Surface Mining Activity Research Articles

INVESTIGATING THE REASONS FOR QUARRY SHUT-DOWN IN PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA: A CASE STUDY OF AFRI-MINE QUARRY AND JOLEX CONSTRUCTION

Background: Quarry operation is one of the surface mining activity carried out in Nigeria. It involves different stages of operation such as blasting, crushing and lots more but due to financial loss, many quarry business has shut down while very few is still in operation. This research aim at identifying the reason(s) behind the incessant folding up of quarry business in Nigeria through comparative study between Afrimine Quarry and Jolex Construction. Results: Data was obtained through interactive interview with the staff in the quarry and after collation and data analysis, the following results were observed. Afrimine sells her granite within the price range of N3,300 to N5,200 for sizes of 1/2 inch, 3/4 inch, 3/8 inch, stone dust and makes a monthly profit of N36, 484,859.375 with a total volume of 15,000 tons per month and a unit price of N2,291.61/ton while Jolex Construction sells her granite within the prices of N7,500 to N8,000 and makes a monthly profit of N58, 295,000 at total volume of 9,000 tons per month with a unit price of N1022.78/ton. Conclusions: Quarry business is quite capital intensive but with the right managerial scheme, it can be a very profiting business.

Mining-Induced Anthropogenic Transformations of the Wielka Kopa Massif—Case Study of Rudawy Janowickie, the Sudetes

The article presents a detailed description of the transformation of the terrain relief due to long-lasting underground and surface mining activity in the Wielka Kopa massif at Rudawy Janowickie (the Western Sudetes mountains). It includes both the anthropogenic forms and secondary transformations of these forms due to natural land-shaping processes, ongoing after mining had been discontinued. The location deserves special attention, as it shows particularly significant mining-induced relief transformations, whose scale can be compared to those of the Walbrzych hard coal basin and the Turoszow lignite basin. The presented object is also an important historical heritage and deserves special attention due to its high research, didactic and tourism potential. The article offers a description of the characteristics and a classification of the anthropogenic forms in the area of Wielka Kopa, which are hoped to serve as an aid in planning future actions related to the revitalization of the area and also as an example for future descriptions of other closed mining facilities.

An Analysis of Coal Post-Mining Land for Agricultivation Uses (A Case Study on PT ABK in Kutai Kartanegara District, East Kalimantan Province)

The characteristics of coal surface mining activity are vulnerable to environmental degradation due to soil excavation, although only causing a lower risk in worker’s incidence and economically beneficial as requiring a lower cost than the underground mining method. This study aimed to analyze the types of post-mining land use worth developing for the local community’s livelihood around the post-mining land on the concession of PT Anugerah Bara Kaltim (ABK) in Kutai Kertanegara District, Kalimantan Timur Province. The method used was a cost-benefit analysis (CBA). The analysis results indicate that the pepper plant cultivation on the post-mining land within six years produces Net Present Value (NPV) at Rp 49,484,637.00, Benefit/Cost (B/C) Ratio at 1.347, Net B/C Ratio at 2.56, and Internal Rate Return (IRR) at 39.20%. Meanwhile, rice plant cultivation stimulated within six years produces NPV at Rp 8,653,754.00, B/C Ratio at 1.035, Net B/C ratio at 1.3871, IRR at 8,50%. The economic analysis results based on all indicators: NPV, B/C, net B/C, and IRR, demonstrate that the pepper and rice plant cultivation activities are feasible in the coal post-mining land.

Monitoring Surface Mining Operations in Guyana: Challenges and Geospatial Alternatives

Guyana’s mineral extractive industry has seen immense growth since the 1800s and continues to be the nation’s main revenue contributor. This growth is accompanied by dire environmental and social impacts, as studies have shown that surface mining is associated with deforestation, land degradation, and biodiversity loss. Regular monitoring of surface mining activity is therefore necessary to ascertain and mitigate impacts.

The Robinson Forest environmental monitoring network: Long‐term evaluation of streamflow and precipitation quantity and stream‐water and bulk deposition chemistry in eastern Kentucky watersheds

