Vicinity Of Mining Areas Research Articles

Precision Remediation of Mining Soils through On-Site Investigation and Large-Scale Synthesized Ferrosilicate

To seek a restoration plan for the safe use of agricultural land around mining areas, this study focuses on the regions around a mining plant in Huidong County, western Sichuan Province, affected by lead–zinc mining, and the precise remediation of heavy metal pollution through large-scale synthesis of iron silicate. In this study, we investigated heavy metal pollution in the vicinity of the mining area and proposed a treatment strategy using large-scale synthesis of iron silicate to mitigate this pollution. According to field investigation and sampling analysis, the collected soil samples contained excessive Cd, Pb, and Zn. Cd is a heavy metal related to lead–zinc mining. The planting of crops such as loquats and garlic with a high accumulation coefficient for Cd was found inappropriate for the research area. Instead, it was recommended to plant economically important crops like mangoes and peaches which had lower heavy metal accumulation. On the basis of field investigation, the study area was seriously polluted by heavy metals, among which Cd was 4.0 times higher than the standard of agricultural land. In order to accurately passivate excessive Cd, Zn, and Pb, iron silicate material was put into mass production. In situ passivation experiments showed that when the soil water content was between 25% and 20%, adding 4% silicate material could rapidly reduce the content of effective heavy metals in the soil and the heavy metal content of garlic and other cash crops in the research area by about 8%. After conducting a field investigation, it has been determined that the large-scale preparation of iron silicate can accurately repair soil contaminated by heavy metals in the vicinity of mining areas. In conclusion, iron silicate is capable of effectively reducing the pollution of heavy metals on agricultural land and facilitating the safe utilization of such land.

Acid mine drainage from coal mines in the eastern Himalayan sub-region: Hydrogeochemical processes, seasonal variations and insights from hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopes

Uncontrolled coal mining using non-scientific methods has presented a major threat to the quality of environment, particularly the water resources in eastern himalayan sub-region of India. Water bodies in the vicinity of mining areas are contaminated by acid mine drainage (AMD) that is released into streams and rivers. This study attempted to assess the impact of AMD, deciphering hydrogeochemical processes, seasonal fluctuations, and stable isotope features of water bodies flowing through and around coal mining areas. Self-organizing maps (SOMs) used to separate and categorize AMD, AMD-impacted and non-AMD impacted water from the different study locations for two sampling seasons revealed four clusters (C), with C1 and C2 impacted by AMD, C3 and C4 showing negligible to no impact of AMD. AMD impacted water was SO42− - Mg2+- Ca2+ hydrochemical type with sulphide oxidation and evaporation dominating water chemistry, followed by silicate weathering during both the sampling seasons. Water with negligible-to-no AMD-impact was Mg2+- Ca2+- SO42− to Ca2+ - HCO3− to mixed hydrochemical type with rock weathering and dissolution, followed by ion exchange as major factors controlling water chemistry during both the sampling seasons. Most of physicochemical parameters of C1 and C2 exceeded the prescribed limits, whereas in C3 and C4 water samples, parameters were found within the prescribed limits. Stable isotopes of hydrogen (δ2H) and oxygen (δ18O) during post-monsoon (PoM) varied between -41.04 ‰ and -29.98 ‰, and −6.60 ‰ to −3.94 ‰; and during pre-monsoon (PrM) varied between −58.18 ‰ and - 33.76 ‰ and −8.60 ‰ to −5.46 ‰. Deuterium excess (d-excess) ranged between 1.57 ‰ and 12.47 ‰ during PoM and 5.70 ‰ to 15.17 ‰ during PrM season. The stable isotopes analysis revealed that evaporation, mineral dissolution and mixing with rainwater are the key factors in study area.

Prediction of heavy metal ion distribution and Pb and Zn ion concentrations in the tailing pond area.

