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Mining activities produce waste materials and effluents with very high metal concentrations that can negatively impact ecosystems and human health. Consequently, data on soil and plant metal levels are crucial for evaluating pollution severity and formulating soil reclamation strategies, such as phytoremediation. Our research focused on soils and vegetation of a highly contaminated site with potentially toxic metals (Pb, Zn, and Cu) in the Touissit mining districts of eastern Morocco. Vegetation inventory was carried out in three mine tailings of the Touissit mine fields using the "field tower" technique. Here, 91 species belonging to 23 families were inventoried: the most represented families were Poaceae and Asteraceae, and the biological spectrum indicated a predominance of Therophytes (55.12%). From the studied areas, 15 species were selected and collected in triplicate on the tailings and sampled with their corresponding rhizospheric soils, and analyzed for Pb, Zn, and Cu concentrations. Reseda lutea, lotus marocanus, and lotus corniculatus can be considered as hyperaccumulators of Pb, as these plants accumulated more than 1000 mg·kg−1 in their aerial parts. According to TF, these plant species could serve as effective plants for Pb phytoextraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Mining and mining activities are among the sectors that make a major contribution to the national economy. Fast and accurate production planning for the work to be carried out in the mine makes an important contribution. For this purpose, it is necessary to map the mine sites and measure their volumes. UAVs, which have been used in various fields as the technology has developed, have found a place in the mining sector for various purposes. UAVs are much cheaper and more practical to use compared to other expensive technologies, especially for measurements in mining areas. In this study, a digital elevation model and an orthomosaic map were produced from the data collected by the UAV. Using the digital maps produced, a state-of-the-art map of the mine site was made and finally the volume calculation of the 2 waste areas in the mine site was performed in two different software. As a result, it was observed that the use of UAV technology in the mining sector, especially in open pit mines, is an effective method and offers significant advantages over conventional methods. It was also found that the volume calculations made using UAV technology are highly accurate and highly consistent with the results obtained using conventional methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mining activities produce waste materials and effluents with very high metal concentrations that can negatively impact ecosystems and human health. Consequently, data on soil and plant metal levels are crucial for evaluating pollution severity and formulating soil reclamation strategies, such as phytoremediation. Our research focused on soils and vegetation of a highly contaminated site with potentially toxic metals (Pb, Zn, and Cu) in the Touissit mining districts of eastern Morocco. Vegetation inventory was carried out in three mine tailings of the Touissit mine fields using the “field tower” technique. Here, 91 species belonging to 23 families were inventoried: the most represented families were Poaceae and Asteraceae, and the biological spectrum indicated a predominance of Therophytes (55.12%). From the studied areas, 15 species were selected and collected in triplicate on the tailings and sampled with their corresponding rhizospheric soils, and analyzed for Pb, Zn, and Cu concentrations. Reseda lutea, lotus marocanus, and lotus corniculatus can be considered as hyperaccumulators of Pb, as these plants accumulated more than 1000 mg·kg−1 in their aerial parts. According to TF, these plant species could serve as effective plants for Pb phytoextraction.

The environmental legacy of post-closure mine sites poses a significant risk to the sustainability of mining operations and natural resource development. This study aims to advance the understanding of sustainable mine site reclamation behavior in Canada by using multi-temporal Landsat satellite images to examine the long-term land cover changes at post-closure mine sites. Six representative post-closure mine sites were selected for the evaluation and comparison. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) analysis, Landsat image classification, post-classification change detection, and Regrowth Index (RI) analysis were conducted to assess the speed and extent of landscape and vegetation recovery at the target mine sites. A significant vegetation recovery was quantified for the mine sites that have experienced active reclamation activities. In contrast, the post-closure mine area undergoing only passive revegetation typically demonstrated a slow and minor increase in vegetation over time. The actively revegetated mine sites can typically be restored to a vegetation cover level that equals or is better than the pre-mining situation. This work confirms that active reclamation and revegetation at post-closure mine sites is critically important in sustainable mining. The quantified mine site reclamation behavior and the relevant sustainable practices would be useful for evidence-based sustainable resource management in Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Vegetation dynamics and land use information are significant for a better understanding of the ecological consequences of multiple mining activities. However, the high spatial heterogeneity of mine sites and diverse disturbance and recovery pathways make it a challenge to understand the dynamics of multiple mine sites over large areas. Here, we proposed a general framework for continuous monitoring of land use and vegetation dynamics in multiple mine sites and applied it to Pingxiang, China. First, annual land use and land cover (LULC) maps from 2000 to 2019 were generated using a modified Continuous Change Detection and Classification approach (CCDC). Second, the locations and extents of 86 mine sites on different scales were mapped individually and then aggregated into five groups according to the similarity and differences of vegetation change. Vegetation dynamics showed great heterogeneity across sites driven primarily by the spatial‐temporal variation in types and intensity of land use activities in and around the mine sites. We found the impact distance was typically 500–700 m in the region, but can be smaller than the potential impact distance in areas with land use activities. The long‐term slow recovery of vegetation conditions at some sites indicates that it might be a challenge to improve vegetation conditions naturally in a short time and human‐assisted restoration measures may be required. The systematic framework proposed in this study can be used to establish comprehensive and spatially‐explicit mine datasets at the regional scale, essential for understanding the dynamics and ecological consequences of multiple mining activities and coordinated management and restoration of heterogeneous mine sites.

