Assessment Software (MRAS).

Совершенствование контрактной системы в сфере закупок на основе геолого-экономического мониторинга

The questions of optimizing the reproduction indices of mineral and raw materials base are determined by the Budget Code of the Russian Federation and Federal Law No. 44-FZ of 05.04.2013 and are caused by a discrepancy between the economic interests of participants in the procurement process. Rosnedra, as a state customer, organizes purchases. The subjects entering into relations with the state customer in the stage of determining the supplier are legally independent geological organizations with their own means of production. The main indicator of their activity is maximization of revenue and profits from fulfillment of orders. For federal, regional and local government bodies, the goal is to maintain geological services markets, develop a regional mineral resource base. It follows that economic motivations of potential participants do not always coincide, and sometimes even contradict each other. In our opinion, one of the ways to maintain reproductive cycles of the mineral resource base is to use geoinformation systems in geological exploration modeling through the classification of methods and tools, determining composition of the modules consisting of indicators, conducting their peer review. The purpose of the study is to analyze and systematize the provisions of the contract system in the procurement segment and propose the ways to improve it, based on geological and economic monitoring, to group monitoring indicators into three interacting functional blocks within a single data warehouse: mineral resource base, mineral resource complex and mineral resources potential. The research methodology includes analysis of subsoil users operating in the region; deposits with industrial categories; deposits with geological reserves; soil areas containing predictive resources of category P1; soil areas containing predictive resources of category P2; soil areas containing predictive resources of category P3. As a result, the authors carry out an expert assessment of the limit values of indicators for the mining zones of the Bryansk region, on the basis of which it is concluded on the feasibility of use of geological and economic monitoring with respect to information support of the contract system in the procurement sphere.

Diversification of Nigeria’s Economy Through Agriculture and Solid Minerals in the Face of Dwindling Economy

This research work examined the diversification of the Nigeria’s economy through agriculture and solid minerals in the face of dwindling economy. The study is founded on simple micro-economic theory of demand and supply. Correlation, co-integration, and Ordinary Least Square Regression tests were adopted in this work. The result obtained in the study suggests that agricultural commodity export prices have positive impact on economic growth of Nigeria. This suggests that Nigeria has to encourage increase in agricultural products through developing the sector. Also, the findings of the study reveal that solid mineral production has significant short and long-run impact on the Nigerian economy. Based on the findings, to develop agricultural and solid minerals sector, which contributed over 90% of Nigeria’s economic growth before the discovery of oil, entails government making these sectors an interesting sector i.e. providing the capital required, both human and non-human, developing markets for agricultural output internationally. It is further recommended that the best policy objective of the government should carry out a comprehensive inventory of the country’s mineral resource potentials and actively promote the development of these resources for both local and foreign consumptions and hope that this will encourage the development of local sources of raw materials for the nations industries.

LINEAMENT DENSITY INFORMATION EXTRACTION USING DEM SRTM DATA TO PREDICT THE MINERAL POTENTIAL ZONES

Utilization of remote sensing in geology is based on some identification of main parameters. They were the relief or morphology, flow patterns, and lineament. So it was necessary to study extraction method based on those parameters. This study aimed to obtain lineament density zone in the Geumpang area, Aceh, associated with mineral resource potential. Information of lineament density using remote sensing data was expected to help solve the problems that arised in the activities of early exploration, the difficulty of finding the prospect areas, so that the activities of pre-exploration always required a wide area and required a long time to determine the location of mineral prospect areas, it would have a direct impact on the financial of exploration activities. The used data was Landsat 8 and DEM SRTM of 30 m. The used method was processing of shaded relief on DEM data with the azimuth angle 0o, 45o, 90o, and 135o, then the result of hill shade process was done overlay, so DEM seen from all different azimuth angles. The results of the overlay were processed using the algorithm LINE with parameters such as the radius of the filter in pixels (RADI) 60, the threshold for edge gradient (GTHR) 120, the threshold for the curve length (LTHR) 100, the threshold for line fitting error (FTHR) 3, threshold for angular (ATHR) 30, and the threshold for linking distance (DTHR) 100. Vector lineament data from LINE algorithm process then performed density analysis to obtain lineament density zoning. Results from the study showed that the area has a high density lineament associated with mineral potency, so it was useful for exploration activities to minimize the survey area.