AbstractThe University of Kentucky (U KY) has owned Robinson Forest (37.460723° N, 83.158598° W) since 1923, conducting experiments crucial to understanding the environmental effects of land management in the region. Part of the management of Robinson Forest has been collection of environmental data, including precipitation quantity, bulk‐deposition chemistry, streamflow, stream‐water chemistry, and air and stream temperature. Over the years, these data have been collected and archived using various technologies and have been mostly inaccessible for research use – unedited and uncompiled, scattered across several spreadsheets and paper records. Through a partnership between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and U KY, daily precipitation data for six stations and stream data from four watersheds in Robinson Forest have been compiled for 1971–2018, checked for transcription errors, and annotated for changes in methodologies. These data are available as a USGS data release at https://doi.org/10.5066/P9FPLG1O. Improved accessibility of this data set provides an important research resource for understanding water quality in minimally effected forests in the region. Preliminary results indicate that these data present a valuable opportunity to evaluate linkages among atmospheric deposition and stream chemistry, the effects of environmental policy, such as the Clean Air Act, and effects from nearby land disturbance in the form of surface mining. Furthermore, these data fill a geographic and physiographic gap in what is available to examine deposition and streamflow patterns over the last 45 years, supplementing those long‐term records of research sites in northern (e.g., Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest), central (e.g., Fernow Experimental Forest) and southern Appalachia (e.g., Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory). As an oasis in the midst of significant surface mining activity, Robinson Forest presents a unique opportunity to understand environmental conditions characteristic of minimally disturbed forests similar to pre‐mining conditions in the Central Appalachian region.

Surface mining and low birth weight in central appalachia

BackgroundSurface mining has become a significant method of coal mining in the Central Appalachian region of the eastern United States alongside the traditional underground mining. Concerns have been raised about the health effects of this surface mining, particularly mountaintop removal mining where coal is mined upon steep mountaintops by removing the mountaintop through clearcutting forests and explosives. MethodsWe used a control group design with a pretest and a posttest to assess the associations of surface mining in Central Appalachia with low birth weight and other adverse birth outcomes. The pretest period is 1977–1989, a period of low surface mining activity. We consider three posttest periods: 1990–1998, 1999–2011 and 2012–2017, with 1999–2011 as the primary analysis and the other periods as secondary analyses. Surface mining in Central Appalachia increased after 1989, partly resulting from the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 which made surface mining in Appalachia more financially attractive. For the primary analysis, we fit a logistic regression model of the primary outcome (low birth weight, <2500 g) on dummy variables for county and year; individual level maternal/infant covariates (maternal race, maternal age, infant sex and whether birth was a multiple birth); and the amount of surface mining during the year of the birth in the maternal county of residence. ResultsOur analysis sample consisted of 783,328 infants -- 482,284 infants born from 1977 to 2017 to women residing in substantial surface mining activity counties and 301,044 infants born from 1977 to 2017 to women residing in matched control counties. Compared to the pre-period of low surface mining from 1977 to 1989, for the primary analysis posttest period of 1999–2011, there was an estimated relative increase in low birth weight in surface mining counties compared to matched control counties that was not statistically significant (odds ratio for a 5 percentage point increase in area disturbed by surface mining: 1.07, 95% confidence interval (0.96, 1.20), p-value: .22). For the secondary analysis posttest period of 1990–1998, there was no increase (odds ratio: 0.91, 95% confidence interval: (0.74, 1.13), p-value: .41). For the secondary analysis posttest period of 2012–2017, there was a statistically significant relative increase (odds ratio: 1.28, 95% confidence interval: (1.08, 1.50), p-value: .004). Qualitatively similar results were found for the outcomes of very low birth weight, preterm birth and small-for-gestational age. ConclusionsWe examined the hypothesis that surface mining activity in Central Appalachia contributes to low birth weight using an observational study. We found evidence in secondary analyses that surface mining was associated with low birth weight in the 2012–2017 time period and potentially beginning in the early to mid 2000's. Evidence for an association was not found prior to 2000. A potential explanation for this pattern of association is that surface mining caused an increase in low birth weight but its onset was delayed. Future research is needed to clarify the findings and if replicated, identify the mechanism necessary to mitigate the impacts of mining on adverse birth outcomes.

Correlation of Geomechanical and Dynamic Elastic Properties with the P-Wave Velocity of Lower Gondwana Coal Measure Rocks of India

Abstract Ground behavior during surface and subsurface coal mining activity is primarily governed by the geomechanical and elastic properties of the encountered rocks. A quick estimation of these p...