The pollution caused by tailings ponds has resulted in ecological damage, with soil contamination significantly impacting the daily lives of residents in the vicinity of mining areas and the future development of mining areas. This study assesses the transport status of heavy metal pollution in tailings areas and predicts its impact on future pollution levels. This study focused on lead-zinc tailing ponds, exploring the spatial and chemical distribution characteristics of heavy metals based on the distributions of Pb, Zn, As, Cu, Cr, Cd, Hg, and Ge ions. The concentrations of the major heavy metal ions Pb and Zn in tailings ponds were predicted via the exponential smoothing method. ① The total accumulation of Pb and Zn in the mine tailings ranges from 936.74~1212.61 mg/kg and 1611.85~2191.47 mg/kg, much greater than the total accumulation of the remaining six heavy metals. The total accumulation of associated heavy metal Cu was high, and the lowest total heavy metals were Hg and Ge at only 0.19 mg/kg and 1.05 mg/kg. ② The analyses of soil heavy metal chemical forms reveal that the heavy metals Pb and Zn had the highest exchangeable state content and state ratio and the strongest transport activity in the industrial plaza and village soils. Pb and Zn are the heavy metals with the greatest eco-environmental impacts in the mining area. ③ The predicted results show that the soil concentrations of the heavy metals Pb and Zn around the tailings area in 2026 are 1.335 and 1.191 times the predicted time starting values. The concentrations of the heavy metals Pb and Zn at the starting point of the forecast are already 3.34 and 3.02 times the upper limits of the environmental standard (according to environmental standards for gravelly grey calcium soils). These results have significant implications for heavy metal pollution risk management.

Early Diagnosis and Development of Referral System for Silicosis among Sandstone Miners in Western India

Abstract Introduction: Silicosis is the most common and oldest occupational lung disease. The disease has been an ancient one and has been recognized in India for the past around 100 years. However, despite its ubiquitous presence among various mine and quarry workers, there is no uniformly available referral system in India in general for workers having occupational dust exposure and respiratory symptoms. The current study involved the clinical assessment of those working in mines and quarries in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, Western India and explore the possibility of development of a referral system for symptomatic mine workers. Materials and Methods: Workers working in mines and quarries in Jodhpur district were clinically screened for symptoms related to silicosis after choosing the quarries randomly. Demographic information and detailed occupational history were recorded using a predesigned questionnaire. Duration of exposure and morbidity/mortality details related to silicosis in the family were noted in detail. Respiratory symptom score was evaluated using a numeric score. The study was a cross-sectional one, and a 12-point respiratory symptom score based on predesigned questionnaire was constructed using the literature survey of silicosis symptoms. Results: A total of 435 mine/quarries workers (M: F = 432:3) working in sandstone belt of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, Western India were assessed clinically, and details of their symptoms were noted. Demographic information was as followed mean age = 36.44 ± 11.23 years and mean duration of dust exposure = 13.4 ± 9.6 years. A total of 96/435 workers were symptomatic (22%), and salient hypoxia was present in 113/435 (26%). Both groups of these workers were referred to nearby community health centers for further evaluation. Awareness levels among the workers were poor, as only 119/435 (27%) workers had some ideas about the silicosis prevention while working in mines and quarries. Regular wearing of masks while being on the field was observed in only 8% (35/435). Mine Worker Screening Camp approach was used for symptomatic workers and evaluation by a three-member clinical board was done in community health center in the vicinity of mining areas. Those suspected of having silicosis were referred to pneumoconiosis board for further evaluation. Conclusions: High frequency of symptomatic mine workers (22%) exposed chronically to occupational dust was found in sandstone mines and quarries of Jodhpur region. Awareness levels about silicosis prevention were poor. A referral system for those needing further evaluation has been demonstrated.

IRS LISS3-based study of spatio-temporal land use and land cover changes and their relationship with the Ahiran watershed of Hasdeo River in Central India

The Hasdeo River watershed is the source of various land use practices. Human activities have a long-term impact on land use/cover changes and the sustainability of a watershed to research aims to assess changes in land use/land cover (LULC) in the Ahiran subwatershed of the Hasdeo River in Central India, based on temporal analysis of independently produced classified images, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) from 2000 to 2013. The comparison of the LULC change maps over different time periods (2000-2013) shows that the land use structures within the study region have changed. The land use intensity within the study region indicates the degree of human activities on the lands, which may be important indicators of land use pattern. During the thirteen years, the dense forest region rise is hyperbolic due to the establishment of plantations and other tree species in barren and scrublands. Expansion of mining, industrial activities, and settlements has to hydrological changes also. The NDVI and SAVI indicate of healthy and unhealthy vegetation in subwatersheds when compared to various LULC. PCA demonstrates a strong relationship between barren land and riverbed, water resources, and dense forest to conclude, subwatershed is currently due to intensive anthropogenic activities. Good government policies which encourage the growth of forests in the vicinity of mining areas through social forestry should be implemented.

