Sand Mining Research Articles

Differences in biodiversity and assembly mechanisms between planktonic and benthic diatom communities in riverine ecosystems: A case study in the Ashi river

Diatoms are an indispensable component of river ecosystem biodiversity and play an important role in aquatic ecosystems. The community assembly mechanism of diatoms has always been a central issue in the study of aquatic ecology. In recent years, many measures have been implemented in the Ashi River Basin (ASRB) to promote social and economic development, such as bridge construction, river bottom sand mining, agricultural irrigation, and urban expansion. However, there are few studies on the effects of these activities on the mechanism of diatom community assembly. First, we found that the α- and β-diversity of planktonic diatoms was higher in the normal season, while the α- and β-diversity of benthic diatoms was higher in the dry season, and the α- and β-diversity of both planktonic and benthic diatoms was reduced in the wet season. Second, the community structures of planktonic and benthic diatoms were significantly different in different hydrological periods, and the differences between planktonic diatoms communities were more evident than those between benthic diatom communities. Third, distance-decay analysis indicated that the distribution of the two types of diatom communities in the ASRB was influenced by both dispersal limitation and environmental selection. Finally, variance partitioning analysis revealed that dispersal limitation was the dominant driving factor for the spatial and temporal differentiation of planktonic and benthic diatoms. Our study reveals the important role of dispersal limitation in the community assembly of planktonic and benthic diatoms in rivers under different hydrological conditions. This study provides new insights for further understanding the relative importance of niche theory and neutral theory to aquatic microbial community assembly. Our research provides key information for analysing the structure of aquatic ecosystems and basic data for designing biodiversity conservation strategies in China's cold watersheds.

Bryoflora of the Romaniv landscape region and adjacent territories (Lviv region)

Research was conducted on bryophytes of the Romaniv landscape reserve and adjacent territories, which belong to the North-Podilskyi-Dniester key territory of the regional eco-network of the Lviv region. 73 species of bryophytes from the divisions Marchantiophyta (7 species from the class Jungermanniopsida, 4 species – Marchantiopsida) and Bryophyta (2 species from the class Polytrichopsida, 60 species – Bryopsida) were found in the study area. Among the families, Pottiaceae (9 species, 6.6%), Brachytheciaceae (7 species, 5.1%), Mniaceae (6 species, 4.4%), Plagiotheciaceae (6 species, 4.4%), Bryaceae (5 species, 3.7%), Orthotrichaceae (4 species, 2.9%), the rest of the families are oligo- and monospecies. Among the genera are Ptychostomum (4 species, 2.9%), Plagiothecium (4 species, 2.9%), genera Plagiomnium, Didymodon, Tortula and Orthotrichum – 3 species each (2.2%). According to the substrate affiliation, there is the largest number of epigean bryophytes. Epiphytes predominate on the bark of deciduous trees, or in the root zone of beech trees. However, epixillae develop well at various stages of decay in various types of dead wood. Rocky areas in the middle of the forest, which are located outside the reserve have the biggest species diversity of bryophytes Mosses inhabit anthropogenically disturbed biotopes, in particular, sand mining quarries and agricultural land. Based on the geographical analysis, the bryoflora of this territory can be characterized as nemoral-boreal with some arid and cosmopolitan elements. Features of the geographical distribution of bryophytes are large areas, accordingly, the share of endemics among them is insignificant. Regionally rare for the mixed forest zone are Alleniella besseri, Aloina rigida, Marchantia quadrata, Taxiphyllum wissgrillii. For nemoral – Pellia endiviifolia, Porella platyphylla, Lophocolea bidentata, Encalypta streptocarpa. Data on the species composition of bryophytes and their substrate affiliation make it possible to more widely assess the types of biodiversity. The given sozological analysis of the bryoflora points to the need for further detailed research of the bryoflora. An annotated list of bryophytes was drawn up on the basis of bryofloristic studies of the Romaniv landscape reserve and adjacent territories.