A spatial genomic approach identifies time lags and historical barriers to gene flow in a rapidly fragmenting Appalachian landscape

The resolution offered by genomic data sets coupled with recently developed spatially informed analyses are allowing researchers to quantify population structure at increasingly fine temporal and spatial scales. However, both empirical research and conservation measures have been limited by questions regarding the impacts of data set size, data quality thresholds and the timescale at which barriers to gene flow become detectable. Here, we used restriction site associated DNA sequencing to generate a 2,140 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data set for the copperhead snake (Agkistrodon contortrix) and address the population genomic impacts of recent and widespread landscape modification across an ~1,000-km2 region of eastern Kentucky, USA. Nonspatial population-based assignment and clustering methods supported little to no population structure. However, using individual-based spatial autocorrelation approaches we found evidence for genetic structuring which closely follows the path of a historically important highway which experienced high traffic volumes from c. 1920 to 1970 before losing most traffic to a newly constructed alternative route. We found no similar spatial genomic signatures associated with more recently constructed highways or surface mining activity, although a time lag effect may be responsible for the lack of any emergent spatial genetic patterns. Subsampling of our SNP data set suggested that similar results could be obtained with as few as 250 SNPs, and a range of thresholds for missing data exhibited limited impacts on the spatial patterns we detected. While we were not able to estimate relative effects of land uses or precise time lags, our findings highlight the importance of temporal factors in landscape genetics approaches, and suggest the potential advantages of genomic data sets and fine-scale, spatially informed approaches for quantifying subtle genetic patterns in temporally complex landscapes.

Use of an epiphytic lichen and a novel geostatistical approach to evaluate spatial and temporal changes in atmospheric deposition in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region, Alberta, Canada

Temporal and spatial atmospheric deposition trends of elements to the boreal forest surrounding bitumen production operations in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region (AOSR), Alberta, Canada were investigated as part of a long-term lichen bioindicator study. The study focused on eight elements (sulfur, nitrogen, aluminum, calcium, iron, nickel, strontium, vanadium) that were previously identified as tracers for the major oil sand production sources. Samples of the in situ epiphytic lichen Hypogymnia physodes were collected in 2002, 2004, 2008, 2011, 2014, and 2017 within a ~150 km radius from the center of surface oil sand production operations in the AOSR. Site-specific time series analysis conducted at eight jack pine upland sites that were repeatedly sampled generally showed significant trends of increasing lichen concentrations for fugitive dust linked elements, particularly at near-field (<25 km from a major oil sands production operation) sample locations. Multiple regional scale geostatistical models were developed and evaluated to characterize broad-scale changes in atmospheric deposition based on changes in H. physodes elemental concentrations between 2008 and 2014. Empirical Bayesian kriging and cokriging lichen element concentrations with oil sands mining, bitumen upgrading, coke materials handling, and limestone quarry/crushing influence variables produced spatial interpolation estimates with the lowest validation errors. Gridded zonal mean lichen element concentrations were calculated for the two comprehensive sampling years (2008, 2014) and evaluated for spatial and temporal change. Lichen sulfur concentrations significantly increased in every grid cell within the domain with the largest increases (44-88%) in the central valley in close proximity to the major surface oil sand production operations, while a minor nitrogen concentration decrease (-20%) in a single grid cell was observed. The areal extent of fugitive dust element deposition generally increased with significantly higher deposition to lichens restricted to the outer grids of the enhanced deposition field, reflecting new and expanding surface mining activity.

Using wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) tadpoles and semipermeable membrane devices to monitor polycyclic aromatic compounds in boreal wetlands in the oil sands region of northern Alberta, Canada

Several recent studies have reported evidence that surface mining operations of bitumen in northern Alberta's oil sands (OS) region contribute significantly to the atmospheric deposition of metals and polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) within the vicinity of OS development. The present study examines the accumulation of PACs in boreal wetlands at varying distance from OS industrial activities with the use of semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) and wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) tadpoles. SPMDs were deployed in shallow lentic waterbodies adjacent to wood frog egg masses and were retrieved, along with tadpoles, approximately 35–45 days later. The highest concentrations of PACs were detected in SPMDs deployed within a 25 km radius of surface mining activity, consistent with snow deposition studies of PACs in the region. In wetlands located within the vicinity of surface mining activity, PAC profiles of SPMDs and wood frog tadpoles were dominated by C1-C4 alkylated PACs, including alkylated dibenzothiophenes, which are strongly indicative of petrogenic sources. Contrary to differences seen in the SPMD PAC concentrations, there were no obvious differences in the ∑PACs in wood frog tissue between wetland study sites, although alkylated fluorenes were found to be higher in tadpoles collected from a wetland located within 10 km of two bitumen upgrading facilities. The use of SPMDs in tandem with wood frog tadpoles can help assess the potential exposure of aquatic organisms to PACs in boreal wetlands.

