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Ground subsidence
Published in F.G. Bell, Geological Hazards, 1999
Each investigation should be designed to meet the requirements of the construction operations to be carried out. The first stage of the site investigation involves a desk study and a reconnaissance survey, which are then followed by the necessary field exploration. The desk study includes a survey of appropriate maps, documents, records and literature. The presence on geological maps of mineral deposits that could have been mined suggests the possibility of past mining unless there is evidence to the contrary, and geological and topographic maps may show evidence of past workings such as old shafts, adits and spoil heaps. All the geological and topographic maps of the area in question, going back to the first editions, should be examined. Abandoned mines record offices, when they exist, represent primary sources of information relating to past mining activity. Other sources include public record offices, museums, libraries, specialist contractors and consultants, private collections, and geological surveys.
An evolving agenda for environmental, health, and safety management in mining
Published in Natalia Yakovleva, Edmund Nickless, Routledge Handbook of the Extractive Industries and Sustainable Development, 2022
Luis E. Sánchez, Daniel M. Franks
In contrast to successful rehabilitation and repurposing for post-mining land uses, there is a huge number of abandoned mine sites. An abandoned mine site may range from an individual shaft to a large open pit. Figures amount to hundreds of thousands worldwide, with estimates of 50,000 in Australia (Campbell et al., 2017), 40,000 in US public lands managed by the Forest Service (USFS, 2020), and “140,000 abandoned hard rock mine features” in public lands managed by three federal agencies (USGAO, 2020) – hence, the total number considering coal and private lands can be much larger. In addition to hazards, some abandoned mines are contaminated sites that can pose long-term risks.
Land-Related Environmental Regulations of the United States
Published in Daniel T. Rogers, Environmental Compliance Handbook, 2023
The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 was enacted for the purpose of addressing the environmental effects of coal mining. The act created two programs (United States Office of Surface Mining 2021): Regulating active coal minesReclaiming abandoned mine lands The act also created the Office of Surface Mining within the United States Department of Interior to ensure consistency and fair application of the requirements under the act (United States Office of Surface Mining 2021).
Assessment and characterization of waste material used as backfilling in an abandoned mine
Published in International Journal of Coal Preparation and Utilization, 2023
Saba Shirin, Aarif Jamal, Christina Emmanouil, Vijay P. Singh, Akhilesh Kumar Yadav
FA from various nearby industries can be utilized in addition to OB since mixing FA in optimum quantity in certain cases can increase the stability of backfilled materials due to its pozzolanic nature. However, the leaching of backfilled materials is a serious matter of concern. Leaching from abandoned mines may result in water and soil pollution, thereby posing a significant risk for aquatic and soil organisms (Wuana and Okieimen 2011). Leachability studies convey useful information about the susceptibility of the waste used for leaching (USEPA 1984). In the present experiment, which was conducted on a laboratory scale, it may be observed that there is a neutralization of acidic water with passing the time when crushed OB, FA, and mixed material are allowed to interact (Table 3). It is indicated that water pH increased significantly after adding OB, FA, and OB+FA mixture, while TDS and EC decreased. Leaching of most elements was also decreased; in some cases, such as Fe and Na, this reduction was significant, while for metals of toxicological concern, such as Ni and Cu, the reduction was below the detection limit.
Arsenic in Latin America: New findings on source, mobilization and mobility in human environments in 20 countries based on decadal research 2010-2020
Published in Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 2021
Jochen Bundschuh, Maria Aurora Armienta, Nury Morales-Simfors, Mohammad Ayaz Alam, Dina L. López, Valeria Delgado Quezada, Sebastian Dietrich, Jerusa Schneider, Joseline Tapia, Ondra Sracek, Elianna Castillo, Lue-Meru Marco Parra, Maximina Altamirano Espinoza, Luiz Roberto Guimarães Guilherme, Numa Nahuel Sosa, Nabeel Khan Niazi, Barbara Tomaszewska, Katherine Lizama Allende, Klaus Bieger, David L. Alonso, Pedro F. B. Brandão, Prosun Bhattacharya, Marta I. Litter, Arslan Ahmad
Mining exploitation in El Salvador started during the colonial time with at least 15 gold and silver mines that were exploited, one of them (San Sebastian, Figure 3) closed the industrial exploitation as late as 1998. Three departments of the country have been affected by that exploitation (Morazán, San Miguel and La Unión, Figure 3). Discharges of acid mine drainage have been identified in some of the mines and the region has been studied by government organizations, consulting companies and non-government organizations. In 2017, the National Congress (Asamblea Legislativa) of El Salvador emitted a law that forbids exploitation of metal mines, underground as well as open pit mines. The law also contemplates the closing of the abandoned mines and possible environmental remediation. For that reason, several studies have been carried out about the contamination of rivers, groundwater, sediments, and mine waste in the mining areas (Ticay et al., 2015; Domínguez et al., 2015; CEICOM, 2010a). Data from those studies was used by López (2019) to analyze the results of concentration of heavy metals and As in the different environmental phases. However, it should be noted that the extension of the soil contamination with Hg, As and other metals and metalloids in the mined areas has not been evaluated yet. Unfortunately, those soils are often used for agricultural purposes and animal pasture with great risk of incorporation of the contaminants to the food web.
On the application of drones: a progress report in mining operations
Published in International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment, 2021
Khadija Omar Said, Moshood Onifade, Joseph Muchiri Githiria, Jibril Abdulsalam, Michael Oluwatosin Bodunrin, Bekir Genc, Oluwagbenga Johnson, Jide Muili Akande
Mining affects the earth crust due to extraction of huge volumes of material from the ground. This process tends to affect the composition and structure of abandoned mines. Other than rehabilitating and reclaiming, it is important to continuously monitor abandoned mines to ensure that they do not pose any hazard to the ecosystem. Due to their safe and fast data collection abilities, drones have demonstrated good potential for monitoring abandoned mines such as quantifying damage done due to subsidence [120], identifying radiation contamination of an abandoned uranium mine [131] and mapping of acid mine drainage of the Sokolov lignite mine [99].