Resource nexus perspectives in the Blue Economy of India: The case of sand mining in Kerala

Since the 2000 s the demand for sand has proliferated at the coastal-land interface to fill up the increasing demand straining Blue Economy (BE) activities and provision of water-energy-food resources. Recent studies have revealed that increased sand mining in both coastal and freshwater zones has continued to impact livelihood-ecological systems threatening the provision of livelihood goods and services. These impacts are exacerbated by a lack of comprehensive frameworks to regulate sand mining and trade; creating the need to develop micro and macro-frameworks and guidelines for sustainable sand mining. This paper uses a non-systematic literature review approach to build on this gap to develop an understanding of the resource nexus perspectives and trade-offs due to sand mining. The paper proposes a novel framework based on the Ecosystem Service Assessment advanced from the review of the literature to guide risk assessments toward more sustainable sand mining. In order to add evidence, the paper analyses in-depth the state of Kerala - one of India’s coastal states that has experienced unprecedented rates of sand mining since the 1990 s especially along the Chavara coast albeit with less research on the intersectionality of mining on the resource nexus. Both the framework and our case study highlight how sand mining stresses local ecosystems and livelihoods thus increasing vulnerability to both human and environmental impacts. The paper brings to the fore seven (7) key steps that local institutions can use to guide sustainable sand mining and build integrated governance systems that promote interaction among natural capitals in a given area and livelihood considerations. The article further documents that the use of coherent guidelines and the framework can help in amalgamating the various actors in a given system that can guide local participation in local resource management and the development of cooperative agreements for the sustainable utilization of resources among coastal communities. This could further help understand the resource nexus from the perspective of the synergies and trade-offs in the BE.

Analyzing the incidence of silicosis across various industries in Taiwan: a study of occupational disease surveillance by linking national-based workers’ and medicoadministrative databases

ObjectivesThis study aimed to establish an occupational disease surveillance system by identifying high-risk industries for silicosis in Taiwan using a national database linkage approach. MethodsThe study was based on a comprehensive analysis of benefit claims from the National Labor Insurance Research Database and medical records from the National Health Insurance Research Database between 2004 and 2020, providing coverage for more than 88.5% of the workforce and 99.9% of citizens. Silicosis was defined as having received compensation for labor insurance benefits or having received a diagnosis of silicosis (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision: J62 or International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision: 502). The study used the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities for industry-specific classification. Cox proportional hazard models were used to compare the silicosis incidence and risk among each industry and identify high-risk industries for silicosis. ResultsThis study analyzed 1466 cases of silicosis between 2004 and 2020 and found that 28 industries had incidence rates of over 40 cases per 100,000 workers, indicating more than double the risk of developing silicosis. Of these industries, 14 were considered high risk (relative risk of over four times). Among these, this study identified industries rarely mentioned in the past, such as wholesale of brick, sand, cement, and products, artistic creation, landscape construction, and materials recovery. Stratification by years of work experience reveals those industries such as quarrying of stone, sand, clay, and other mining, construction of buildings, landscape construction, site preparation, foundation and structure construction, building completion and finishing, manufacture of ships, boats, and floating structures, and plumbing, heat, and air conditioning installation display higher hazard ratios for individuals with <10 years of work experience. ConclusionsThe current surveillance system has identified certain industries that are at a higher risk of developing silicosis, which could be used for future occupational epidemiological surveys and targeted preventive measures in these sectors.

Multi-decadal shoreline changes in Eastern Ghana—natural dynamics versus human interventions

Human infrastructures, such as dams, seawalls, and ports, can affect both the sedimentary budget and nearshore hydrodynamics, enhancing and accelerating the loss or gain of coastal sediments. Understanding the processes and factors controlling beach morphodynamics is essential for implementing adequate adaptation strategies in coastal areas, particularly in those regions where coastal protection measures are scarce. This study analyzes shoreline changes in the Keta Municipal District, located in southeastern Ghana (West Africa). This area is characterized by the sedimentary input of the Volta River, forming a river delta situated to the west, i.e., updrift, of our study site. Following the construction of two dams (Akosombo and Kpong) on the Volta River in 1965 and 1982, groins and revetments have been built along the coast between 2005 and 2015 to reduce the high rates of coastal erosion in this area. Here, we explore the influence of these dams and the hard protection constructions on beach morphodynamics using historical maps and satellite images complemented by a shoreline survey undertaken with a differential GNSS in 2015. The multi-decadal evolution between 1913 and 2015 reconstructed for 90 km of shoreline suggests that local erosion rates in the region predate the construction of the two dams on the Volta River, indicating that these structures might not be the primary driver of coastal erosion in this area, as previously suggested. We emphasize that delta dynamics under conditions of high-energy longshore drift, modified by anthropogenic drivers such as sand mining, play a key role in the long-term evolution of this coast. Our results also show that the infrastructures built to halt coastal erosion result in localized erosion and accretion down-current along the coastline towards the border with Togo, highlighting the need for a transnational perspective in addressing the problems caused by coastal erosion.