Surface Coal Mining and Human Health: Evidence from West Virginia

This article presents the first panel‐data evidence of a human health externality from the air pollution generated by surface coal mining. In West Virginia, a standard deviation increase in a county's exposure to surface coal mining is associated with 9.85 more asthma hospitalizations per 100,000 residents in a given quarter. Interpreted causally, this suggests over $11 million in hospitalization costs over the 6‐year study period. The study builds on earlier cross‐sectional research by controlling for unobserved county‐level heterogeneity, and by defining more accurate measures of exposure. Both methods are shown to reduce the bias associated with earlier estimates of coal mining's effect on health. Young and elderly women demonstrate the largest sensitivities to surface mining. Falsification tests reveal that neither hernias nor bone fractures demonstrate any relationship with surface mining activity.

Evaluating officially reported polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon emissions in the Athabasca oil sands region with a multimedia fate model

Emissions of organic substances with potential toxicity to humans and the environment are a major concern surrounding the rapid industrial development in the Athabasca oil sands region (AOSR). Although concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in some environmental samples have been reported, a comprehensive picture of organic contaminant sources, pathways, and sinks within the AOSR has yet to be elucidated. We sought to use a dynamic multimedia environmental fate model to reconcile the emissions and residue levels reported for three representative PAHs in the AOSR. Data describing emissions to air compiled from two official sources result in simulated concentrations in air, soil, water, and foliage that tend to fall close to or below the minimum measured concentrations of phenanthrene, pyrene, and benzo(a)pyrene in the environment. Accounting for evaporative emissions (e.g., from tailings pond disposal) provides a more realistic representation of PAH distribution in the AOSR. Such indirect emissions to air were found to be a greater contributor of PAHs to the AOSR atmosphere relative to reported direct emissions to air. The indirect pathway transporting uncontrolled releases of PAHs to aquatic systems via the atmosphere may be as significant a contributor of PAHs to aquatic systems as other supply pathways. Emission density estimates for the three PAHs that account for tailings pond disposal are much closer to estimated global averages than estimates based on the available emissions datasets, which fall close to the global minima. Our results highlight the need for improved accounting of PAH emissions from oil sands operations, especially in light of continued expansion of these operations.

Change detection of surface mining activity and reclamation based on a machine learning approach of multi-temporal Landsat TM imagery

Being able to quantify land cover changes due to mining and reclamation at a watershed scale is of critical importance in managing and assessing their potential impacts to the Earth system. In this study, a remote sensing-based methodology is proposed for quantifying the impact of surface mining activity and reclamation from a watershed to local scale. The method is based on a Support Vector Machines (SVMs) classifier combined with multi-temporal change detection of Landsat TM imagery. The performance of the technique was evaluated at selected open mining sites located in the island of Milos in Greece. Assessment of the mining impact in the studied areas was based on the confusion matrix statistics, supported by co-orbital QuickBird-2 very high spatial resolution imagery. Overall classification accuracy of the thematic land cover maps produced was reported over 90%. Our analysis showed expansion of mining activity throughout the whole 23-year study period, while the transition of mining areas to soil and vegetation was evident in varying rates. Our results evidenced the ability of the method under investigation in deriving highly and accurate land cover change maps, able to identify the mining areas as well as those in which excavation was replaced by natural vegetation. All in all, the proposed technique showed considerable promise towards the support of a sustainable environmental development and prudent resource management.

Volunteer Species of Plants that Can Become Dangerous to Pisciculture

The purpose of this paper was to identify the existing species of plants around as well as inside the Aghires lakes and to determine their influence on the development of fish populations. The methods used refer to direct observation as well as identification of different associations. Following surface mining activity in the village of Aghires, Cluj nine artificial lakes were formed throughout the years. These lakes are surrounded by sterile hills that start to be covered by vegetation. The palustrine vegetation depends entirely on the water pH. From the vegetation point of view two major vegetation groups can be observed: aquatic or palustrine, among which there are no obvious limits.

A Comparative Study of Rainfall Pattern in the Tarkwa Mining District of Ghana

Tarkwa is in the Western Region of Ghana where mining, especially of gold and manganese, has been going on for many years. The area is associated with heavy rains, but for the past few years it has been observed that the rainfall pattern has changed. It is generally conceived by many inhabitants of the area that it is caused by the adverse effect of intense surface mining activities. This research investigates the correlation between increasing surface mining activity and reduction in the amount of rainfall. The effect of surface mining on rainfall has been studied by comparing the rainfall pattern of the Tarkwa area with that of Benso area which is also in the Western Region, but is without any large scale surface mining activities. Benso is used as base line since it is within the same vegetation and climatic zone and experiences similar agricultural practices. This study indicates that there is some relationship between the decline in the amount of rainfall and intensity of surface mining in the Tarkwa area. Ghana Mining Journal Vol. 9 2007: pp. 33-37

Using reproductive endpoints in small forage fish species to evaluate the effects of Athabasca Oil Sands activities.