Implications of Soil Potentially Toxic Elements Contamination, Distribution and Health Risk at Hunan’s Xikuangshan Mine

A field survey was conducted to determine the pollution grade, sources, potential ecological risk, and health risk of soil potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in Xikuangshan Mine (XKS), the largest antimony (Sb) deposit in the world. A total of 106 topsoil samples were collected from 6 sites in XKS to measure the concentrations of PTEs Cr, Zn, Cd, Pb, As, Hg, and Sb. The results show that the average concentrations of these elements at all six sites were generally greater than their corresponding background values in Hunan province, especially Sb, Hg, and As. Correlation and principal component analyses suggested that Cd, Zn, Pb, Hg, and Sb were primarily released from mining and other industrial and human activities, while Cr and As were mainly impacted by the parent material from pedogenesis. A risk index analysis showed that, overall, sites were at very high ecological risk, and Sb is the highest ecological risk factor, followed by Cd and Hg. According to health risk assessment, oral ingestion is the main non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk exposure route. The higher potentially non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks happen to the local children who live in the vicinity of mining area. It revealed that the mining and smelting processes of XKS have negatively influenced the local people, therefore, we should pay increasing attention to this practical issue and take effective measures to protect the ecology of XKS.

Different exposure profile of heavy metal and health risk between residents near a Pb-Zn mine and a Mn mine in Huayuan county, South China

Heavy metal contamination of environmental media in mining area is a global major concern because of its potential threat for human health through food chain. However, the comparison of exposure level and health risk is scarce among people living in the vicinity of mining area with different pollution source. In this study, the concentrations of Mn, Cd, As, Pb, Cu, Zn, Cr and Ni in soil, air, water, rice, vegetable, fish, poultry meat and pork from a Pb-Zn mining area and a Mn mining area in Huayuan county, China were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Results showed that the environmental media and foodstuffs in the two areas were contaminated by Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr and Ni. However, the pollution was more serious in Pb-Zn mining area than Mn mining area. The total hazard index (HI) was 6.59 and 4.55 in Pb-Zn mining area and Mn mining area, respectively, indicating a moderate non-carcinogenic risk of local people. As intake via rice ingestion was the predominant contributor to the total HI in the two mining areas, accounting for 25% and 35%, respectively. For Pb-Zn mining area, Cd intake through vegetable consumption and Mn intake via air inhalation appeared to be another two important components contributing to HI. This study highlights the multi-element and multi-pathway exposure assessment to evaluate the potential health risk and emphasizes concerns to reduce As and Cd in agricultural products as well as Mn in air to decrease the detrimental health effects of local resident.

Groundwater vulnerability assessment in degraded coal mining areas using the AHP–Modified DRASTIC model

AbstractExtensive coal mining results in ecological upheaval. Mining activities such as excavation and dumping of overburden convert land into new habitats, which completely degrades the soil structure. Adverse impacts of coal mining activities on water resources have been reported from several such regions. This study focusses on the assessment of groundwater vulnerability due to land degradation in coal mining areas. Three techniques were used to study the groundwater vulnerability: (a) the original DRASTIC overlay and index based model, (b) a modified DRASTIC model developed by adding land use and distance from lineament parameters, and (c) a model developed using analytic hierarchy process to optimise the rates and weights of the modified DRASTIC parameters. The groundwater vulnerability assessment models were validated by comparing the analysed groundwater samples data of the region and then by comparing with the computed overall water quality index for each sampling site. The results showed that groundwater vulnerability assessment in coal mining areas can be significantly improved. The best results were observed using an analytic hierarchy process–Modified DRASTIC model, which showed the highest positive significant (p < .01) correlation (r = .94) with the water quality index. Spatial distribution results revealed critical impact of land degradation due to coal mining on groundwater, as nearly 24% of the entire study area lied in the high to very high vulnerable zones, most of which are located in the vicinity of mining areas. This study will help in better water management practices in coal mining areas.