The impact of sediment flux and calibre on flood risk in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

AbstractThis paper investigates how variations in sediment supply, grain size distribution and climate change affect channel morphology and flood inundation in the Nakkhu River, Kathmandu, Nepal. Climate change‐induced extreme rainfall is expected to increase flood intensity and frequency, causing severe flooding in the Kathmandu basin. The upper reaches of the Nakkhu River are susceptible to landslides and have been impacted by large‐scale sand mining. We simulate potential erosion and deposition scenarios along a 14 km reach of the Nakkhu River using the landscape evolution model CAESAR‐Lisflood with a 10 m digital elevation model, field‐derived sediment grain size data, daily discharge records and flood forecast models. In a series of numerical experiments, we compare riverbed profiles, cross‐sections, flood extent and flow depths for three scenarios (1.2‐, 85‐ and 1000‐year return period floods). For each scenario, the model is first run without sediment transport and then with sediment transport for three grain size distributions (GSDs) (observed average, finer and coarser). In all cases, the inclusion of sediment led to predicted floods of a larger extent than estimated without sediment. The sediment grain size distribution was found to have a significant influence on predicted river morphology and flood inundation, especially for lower magnitude, higher probability flood events. The results emphasise the importance of including sediment transport in hydrological models when predicting flood inundation in sediment‐rich rivers such as those in and around the Himalaya.

Durability Assessment of Sustainable Mortar by Incorporating the Combination of Solid Wastes: An Experimental Study

The excessive mining of high-quality river sand for cement sand mortar resulted in environmental impacts and ecological imbalances. The present study aims to produce sustainable mortar by combining solid waste such as desert sand, stone dust, and crumb rubber to fully replace river sand. In addition, replacing cement with silica fume helps reduce the environmental carbon footprint. The present research prepared three types of mortar mixes: natural dune sand mortar (M1), natural dune sand stone dust crumb rubber mortar (M2), and natural dune sand stone dust crumb rubber silica fume mortar (M3). The developed mortar samples were examined at ambient and elevated temperatures of 100°C, 200°C, and 300°C for 120 minutes. Furthermore, 3 cycles of 12 hours each at freezing temperature (-10° ± 2°C) and crushed ice cooling (0° to -5°C) were also tested. Results of the study showed an increment in compressive strength values in M1, M2, and M3 mortar mixes (up to 200°C). Later, an abrupt drop in the compressive strength was noticed at 300°C in all mixes M1, M2, and M3, respectively. The mix M3 combinations resist heating impacts and perform significantly better than other mixes M1 and M2. Also, M3 combinations resist the cooling effect better than M1 and M2. It can be concluded that the mortar mix M3 with desert sand, stone dust, crumb rubber, and silica fume combination is considered the best mix for both heating and cooling resistance. Hence, the developed sustainable mortar M3 combination can be utilized in all adverse weather conditions. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2023-09-11-09 Full Text: PDF

Substantiation of technological resource-saving conditions for the use of equipment in the sand deposit mining

The mining and technological features of the Gusarovsky deposit of molding sands mining under the conditions of technological limitations of the existing enterprise have been studied. The granulometric composition of balance reserve sands, as well as overburden rocks, was analyzed. In order to obtain a high-quality commercial product with a minimum content of fine and clay particles from the initial rock mass of the surface and watered ledges, the parameters of the hydromechanized complex were substantiated by mining and processing. The calculation is based on the three most available options for filling the mining and processing complex (MPC). To substantiate the rational parameters of the MPC and ensure the purification of the commercial product from fine impurities, a graphical characteristic of the hydraulic vertical classifier GKCD2000 was constructed when supplying clean water and at a slurry concentration of 10%. The graphical characteristics of hydraulic transport systems were constructed in accordance with the design diagrams of the accepted variants of the complex. To substantiate the rational parameters of the pumping station, the characteristics of the mining and processing complex were constructed when pumping clean water and slurry at a concentration of 10%. For the first time, the rational parameters of the technological complex of mining and processing, consisting of a suction dredger – a transport slurry pipeline – and a vertical hydraulic classifier GKCD2000, have been substantiated. The development of a technological complex of mining and processing will allow the existing enterprise to continue developing the deposit and obtaining high-quality commercial products under the conditions of technological limitations.