China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Support of the Resourcing Future Generations Program

The Resourcing Future Generations (RFG) program is a global strategy proposed by the International Union of Geological Sciences to meet global demand for natural resources. The Belt and Road (B&R) initiative of China provides a great opportunity for promoting the RFG across much of the Eurasian continent. The countries covered by the B&R initiative are mostly low-income economies. With rapid developments of economy and infrastructure construction, these countries are set to have huge demands for mineral resources in the future. However, the proven mineral reserves in this region are too limited, and the region’s overall level of metal recycling is far from optimistic. These countries are expected to have obstacles in meeting future demands. However, the regional Tethyan metallogenic domain and Central Asia metallogenic district are key areas for new discoveries of mineral resources, possessing a variety of mineral resources with a positive prospecting potential. The B&R initiative of China provides favorable opportunity for mutual beneficial cooperation to improve regional exploration and prospecting through geological mapping, inter-comparison study on Tethyan metallogenic domain, joint assessment of mineral resource potentials, joint training of geological engineers and workers and building information systems.

Silicification of Hydrothermal Gangue Minerals In Pb-Zn-Cu-Fluorite-Quartz-Baryte Veins

Abstract Late-stage pseudomorphous and perimorphous replacement of euhedral baryte and, to a lesser extent, fluorite and calcite by quartz is a common phenomenon in hydrothermal vein-type deposits. As a consequence of silicification, the primary mineral assemblage might be substantially altered, and therefore this process has a severe negative impact on the economic potential of mineral resources. Although these replacement textures are often reported and have a significant economic importance in mines producing baryte or fluorite of chemical grade, the process that causes this silicification is surprisingly poorly understood. In the present contribution, more than 40 Jurassic–Cretaceous and post-Cretaceous hydrothermal veins from the Schwarzwald mining district, including replacement textures of primary euhedral baryte, fluorite, and calcite, were investigated with respect to their macro- and microscopic textures. It appears that baryte is favorably replaced by pseudomorphs (bladed quartz), while fluorite and calcite are typically replaced by perimorphs. The textures indicate that the mode of replacement of the primary minerals happens continuously and after the initial vein formation. By combining these textural observations with calculated mineral solubilities, a detailed geochemical model has been developed. Existing fluid inclusion data indicate that substantial cooling of the hydrothermal solutions occurs after primary mineral formation. The calculated cooling path reveals opposing solubilities of quartz and the other gangue minerals (baryte, fluorite, and calcite) with decreasing temperature and explains the observed dissolution and precipitation textures. Furthermore, differences in temperature-solubility systematics between baryte on the one hand and fluorite and calcite on the other are responsible for the differences observed in the textures. This agrees with the occurrence of late-stage, low-temperature baryte crystals overgrowing primary baryte assemblages. Conversely, analogous late-stage calcite and fluorite assemblages are only rarely observed. In summary, silicification is a typical cooling effect in various hydrothermal vein-type deposits, but affects different gangue minerals in different ways depending on their temperature-dependent solubility.

Composition and genesis of ferromanganese deposits from the northern South China Sea

Marine ferromanganese (Fe-Mn) nodules and crusts are archives of past environmental conditions and potential mineral resources. Over the last 30years, many have been discovered in the northern South China Sea (SCS). To determine the origin of the Fe-Mn deposits, a comprehensive laboratory analysis of physical properties, mineralogy and geochemistry was conducted on newly collected Fe-Mn nodule/crust samples. The results revealed that there are three types of Fe-Mn deposits: (1) Fe-rich nodules containing essentially goethite occur on the northeastern slope of the SCS, with high Fe, low Mn (Mn/Fe=0.03) and low trace metals and rare earth elements concentrations; (2) Smooth Fe-Mn nodules and crusts composed of asbolane, todorokite and CFA occur along the northwestern marginal of the SCS that have similar Fe and Mn contents (Mn/Fe=1.21), moderate trace metal enrichments, and a positive Ce anomaly; (3) Fe-Mn nodules and crusts composed of asbolane, todorokite and birnessite that occur in the central basin of the SCS have higher Mn and lower Fe contents (Mn/Fe=1.45). This depositional pattern was associated with major changes in oceanographic conditions and tectonic regimes. The northeastern slope deposits occur in a contourite depositional system, are strongly enriched in Fe relative to Mn (average 38.7% and 0.96%, respectively), formed from the combination of hydrogenetic and diagenetic processes. We propose a new genetic model for Fe-Mn nodules, which formed through the oxidation of pyrite and pyrite-barite concretions that formed by rapid early diagenetic growth (average 3320mm/Myr) on continental margins above the carbonate compensation depth, and dominated by hydrocarbon seep structures and strong erosive action of bottom currents along the northeastern slope. In contrast, the introduction of vigorous deep-water flow from the North Pacific promoted the slow growth (4–7mm/Myr) of hydrogenetic Fe-Mn nodules and crusts along the northwestern margin. Finally, hydrogenetic growth of Fe-Mn nodules and crusts in the central basin may have been enhanced by volcanic processes. Our data provide new insights into the genesis and province characteristics of the Fe-Mn nodules and crusts of the northern SCS.