Coal Mining and Local Environment: A Study in Talcher Coalfield of India

Despite government’s repeated assertions for the sustainable mining extraction and development of rural and tribal communities living near the vicinity of mining areas, these have not been converted into implementable solutions. The natural resources from rural and tribal areas are being exploited to meet the ever-increasing requirements and aspirations of the affluent groups. With the above background, this article, taking both experimental and control villages into account, tried to explore the impact of coal mining on local environment. Although dealing with local environment, it has mostly focused on sociological impact of mining in air, water, and noise pollution. The data collected show that the suspended particulate matter concentration is alarmingly high in few sampling locations, whereas respirable suspended particulate matter concentration which once used to be within acceptable limits is now gradually approaching its standard acceptable value of 300 µg/m3. Along with uncovered coal transportation, lack of water spraying system and movement of heavy vehicles have brought an addition to air pollution to the locality. The extraction of mining has influenced the water table. The data collected from State Pollution Control Board, Bhubaneswar, show that suspended sediments and chemical oxygen demand in most of the mining areas and biological oxygen demand in few cases have crossed the specific standard. Along with this, household survey was conducted by covering 6 villages and 600 households. The study was undertaken by following experimental design where 450 households were taken from experimental, ie, mining villages, and 150 households have been selected from nonmining areas. Of the 450 households, around 96.44% villagers responded that Mahanadi Coalfields Limited is not taking any mitigation measures to apprehend the pollution caused by mining operations.

Assessment of the capability of remote sensing and GIS techniques for monitoring reclamation success in coal mine degraded lands

The objective of the present study is to monitor reclamation activity in mining areas. Monitoring of these reclaimed sites in the vicinity of mining areas and on closed Over Burden (OB) dumps is critical for improving the overall environmental condition, especially in developing countries where area around the mines are densely populated. The present study evaluated the reclamation success in the Block II area of Jharia coal field, India, using Landsat satellite images for the years 2000 and 2015. Four image processing methods (support vector machine, ratio vegetation index, enhanced vegetation index, and normalized difference vegetation index) were used to quantify the change in vegetation cover between the years 2000 and 2015. The study also evaluated the relationship between vegetation health and moisture content of the study area using remote sensing techniques. Statistical linear regression analysis revealed that Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) coupled with Normalized Difference Moisture Index (NDMI) is the best method for vegetation monitoring in the study area when compared to other indices. A strong linear relationship (r2 > 0.86) was found between NDVI and NDMI. An increase of 21% from 213.88 ha in 2000 to 258.9 ha in 2015 was observed in the vegetation cover of the reclaimed sites for an open cast mine, indicating satisfactory reclamation activity. NDVI results indicated that vegetation health also improved over the years.

Germination and establishment of the invasive cordgrass Spartina densiflora in acidic and metal polluted sediments of the Tinto River

Heavy metal pollution is common in rivers in the vicinity of mining areas. In these polluted environments, the survival of alien species with a high tolerance to metals may be favored. The Tinto River (Southwest Iberian Peninsula) is an excellent natural laboratory for the study of plants’ responses to acidic and metal polluted sediments. This work analyzes the tolerance of the alien species Spartina densiflora to low pH and high metal loads in the Tinto River. The main aim of this study was to determine if this alien species can invade landward along the banks of the Tinto River. S. densiflora seeds were able to germinate in heavy metal polluted aerobic sediments even at pH 2. However, these conditions decreased S. densiflora final germination, altered germination dynamics, decreased aerial and subterranean growth rates, and prevented its establishment.