Revegetasi Lahan Bekas Tambang dengan Tanaman Multifungsi di Karang Panganten, Desa Gunungmasigit, Kabupaten Bandung Barat

The uncontrolled sand, stone, limestone, and marble mining activities have caused damage to Karang Panganten in the Rajamandala karst area, West Bandung Regency, which is a geologically protected area in the form of a nature reserve. The resulting damage has had adverse effects on the community, such as the loss of clean water sources, environmental degradation, decreased air quality, and disruptions to the livelihoods of people dependent on natural resources in the area. Therefore, a Community Service Activity (PKM) was conducted by the Bandung Energy and Mining Polytechnic (PEP) from June to December 2022 with approximately 50 to 75 participants. The method used involved providing materials on organic fertilizer production using stacked buckets, greening the mining area by distributing and planting 140 multifunctional plant seedlings, namely moringa, bamboo, and balsa, renovating some slippery and steep footpaths, and installing plaques as a sign that the activity had been carried out. The results of this PKM activity include conveying an understanding of the importance of greening to achieve a balance between mining activities and environmental sustainability management, as well as increasing the community's knowledge of organic fertilizer production for optimal plant growth. This PKM activity indirectly contributes to the Citarum River Basin (DAS) conservation program, specifically the "Citarum Harum" program. Subsequent PKM activities can replicate this initiative in other villages in the Cipatat Subdistrict or other karst areas in West Bandung, as these areas are in great need of rehabilitation. The entire process can be modularized as a guide for future educational activities.

Review- Using Ground Bakelite as Alternative Solution for the Replacement of Fine Aggregate

Abstract: India is very fast developing nation, and construction plays vital role in developing the nation. In construction, concrete is the majorly useful material. Fine aggregate used in concrete like traditional UHPC causes several environmental issues like floods due changes the direction of river flow, effect on biological diversity, falling water table also . In current time millions of tons of waste materials disposed in open environment which causes several health as well as waste disposal problems. We can use waste material like Bakelite as the partial replacement of fine aggregate. The purpose of this study is to find whether the use of Bakelite in concrete improve its compressive strength as a partial replacement in conventional M25 grade concrete Mix. From 2010 to 2020, river sand usage in Indian construction sector increased from 630 to 1400 Tons. This type of usage is very harmful for our next generation also that’s why many states in India like Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra have banned the river sand mining for use in concrete

A model based on the evolutionary game theory for implementing green mining principles in riverine sand and gravel resources

An evolutionary Game Theory (GT) model was presented to study the dynamics between the mine management and government for implementing Green Mining (GM) principles in riverine sand and gravel mines. In this regard, a game was planned in which the mine management is the executing agent, while the government acts as the supervisor. Investigating the performance of the proposed model, regulatory factors such as governmental incentives and penalties were introduced. In order to compare the results, the effects of regulatory measures on strategy changes by mine management were analyzed into two distinct scenarios: classical GT and evolutionary GT, which provide valuable insights into the complex interactions between mine management and government. The Shahed sand and gravel mine near the Kordan River in Alborz province, Iran, was selected as a case study to validate the developed GT models. The results obtained from the classical GT model showed that a fine of $ 0.2 per tonne and a 30% governmental incentive for the mining and equipment costs, may encourage the mine management to choose the GM strategy. Conversely, the results of the evolutionary GT model indicated that by increasing the government subsidy from 30% to 50%, the rate of encouraging the mine management to choose the GM strategy could be accelerated. This situation is similar to the government incentive for mine management in case of fines from $0.2 to $1 per tonne. According to the results of the evolutionary GT model, when the population ratio increases over time, the selected strategy is more compatible and powerful compared to other ones. Therefore, it is concluded that the mine management in Shahed mine may turn to the GM strategy by imposing a penalty more than $0.6 per tonne.