Good Mining Practice Sebagai Penopang Pengelolaan Pertambangan Berkelanjutan Dan Berwawasan Lingkungan

Garut Regency is a district that has enough of the potential mineral resources, such metallic minerals and nonmetals including sand and andesite, one of the areas is Mount Guntur. Many factors encourage to stop mining activity, one of them is environmental factors. Therefore, it needs a relocation to other areas, by consideration of the potential mineral deposits, to fulfill the increasing market demand. The relocation is done as a step that mining activities do not interfere with mountain tourism, natural environmental conditions, and policies related to the environment, safety and occupational health and spatial planning. The field observations result, study geological location dominated by Qhg, Qypu, and QYM. The other geological aspects that must be considered is the distribution pattern of the river. The vegetation conditions results show that the types of vegetation found in many locations namely crops and plantations, shrubs and bamboo. Based on the calculation of immeasurable resources, there is Boulder andesite-basalt amounted to 13,515,740 MT, with an estimated average thickness taken from the surface to the deepest point of 60 meters penetration geolistrik, although in fact the thickness of andesite - basalt is absence of definite size, thereby the concretion Factor has a value of 30%.

Overview of an effective governance policy for mineral resource sustainability in Malaysia

A world class mineral resource industry can concisely be defined as an industry with standard-setting excellence in terms of quality, performance, production of market specified rock products and client satisfaction when compared with all other similar industrial sectors from anywhere in the world. The mineral resource industry has always been acknowledged worldwide as the foundation in the design and the construction of various innovative structures, infrastructures and amenities aimed towards global society enhancement. This economic sector is thus the vital catalyst and component of any country worldwide striving for developed, high-income and industrialised nation status. A sustainable mineral industry, which includes the mining and quarrying sectors, aims to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of the future generation to meet their own needs. World leaders are in agreement that accountability, quality assurance complemented by environmental-friendly and occupational safe work practices are an asset towards a successful sustainability initiative. The updated National Mineral Policy (NMP2), an improvement of the original 1993 National Mineral Policy (NMP1), was strategically drawn-up by the Malaysian Government with the aim towards the systematic sustainable development of Malaysia's mineral resource potential in a globalised market. The revised National Mineral Policy (NMP2) and regulatory framework aims to create a more conducive, transparent and environmental-friendly economic climate to encourage more potential investors to confidently support and further develop the Malaysian mineral resource industry towards world class status and also help contribute towards further economic growth of the nation and society. This article focuses on the major aspects and regulatory framework of the updated National Mineral Policy 2 (NMP2) complemented by discussions on the effectiveness and challenges faced in its implementation towards successful mineral resource sustainability for Malaysia.

ASSESSMENT OF THE LOCALIZATION OF HYPOCENTERS OF CRUSTAL EARTHQUAKES RELATIVE TO THE DEPTH AND RELIEF OF THE BORDER DENSITY STRATIFICATION IN THE CRUST OF THE NORTHEASTERN SECTION OF THE REFERENCE GEOLOGICAL-GEOPHYSICAL PROFILE 3-DV