Toxicity assessment of garden soils in the vicinity of mining areas in Southern Morocco

The aim of the present work is the assessment of the concentration, toxicity and phytoavailability of heavy metals in garden soils in the vicinity of three mines (A, B and C) in South of Morocco by using concurrently selective chemical extractions, MetPLATE™ a toxicity bioassay and plant growth experiments. The tailings materials containing very high concentrations of Mn, Cu and Co in mine A, Co, Mn, Cr and Ni in mine B and Cu and Zn in mine C. The high toxicity of tailings from mine C (86.7% inhibition) and moderate toxicity of tailings from mine B (51.0% inhibition) were mainly due to the relative high concentrations of soluble Cu and Zn. Nevertheless, the low metal toxicity observed in most garden soils was confirmed by the low metal concentrations in the soil water extracts. In all garden soils, Lactuca sativa L. and Lolium multiflorum L. contained in their shoots Cd, Co, Cr, Cu and Ni below toxic concentrations while Zn (in all soils) and Mn in two soils from mine A were accumulated at concentrations high enough to be considered phytotoxic. The low biomass produced on garden soils in the vicinity of mines B and C is explained by the relative low toxicity compared to mine A. Transfer factor values for Zn were higher than those found for Mn for both plant species, confirming that this element is present at lower bioavailable fraction in soil than Zn.

Tinjauan terhadap tailing mengandung unsur pencemar Arsen (As), Merkuri (Hg), Timbal (Pb), dan Kadmium (Cd) dari sisa pengolahan bijih logam

http://dx.doi.org/10.17014/ijog.vol1no1.20064aWhen tailing of a mining activity is discharged into either landscape or river body, the pollutan element wastes are possible to disperse within those areas and may cause pollution on environment. The environment pollution hazards of arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) probably occurred if tailing with the content of those elements is not handled properly. Particularly in the tropical regions, higher rates of chemical weathering and bio-chemical activity will contribute a rapid mobilization of the most potentially toxic elements.One of adverse health effects from arsenic to human life is in the case of arsenic-contained drinking waters exceed the threshold limit value. As a result, it will create chronic symptoms of toxicity within the human body such as gastro-intestinal irritation, nerve damage and tissue wastage. Tailing originated from amalgamation processing of gold ore enables its mercury waste to disperse in the vicinity of mining area and may form environment pollution by either organic or inorganic mercury. The pollution would be more hazardous to human health if mercury element in the water body transform biochemically into a compound of methylmercury. There is a variety of mechanisms by micro-organism which can bring about the formation of the very toxic methylmercury species, particularly with regard to its uptake by fish. Effects to the human health from the organic mercury include the blood-brain barrier and upsetting the metabolism of the nervous system. Whilst the main toxic effect of inorganic mercury is disruption the functions of kidneys and liver within human body. Most mining activity of base metal may discharge tailing with a significant lead (Pb) content. Lead is a cumulative poison, hence absorbing this element by human body with particularly exceeding its threshold limit value will bind strongly to a large number of molecules such as amino acids, haemoglobin, many enzymes, RNA and DNA. Then it will bring into disruption of many metabolic pathways, blood hypertension, hyperactivity and brain damage. Problems of cadmium could arise from a lead-zinc mining and smelting operation, from where pollution due to cadmium-contained tailing with additional aerial pollution associates with cadmium-contained fumes and particles. The toxic effects of cadmium to human health are suffering from lumbago-type pains, bone damage with multiple fractures of the softened bones and kidney failure.

Geochemical distribution of arsenic in waters, sediments and weathered gold mineralized rocks from Iron Quadrangle, Brazil

The Iron Quadrangle has been the scenery of the most important gold production in Brazil. It is estimated that during the three centuries of gold mining in the Iron Quadrangle, at least 390,000 t of arsenic was discharged into the drainage system. This study presents geochemical data for the three river basins in the region, with focus on surface water and stream sediment monitoring. Samples of primary and oxidized sulfide ores as well as of tailings and groundwater from the major gold mines were also studied. The highest As concentrations in water and stream sediments occur in the vicinity of mining areas. In surface water, up to 300 g As/l were found whereas the As contents in stream sediments were in the range of 20 to 4,000 mg/kg. The As3+/As5+ concentration ratios obtained for some water samples range from 1.10−1 to 4.10−2. The As mobility associated with ore-deposit weathering could be traced in some closed gold mines by observation of in-situ pyrite and arsenopyrite oxidation, precipitation of scorodite and gippsite, As adsorption onto goethite, and final liberation of As into underground and surface waters. This process is likely to produce large volumes of mine effluents containing total As and trivalent As up to 1,960 and 60 g/l, respectively. River sediments and tailings pile samples were submitted to a leaching procedure showing maximal arsenic release from 1 to 4% of the original total As in the samples. There are potential risks for As hazards in some areas induced by, for instance, the dispersion of old tailings by flooding, occupation of poisoned soils for settlements, and occasional consumption of contaminated surface and groundwater.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF MINE BLASTING