Climatic controls on the water balance of a pilot-scale oil sands mining pit lake in the Athabasca oil sands region, Canada

ABSTRACT Energy companies in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region in Alberta, Canada are evaluating the viability of incorporating pit lakes into reclamation closure designs to both sequester tailings and re-integrate the mining lease into the broader natural landscape. Lake Miwasin is a pilot-scale oil sands pit lake encompassed by a constructed catchment where the volume of the water cap is not actively managed. This study compared the water balance during the open water season over two consecutive years with contrasting levels of summertime precipitation. The first year had above average rainfall triggering surface water inflow events that diluted the over-winter water volume by ~ 25%. Flushing of the deepest layers of the water column was restricted from May – September as thermal stratification inhibited complete lake mixing. The second year had below average rainfall resulting in minimal surface water inflow and a drop in lake stage of ~ 30 cm. As the constructed catchment lacks both natural water bodies and connectivity to a legacy groundwater system, freshwater additions to the lake during the summer season were governed by rainfall. This research highlights challenges with constructing sustainable reclamation landscapes within a region characterised by variations in interannual and decadal water cycles.

Drivers of post‐fire resprouting success in restored Banksia woodlands

AbstractDisturbances can alter persistence trajectories of restored ecosystems. Resprouting is a common response of plants to disturbances such as fire or herbivory. Therefore, understanding a plant's resprouting response can inform successful restoration. We investigated patterns and drivers of resprouting following fire in fire‐prone Banksia woodlands restored after sand mining in the Mediterranean‐climate region of Western Australia. We applied experimental fire to samples of nine species with different resprouting types (rhizome, root crown, root sucker and lignotuber) across a 4‐ to 27‐year‐old restoration chronosequence. We investigated the influence of pre‐fire plant size, restoration age and soil conditions on resprouting success, defined by: (i) the probability of resprouting (measured ~5 months after fire), (ii) the probability of surviving the first summer and, (iii) vigour (both measured ~12 months post‐fire). We found that the probability of initial resprouting was high across most species, but summer survival was lower but comparable to that in other post‐mining restored ecosystems following fire. Generally, pre‐fire plant size did not influence probability of resprouting, while size and soil conditions were important for two species survival. Pre‐fire plant size was a significant predictor of vigour for all species with soil conditions influencing four species. Restoration age significantly influenced survival of three species. However, as our models explained low amounts of variation in probabilities of resprouting and survival (R2 = &lt;0.11), other factors influencing resprouting success remain unidentified. Resprouting response to fire disturbance in restored Banksia woodlands are species and resprouter type specific, with plant size and soil conditions potentially more informative for understanding responses to disturbances than restoration age alone.

Identification Liangan Site: Archeological Predictive Modeling

This research was conducted in Liangan Site, an archeological Hindu temple site situated on the eastern slope of Mt. Sundoro, Temanggung District. The discovery of Liangan Site was in the area of sand mining. This research’s interest is trying to disclose of the spatial component of the site that are important to the history, science and culture. The objectives of this research: Mapping the width of Liangan Site that still has the potential to contain of archaeological artifacts. The method that used for this research analyze the distribution of archaeological remains at the Liangan Site with the scoring method through field surveys. While cultural resource management is done by knowing the predictions of the length area of the site using Archaeological Predictive Modeling. Results from this research include the entire potential zone that contains archaeological remains at the site of 20,71 ha. The zone sensitivity archaeological remains are divided into zones of high sensitivity (3.007 ha), medium sensitivity zones (4.369 ha) and low sensitivity zones (13.34 ha).

Estimation of the variability of sand deposits in chosen communities in parts of Niger delta, Southern-Nigeria using geophysical techniques

Fine and coarse typical sand are among the most vital raw materials in building construction. A lot of drilling has been done without appropriate subsurface information resulting to a waste of resources and time. Geophysical methods give information on subsurface lithologies to locate areas with huge success. Thus, a geophysical investigation of subsurface deposits was carried out in this research to ascertain the quantity of fine/Coarse sand or areas with viable fine/Coarse sand utilizing Schlumberger configuration, Dipole–Dipole (2D) and well logging in parts of Okpe and Ughelli North LGA of Delta State, Nigeria, before extraction (dredging) for the benefit of exploitation and development. This was done by assessing the geo-electric formation of fine/coarse sand in the studied areas concerning their depths and thicknesses. Seven Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) were obtained with the application of Schlumberger array, seven 2D and three well logging to estimate the viability of sand deposits in the study areas. These techniques have the efficacy of detecting near-bed formation with vital resolution. The data obtained from the field were illustrated by partial curve matching coupled with computer iteration using the WIN RESIST and Dipro Software to obtain sounding curves which revealed four to six layers. The layers consist of topsoil, lateritic clay and clayey sand, fine sand deposit, medium to coarse grain sand and coarse sand. For Agbarho, thicknesses of fine/coarse sand in the VES stations ranges from 18.0 to 55.6 m with resistivity varying from 223.7 to 572.9 Ωm, Osubi Fine/Coarse sand thickness ranges from 13.5 to 59.9 m with resistivity values within 211.9–891.0 Ωm and Oha town locations have fine/coarse sand thickness varied from 46.6 to 83.7 m with resistivity interval computed between 145.9 Ω-m and 466.4 Ω-m. Thus, the best VES stations that are more viable for sand mining are VES 1, 5 and 7 which contain relatively huge viable sand deposits in the study areas to a depth above 80 m.