Mining activities degrade the landscape and ecosystems by introducing new land uses that alter soil characteristics. Mapping of this degradation is critical, particularly in the context of environmental protection, including climate change research. Even though mining provides significant industrial and economic benefits to society, it also decreases soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and increases atmospheric carbon levels. This study aims to develop a practical method for determining the changes in SOC in the Altintepe Gold Mine, Ordu, Turkey, due to land cover changes caused by the mining process. 2013 and 2021 Landsat 8 images and CORINE data were used to map the land cover of the study area. NDVI analyses were conducted to detect land cover and SOC stocks, while the NDWI method was used to identify the water surfaces. SOC stock changes on the changed lands were calculated compared to the Turkey Soil Organic Carbon Stock Project database. The results showed that 109.85 ha of forest and 5.30 ha of agricultural land, corresponding to 4450.82 tons of SOC loss, were destroyed in the research area. Since the alterations in SOC levels are commonly determined by verifying remote sensing based analysis results with the site surveys, it becomes quite challenging to conduct such research in areas like Altintepe due to site access restrictions or data unavailability. From this point, this study presents a practical and alternative approach that avoids the necessity of fieldwork and provides a quick SOC change estimation based on the comparison of available data. The results are expected to provide a comprehensive and holistic perspective for the future operations and management of the mine sites and the surrounding environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chaetomium cupreum, a root endophyte in Miscanthus sinensis, enhances Al tolerance in M. sinensis by changing aluminum (Al) localization and the production of a siderophore, oosporein, which chelates Al for detoxification. Oosporein has various functions, including insecticidal activity, phytotoxicity, antifungal activity, and a siderophore. In our study, we focused on the detoxification effect of oosporein as a siderophore and on the growth of M. sinensis under Al exposure. In addition, the phytotoxicity of oosporein to M. sinensis was confirmed to compare with those in Lactuca sativa and Oryza sativa as control plants. Under Al stress, oosporein promoted plant growth in M. sinensis seedlings at 10 ppm, which was the same concentration as that detected in M. sinensis roots infected with C. cupreum in our previous study. Oosporein also showed low phytotoxicity to M. sinensis compared with L. sativa at even high concentrations of oosporein. These results suggest that the concentration of oosporein in M. sinensis roots would be maintained at the appropriate concentration to detoxify Al and would promote M. sinensis growth under Al stress, although oosporein would show low phytotoxicity to the natural host plant, M. sinensis, compared with the non-host plant, L. sativa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study investigated the removal of metal ions pollutants in mining wastewater such as Mn (II), Fe (III), Pb (II) and Cu (II) ions by acid-activated kaolinite clay (AAC) and titanium (IV) oxide (TiO2) nanoparticles supported on the AAC (TiO2–AAC). TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesised using titanium salt precursor with leaves extract of Parkia biglobossa and impregnated on the AAC to develop TiO2-AAC as a nanoadsorbent. The AAC and TiO2–AAC nanocomposites were characterized using different analytical techniques. Actual concentrations of selected heavy metals in mining wastewater was determined prior and after treatment using the prepared adsorbents in batch adsorptive studies with atomic absorption spectrophometer. The characterisation studies confirmed that a rutile phase TiO2 was doped the on acid-activated kaolinite clay. Morphology analysis shows that the developed adsorbents were homogeneously dispersed and porous. The results of the surface area further revealed that the AAC, TiO2 and TiO2–AAC has 14.15, 10.23 and 32.98 m2/g, respectively. The percentage removal of heavy metals followed the order of TiO2–AAC > AAC due to the higher surface area and enhanced surface functionality of the former than the latter. The adsorption capacity increased from 86.13 to 91.99% (Fe (III)), 83.12 to 89.37% (Mn (II)), 68.48 to 81.95% (Cu (II)) and 29.49 to 32.39% (Pb (II)) from AAC to TiO2–AAC. The kinetic and isotherm models were best fitted by pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir model. Whilst the thermodynamic investigation found that, the adsorption process was endothermic, spontaneous and chemisorption controlled. Conclusively, the TiO2–AAC nanocomposite exhibited better performance than AAC alone.