The blasting is the predominating method o f breaking rocks in various surface and underground mines. At the same time some damaging impacts on environment are evident: noise, gas, dust, flyrock and ground vibration. The last factor is most important for safety o f constructions, buildings and various natural objects in the vicinity o f mining area. The ground vibration parameters, crucial for safety o f endangered objects have a significant correlation with charge weight and distance o f blasting. The properties o f vibration medium impact on the value o f these parameters. This study tried to associate the main vibration parameter, particle velocity with blasting parameters and properties o f vibration medium. The blast vibrations were studied in the soil o f Quaternary sediments and in Ordovician limestone in Estonian oil shale mining area in opencast and underground mines. The analysis o f measured data pointed significant correlation between vibration velocity and scaled distance from charges. The formulas and nomographs for prediction o f vibration velocity and fo r maximum permitted charge weights were elaborated fo r basic rocks and fo r soil, fo r oil shale underground and opencast mines. Using these formulas and nomographs in blast design will make possible to diminish the impact o f mine blasting on the objects located in the vicinity of mining area.

Review Of The Small Scale Gold Mining Practices At Cineam, Tasikmalaya Regency, West Java, Indonesia

Gold deposit at Cineam area is an epithermal gold deposit of low sulphidation type which lies about 180 km southeast of Bandung at an elevation of 400 meter above the mean sea level. The Cineam deposit is administratively belongs to Cineam Subdistrict , Tasikmalaya Regency, West Java Province, which dominantly occurred within volcanic rocks unit of Jampang Formation. Alterations developed in this area namely propylite, argillic, sericitation, and silisification, occurred in andesitic lava, volcanic breccia, and andesitic to dacitic tuff. The thickness of gold bearing quartz veins are commonly from few cm up to > 20 cm, while for the veins of higher grade of gold content the thickness are about 5 cm or less. The average grade of gold content is around 6 - 10 gr/t Au. Although Cineam gold deposits can not be classified as a big scale deposit, itsmineral genesis has an interesting characteristic to be further studied. The Cineam area representing one of the most prospect areas of gold found in the eastern part of West Java Southern Mountain Range. As the Cineam gold deposit is proportionally suitable for a small scale gold mine, the local government had already gave a mining license to a Family Firm in the form of a Village Unit Cooperation or “KUD” such as KUD Mekarjaya which had also been updated to become a B class of Exploitation License category that permitted for the realization of metallic exploitation. This action was in line with the implementation of Autonomy Policy since the year of 2001.Although KUD Mekarjaya’s mining production is relatively so small but in fact the mining activity is still being maintained to be daily earnings for the local gold miners to rely on. Within the long run of the local gold miners activity at Cineam which has been working since 1968, this condition can give rise to many well skilled and experienced labors in seeking for gold ores, in handling small scale gold mining works, and in obtaining for the bullions. In other side, on thecontrary, there are some negative actions must be kept under control such as the disposal of the waste or tailing directly into the river and the unsafely process of heating the amalgam to obtain the bullion including other improper ways done during the handling of their mining activities. Since the whole mining operation so far generally financed by individual investors it is very likely that small scale gold mining lacks of the capital needed for the mining operation. This condition is what the KUD always facing with so that management and financial matters can be a very serious problem affecting the progress of the KUD Mekarjaya From some presentation given by the CCOP-CASM Meeting in Bandung we can compare the condition of small scale mining in Indonesia. and that from other countries which have conducted good management in mining regulation and policy in relation with licensing, mining workers, tax payment and awareness of environment live in the vicinity of mining areas On account of that event this can be expected to motivate and encourage the policy anddecision makers either locally or centrally throughout Indonesia in giving more attention related to the guidance, monitoring and inspection of the implementation of small scale mining activities which is actually growing in numbers.