Improvement of the sediment flux estimation in the Yangtze River Estuary with a GOCI data adjusted numerical model

Sediment flux (SF) in the estuary is vital to the coastal and estuarine environment, especially the morphodynamical and ecological processes. However, its quantitative estimation with high accuracy is difficult because it is controlled by complex mechanisms and multiple processes. This study corrects the seasonal variations of the simulated suspended sediment concentration (SSC) by using GOCI-derived surface SSC and calculates the variations of SFs at the main cross-sections in and out of the Yangtze River Estuary (YRE). The results show that in 2013, 159 Mt and 143 Mt of sediments passed through Xuliujing hydrological station in YRE and estuarine mouth section, respectively. In the inner estuary, the significant seasonal variations of sediment transport are noted that the most seaward transport happens in summer (43.8%) and the least occurs in winter (7.3%). In the outer estuary, the southward transport towards Hangzhou Bay is the most critical pathway, accounting for 109.0% of total transport at mouth section, and is prevalent in autumn and winter. With considerations of sand mining and land reclamation, obviously erosions appear in the whole estuary during both 2013 and 2015. With stronger wind conditions in 2013, severer erosion (161 Mt) happens in outer estuary than that in 2015 (86 Mt). By combining the GOCI-derived surface SSC and the numerical model results, this study can better represent high-frequency hydro- and sediment-dynamical processes to calculate the annual, seasonal, and vertical SFs with improved accuracy. Hence this method may provide a viable way to infer locally averaged morphological changes.

Enhancement effect of multiwalled carbon nanotubes on mortars prepared with different grades of recycled fine aggregates

Recycling construction waste while reducing natural sand mining has proven to be a sustainable option for environmental protection. Multiwalled Carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have the potential to enhance the mechanical characteristics of recycled fine aggregates (RFA) mortars. This research aims to explore the feasibility of applying MWCNTs in the RFA mortars. Various concentrations of MWCNTs were added to different grades of RFA-prepared mortar to obtain an optimal concentration. Besides, the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis was conducted to observe the microstructure inside the RFA-prepared mortar. The nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) test was used to test the pore structure of mortars. The results show that the RFA quality is relevant to the initial compressive strength of the RFA resource. The optimal concentration and the enhancement effect of MWCNTs on the three different RFA-prepared mortars are obtained with mechanical properties proven. The SEM images show that more cracks exist in the RFA-prepared mortars, and the NMR test shows that the number of pores inside the RFA-prepared mortars is significantly larger than that in the natural sand mortar. Nevertheless, an appropriate amount of MWCNTs can create a dense network and great bond inside the mortar, improving its mechanical properties.

Evolution of sandy shores under the combined impact of global climate change and anthropogenic activities in Shandong Peninsula, East China

Most sandy shores (SSs) are currently experiencing erosion to various degrees due to the combined impact of increasing climate change and human activities. In order to reveal the evolution of the SSs in the Shandong Peninsula (SP), shoreline and elevation changing data are obtained from 29 SSs and results show that most (27 of 29) of the SSs exhibited erosion. The length of the SSs has decreased by 241.4 km from 2010 to 2020, and the average shoreline recession rate was found to be 1.0 m/a and the downward erosion rate was in the range of 0.05 to 0.10 m/a. Climate change-induced sea level rise has a smaller effect on the erosion in the short term and the construction of massive coastal engineering structures has become a major cause of local coastal erosion. The coastal erosion rate caused by river damming and sand mining in the early years has abated and reduced seaward sediment transport induced by the expansion of the built-up area has become a new factor of coastal erosion. In the past decade, the 672 km2 net increase in land area mainly originated from human activities, has occupied the original space for hydrodynamic energy dissipation, which has severely disrupted the balance between sediment supply and the hydrodynamic environment and the system then rebalance itself by eroding unprotected SSs. Therefore, with the increase in hydrodynamic forces caused by climate change and the scarcity of sediment supply caused by human activities, continued erosion is expected to occur in the SSs.