Vegetation dynamics and land use information are significant for a better understanding of the ecological consequences of multiple mining activities. However, the high spatial heterogeneity of mine sites and diverse disturbance and recovery pathways make it a challenge to understand the dynamics of multiple mine sites over large areas. Here, we proposed a general framework for continuous monitoring of land use and vegetation dynamics in multiple mine sites and applied it to Pingxiang, China. First, annual land use and land cover (LULC) maps from 2000 to 2019 were generated using a modified Continuous Change Detection and Classification approach (CCDC). Second, the locations and extents of 86 mine sites on different scales were mapped individually and then aggregated into five groups according to the similarity and differences of vegetation change. Vegetation dynamics showed great heterogeneity across sites driven primarily by the spatial‐temporal variation in types and intensity of land use activities in and around the mine sites. We found the impact distance was typically 500–700 m in the region, but can be smaller than the potential impact distance in areas with land use activities. The long‐term slow recovery of vegetation conditions at some sites indicates that it might be a challenge to improve vegetation conditions naturally in a short time and human‐assisted restoration measures may be required. The systematic framework proposed in this study can be used to establish comprehensive and spatially‐explicit mine datasets at the regional scale, essential for understanding the dynamics and ecological consequences of multiple mining activities and coordinated management and restoration of heterogeneous mine sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the scope of the study, the change occurring in the vegetation cover was examined in different temporal and spatial scales for in the example of Kırka boron mining site. Two different satellite images, namely Landsat and Sentinel, were utilized while the competence of these two satellite images were analyzed. Unsupervised classification and vegetation indexes have been used from remote sensing techniques. It was observed that the mining area boundary could not be determined using vegetation indexes, whereas unsupervised classification techniques showed that the miningral site occupies 1144.5 ha area. NDVI and NDRe analyses were conducted to determine the vegetation change outside the mining area. It has been determined that the analyses performed with the NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index) and NDRe (normalized difference red edge index) indexes show different results on water surfaces, while they show similar results in rest of the areas. In NDVI analysis, it has been determined that the two satellite images gave similar results in NDVI analyses, while having higher spatial resolution, sentinel satellite images were able to capture more details. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the removal of metal ions pollutants in mining wastewater such as Mn (II), Fe (III), Pb (II) and Cu (II) ions by acid-activated kaolinite clay (AAC) and titanium (IV) oxide (TiO2) nanoparticles supported on the AAC (TiO2–AAC). TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesised using titanium salt precursor with leaves extract of Parkia biglobossa and impregnated on the AAC to develop TiO2-AAC as a nanoadsorbent. The AAC and TiO2–AAC nanocomposites were characterized using different analytical techniques. Actual concentrations of selected heavy metals in mining wastewater was determined prior and after treatment using the prepared adsorbents in batch adsorptive studies with atomic absorption spectrophometer. The characterisation studies confirmed that a rutile phase TiO2 was doped the on acid-activated kaolinite clay. Morphology analysis shows that the developed adsorbents were homogeneously dispersed and porous. The results of the surface area further revealed that the AAC, TiO2 and TiO2–AAC has 14.15, 10.23 and 32.98 m2/g, respectively. The percentage removal of heavy metals followed the order of TiO2–AAC > AAC due to the higher surface area and enhanced surface functionality of the former than the latter. The adsorption capacity increased from 86.13 to 91.99% (Fe (III)), 83.12 to 89.37% (Mn (II)), 68.48 to 81.95% (Cu (II)) and 29.49 to 32.39% (Pb (II)) from AAC to TiO2–AAC. The kinetic and isotherm models were best fitted by pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir model. Whilst the thermodynamic investigation found that, the adsorption process was endothermic, spontaneous and chemisorption controlled. Conclusively, the TiO2–AAC nanocomposite exhibited better performance than AAC alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chaetomium cupreum, a root endophyte in Miscanthus sinensis, enhances Al tolerance in M. sinensis by changing aluminum (Al) localization and the production of a siderophore, oosporein, which chelates Al for detoxification. Oosporein has various functions, including insecticidal activity, phytotoxicity, antifungal activity, and a siderophore. In our study, we focused on the detoxification effect of oosporein as a siderophore and on the growth of M. sinensis under Al exposure. In addition, the phytotoxicity of oosporein to M. sinensis was confirmed to compare with those in Lactuca sativa and Oryza sativa as control plants. Under Al stress, oosporein promoted plant growth in M. sinensis seedlings at 10 ppm, which was the same concentration as that detected in M. sinensis roots infected with C. cupreum in our previous study. Oosporein also showed low phytotoxicity to M. sinensis compared with L. sativa at even high concentrations of oosporein. These results suggest that the concentration of oosporein in M. sinensis roots would be maintained at the appropriate concentration to detoxify Al and would promote M. sinensis growth under Al stress, although oosporein would show low phytotoxicity to the natural host plant, M. sinensis, compared with the non-host plant, L. sativa.