The total length of the seismic profiles in the northeastern regions ofRussiaand, accordingly, the area of the territories covered by the seismic data interpretations, remains insignificant in comparison with the total area of these regions. At the same time, the geological objects in the northeastern regions attract much attention in view of their prospects, including potential mineral resources. The challenge is to construct the regional models of the crust structure without deep seismic survey data, and to analyze the regional seismicity that depends on the features of the deep crust structure. We develop a density model of the crust structure using the new interpretational gravimetry method. The density modeling results show that the density changes in the crust can be used to estimate the position of a surface separating the lower (quasi-homogeneous) and upper (heterogeneous) parts of the crust, i.e. to assess the density boundary of stratification. This boundary is formed due to a complex of physical and chemical processes that facilitate the transition of the material in the lower part of the crust into the quasi-uniform (homogeneous) state. The study area is the junction zone of the Ayan-Yuryakh anticlinorium and Inyali-Debin synclinorium (62‒63°N, 148‒152° E). The initial interpretation of the deep seismic survey data on the reference geological-geophysical profile 3-DV was available, so the ambiguity of the density modeling was reduced. In turn, the density modeling results can provide additional information for geological-geophysical interpretation of the DSS results on the sites wherein the seismic profiles go along the fault zones. The relationship between seismic events and the relief of the density boundary of stratification in the crust was studied quantitatively on the basis of the data from the regional catalog of seismic events and the results of the earlier analysis of seismicity in the study area. The analysis shows that 74 % hypocenters are located above the density boundary of stratification. The earthquake hypocenters located at depths ranging from 20 to35 kmare usually confined to the systems of long-living regional crustal faults and occur below the density boundary of stratification. The energy class of such earthquakes does not exceed9. Inthe study area, the seismically active zones are mainly confined to the areas of subduction of the density boundary of stratification. Most of the earthquake epicenters (80 %) occur in the zones where the gradient of the relief change of the density boundary does not exceed 1. The number of recorded seismic events practically reduces to zero in the regions where the dip angle of the density boundary exceeds 65°.

Stream sediment geochemical mapping of the Mount Pinatubo-Dizon Mine area, the Philippines: Implications for mineral exploration and environmental risk

Stream sediments transport elements that are mobilized from adjacent slopes, representing the composition of the upstream watersheds. Thus, the analysis of the stream sediments allows depicting the spatial distribution of geochemical anomalies at the watershed level. In this study, 39 samples of stream sediments were collected in the Zambales Province, in the Philippines, characterized by the presence of the Mount Pinatubo volcano, the abandoned Cu Dizon Mine, small-mining of black sand, agriculture of rice, animal breeding, and fishing. Each sample was digested in aqua regia and was analyzed by ICP-MS to detect the content of 53 elements. This study is focused on elements with an environmental impact or associated to mineralization/ore occurring in the area. Background values for these elements have been evaluated by cumulative frequency curve to identify the occurrence of geochemical anomalies of geogenic or anthropogenic origin, mainly associated to the mining activity. Factor analysis, performed on normalized data with Additive Log Ratio transformation (ALR), allowed identifying three geochemical data associations, and a Geographic Information System (GIS) has been used to define the spatial distribution of the anomalies at the watersheds level. The GIS procedure assigns the value of the element concentration in the sampling location to the upstream watershed by hydrologic analysis of a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the study area. The main result of this study is a new type of geochemical mapping of the of the Mount Pinatubo-Dizon Mine area, representing a first approach to the definition of the environmental risk and the assessment of potential mineral resources.

Comparative analysis of proposals for the planning of the aggregate industry on the island of Tenerife×

The island of Tenerife is a territory with numerous protected natural areas and other areas which also deserve environmental protection, due to their ecological and landscape richness and values. According to current planning regulations, the aggregate mining industry is limited to a number of areas called extractive zones. The delimitation of such areas has some flaws and inconsistencies from the environmental point of view and from the consideration of the productive capacity of mining resources. This paper shows two models for environmental planning applied to the extractive activity for aggregates for the island of Tenerife, which could serve as alternatives to the current planning model: a model called zoned and another designated as zone-concentrated. These models provide improvements as far as respect for environmental values are concerned and are based on knowledge of the spatial distribution of geological materials. The conclusion is that this knowledge of the distribution of the potential mineral resources in the territory is the key to achieving the effective integration of mining in land-use planning, and to safeguard in the best possible way the mineral resources from the activities that may compromise their future availability. The applied methods could be extended to other territories, particularly islands, where it is very possible that there are similar problems to those that are occurring in Tenerife.