Comparing the microbial communities in and End-pit lake, active tailings ponds and freshwater bodies from the Athabasca oil sands region

The Athabasca oil sands region in northern Alberta is home to one of the largest bitumen deposits in the world. Oil sands are mostly recovered via surface mining and the oil extraction is achieved with hot caustic water and diluents, a process that produces liquid tailings waste (CEC 2020, Schramm et al. 2000). It is estimated that 1 m3 of bitumen produces around 4 m3 of tailings, which are contained in large tailings ponds (Mikula et al. 1996). End-pit lakes are a potential strategy to reclaim mining pits created by oil sands mining. They may be formed by filling a mined-out pit with tailings and then capping it with a layer of fresh water. With time, tailings undergo a dewatering process in which they become denser and release water to the cap water (Charette et al. 2012). Base Mine Lake (BML) is the first full-scale demonstration end-pit lake in the Canadian oil sands industry. This former tailings pond was initially capped in 2012 with a 5 m layer of freshwater to allow for consolidation of the tailings and the stimulation of aerobic microbial communities to biodegrade the organic pollutants. Since its establishment, BML has been extensively monitored to assess the improvement in water quality. The present research focused on determining how the eukaryotic and bacterial communities in BML compare to those in local freshwater bodies and active tailings ponds. Eleven reference sites, including freshwater reservoirs, natural lakes, and 9- to 14-year-old excavated pits filled with water, also known as borrow pits, were sampled along with 5 active tailings ponds and BML during the summer of 2022. Microbial communities were assessed via next-generation sequencing of PCR amplicons of the 16S rRNA gene for bacteria and the 18S rRNA gene for eukaryotes. Alpha-diversity analysis of the eukaryotic communities showed that BML has greater species richness and evenness than active tailings ponds, but lower than freshwater systems. The bacterial community in both BML and active tailings ponds is dominated by Proteobacteria, but the relative abundance of Actinobacteriota is similar between BML and freshwater. Beta-diversity analysis revealed that eukaryotic and bacterial communities in BML cluster distinctly from both the freshwater controls and active tailings ponds, however, the composition of the eukaryotic community shows some overlap with certain freshwater systems (Fig. 1). The results of this research suggest that, 10 years after its formation, the microbial communities in BML are intermediate between an active tailings pond and a freshwater lake.

Anthropogenic Geomorphology of the Magoye Riverine Landscape, Zambia

Aims: This study sought to investigate the role of humans in modification and creation of landforms in river channels with specific focus on the Magoye River. The objectives of this study were to: document geomorphic characteristics of Magoye River, assess anthropogenic activities and landuse/cover change in the buffer zone and, examine key anthropogenic river landforms. Study Design: This study was inspired by analytic eclecticism research philosophy and adopted mixed methods, particularly concurrent research design. Methodology: The landcover images were analysed using image processing tools in ArcGIS 10.4 for the periods 1990, 2005 and 2020. Descriptive statistics were used to quantitatively visualize the changes in land cover/use. The data was collected using field observation, photography, GPS and a Likert scale tool and, analysed using descriptive statistics, specifically frequency graphs showing mean and standard deviation. Results: The results showed that sand mining and brick moulding accounted for almost 68% of human activities in the 11.48 km2 delineated buffer zone by 2020, compared to 35% in 1990. These punctuated creation of sand conical heaps, stone bunds, pot holes and pools, shallow wells on the river bed, gullies induced by water accessed points, which weakened river banks. Generally, sand mining and brick moulding were the most severe in the buffer zone and they created wide range of deformations riverbanks and beds. The findings further revealed that Magoye River had geomorphologically evolved into Reservoir River covering 80% on the upstream (139.4km) and Sand Bank River accounting 20% on downstream (27.6 km). Conclusion: The study concludes that, the catchment and buffer zone have undergone degradation propelled by anthropogenic activities, which have punctuated channel morphological degradation. Although the Magoye River channel was highly damaged, it was not beyond regeneration if restoration measures, were collaboratively identified and implemented with the local communities.