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of naturally occurring oil sands-related compounds (OSRC) on reproductive function in fish in order to assess the impacts of anthropogenic point-source inputs. The health of slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus) and pearl dace (Semotilus margarita) collected from the Alberta Athabasca Oil Sands (Canada) watershed were examined. Two rivers were selected for study: the Steepbank and the Ells. These rivers originate outside the oil sands formation, where fish are unexposed (Ref), exposed to naturally occurring oil sands-related compounds (Nat), or exposed to naturally occurring compounds as well as adjacent to surface mining activity (Dev). Assessment endpoints included gonadosomatic indices (GSI), fecundity, and in vitro gonadal steroid production. In vitro gonadal incubations demonstrated lower levels of steroid production at sites along the Steepbank River within the oil sands deposit. Hepatic 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity, an indicator of exposure to OSRC, was elevated twofold at the site with natural compounds and up to 10-fold at the site adjacent to development compared to EROD activity in fish from the reference site. Fish collected in the Ells River had a threefold induction in EROD activity but no significant reduction in steroid production when compared to reference fish. No consistent alterations in gonadal development were seen in fish collected from sites within the oil sands deposit. This research in the Athabasca River basin provides baseline information of the health of fish populations within the oil sands deposit prior to further development in the area.

The Use of Rockfall Protection Systems in Surface Mining Activity

In many cases open pits in mountainous areas are subjected to the collapse of rock boulders (rockfall), which can reach the quarry area and create safety hazards for both personnel and mine infrastructure. The paper demonstrates that net fences widely used for control and risk mitigation of rockfall in civil and road constructions, can be used successfully also for mining activities, with special reference to ornamental stone quarries. A description of this protection technique and the design key points are highlighted and discussed.

Monitoring environmental impacts of surface coal mining

Abstract Coal mining generates a number of significant environmental impacts. Due to its synoptic coverage and repetitive data acquisition capabilities, remote sensing has been extensively used to monitor effects of surface mining. Availability of low cost and high resolution data in recent years has focused increased attention on the use of satellite data for monitoring surface mining activity. This article presents an overview of some of the important studies that have used satellite and airborne remote sensing data to assess environmental impacts of coal mining and to monitor reclamation activities. Detection and delineation of subsurface coal mine fires using remotely-sensed thermal data is also briefly discussed. The utility of interfacing remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems for effective environmental management of mining areas has been emphasized.

Big Game Habitat Use and Diets on a Surface Mine in Northeastern Wyoming

Seasonal habitat use and diets of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and pronghorns (Antilocapra americana) were studied on a coal surface mine in northeastern Wyoming. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) dominated mule deer diets from spring through fall, and fourwing saltbrush (Atriplex canescens) dominated in winter. Both plant species were well established on reclaimed land. Year-round, deer used reclaimed land more than unmined land. Pronghorn diets consisted of large proportions of native forbs in spring and summer; alfalfa in spring, summer, and fall; and sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) in fall and winter. The importance of native forages to pronghorns, as well as avoidance of reclaimed areas by fawns, resulted in greater year-round use of unmined land than of reclaimed land. Greatest dietary similarity between deer and pronghorns occurred in fall when diets of both species contained large quantities of alfalfa. Diet similarity was least in winter when deer consumed primarily saltbush and pronghorns consumed sagebrush. Improved establishment of native forbs and shrubs will reduce the potential for forage competition among native herbivores and livestock during times of low forage availability. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 50(1): 135-142 In the 10 years since large-scale surface mining activity peaked in the northern Great Plains, little data have been published on the uses of reclaimed land as grazing range and big game habitat. Mule deer, pronghorns, and livestock consume many plant species used to revegetate surface-mined land in the northern Great Plains and available forage, season, and topography influence range use patterns by these species (Bruns 1977, Amstrup 1978, Mackie et al. 1982). In some areas deer and pronghorns use mine spoils (Booth and Schuman 1981, McKell and Van Epps 1981), and livestock grazing of reclaimed land is common management (DePuit and Coenenburg 1979). Mule deer and pronghorns can compete with livestock for forage at certain times of the year, and grazing by domestic animals also can restructure the vegetation to the benefit of big game (Mackie 1978, Smith et al. 1979, Willms et al. 1979). Crockett Club, and the Natl. Wildl. Fed. We acknowledge the cooperation of the U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv. Iowa Coop. Wildl. Res. Unit, R. B. Dahlgren, Leader, and thank D. G. Steward and D. W. Uresk for reviewing the manuscript. This is paper J-11617 of the Iowa Agric. and Home Econ. Exp. Stn., Proj. 2401.