Miscanthussinensis growing in our study mine site contained a high concentration of Al in the adventitious roots. It has a root endophyte, Phialocephala fortinii, in its adventitious roots at a high frequency. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the effects of P. fortinii on Al tolerance mechanisms of M. sinensis and reveal potential underlying mechanisms. In the absence of P. fortinii, M. sinensis produced chlorogenic, citric, and malic acids that could act to alleviate Al toxicity in acidic mine soil. Up on fungal inoculation, the levels of these compounds were reduced, although the growth of seedlings and Mg concentration in the roots were increased. IAA production by the fungus may contribute to enhanced plant growth whereas an increase of Mg uptake could reduce toxicity of reactive oxygen species under Al stress. These actions of P. fortinii could promote growth and survival of M. sinensis in mine sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe tree decline in natural ecosystems around the world has driven Phytophthora research, resulting in a better understanding of the diversity and association of Phytophthora species with different host plants. Improved molecular techniques have contributed significantly to that understanding. The devastating impact of Phytophthora dieback in native vegetation in the southwest of Western Australia (SWWA) has motivated a committed research effort to understand the survival and spread of this pathogen. Hot, dry summers characterise the climate of this ecosystem, and are supposedly unfavourable for a moisture-loving pathogen to survive, spread and thrive. However, Phytophthora cinnamomi can survive within the roots of native plant species allowing for its persistence. Random plant sampling, with metabarcoding from root samples, revealed the presence of at least 23 Phytophthora species on 18 of the 20 plant species growing on mining stockpiles of the Huntly mine site (Alcoa of Australia Limited) in SWWA. Phytophthora cinnamomi was detected on 16 of the 20 plant species. This finding supports the idea that native plant species have a significant role in the survival and spread of P. cinnamomi in the environment. The presence of other Phytophthora species challenges the assumption that P. cinnamomi is the main cause of Phytophthora dieback; the disease may be complex, involving several Phytophthora species. These unexpected detections indicate that plants in the natural forest can serve as the reservoir of inoculum of not only P. cinnamomi but also for other Phytophthora species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is intended for use as a progress report of a potential design for a gravity take-up skid frame. As a result, a new gravity take-up skid frame is required. To obtain the best possible design for the take-up structure, it was separated into four phases. Phase one included concept development of the design. It was found that the motor must be able to handle 132.3 kW of power when the belt is fully flooded. Phase two, the material was selected for the construction. Phase three was the performance analysis of the design. In this stage, calculations justifying design decisions including the conveyor capacity at normal and maximum conditions as well as start-up and shutdown conditions and an analysis of the belt tensile forces at steady and non-steady conditions. The drive system was also analyzed to determine the resistive forces and subsequent power needed to operate the system. Furthermore, the design analysis of the drive, pulleys, idlers and bearings was conducted. Phase four was the FE analysis of the system. This included static analysis on the structure including both the skid frame and takeup weight structure and a fatigue analysis on the pulleys. From this it was determined that the design will operate with the required strength and serviceability as outlined in AS 4100 and AS 3990 for the agreed upon system lifetime. Furthermore, it was determined that the system will operate as required for all agreed upon conditions, that is normal, maximum, start-up and shutdown operating conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the level of metals in edible plants, their chemical forms in the soil, and the associated health risk in Enyigba lead-zinc mining vicinity in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Soil sample, Telfairia occidentalis and Amaranthus hybridus were collected from mining sites (Ishiagu-Enyigba and Elinwobvu-Enyigba) and non-mining site (Ekawoke-control) and analyzed using standard protocols. The results showed that a high percentage of Cd, Pb, Fe, and Zn were associated with non-residual fraction, while Cu, Cr, and Ni were bounded with residual fraction. The order of mobility and bioavailability of the metals was as follows: Pb > Cd > Fe > Zn > Cr > Ni > Cu. Geoaccumulation index (Igeo) indicated moderate to strong pollution of the mining sites with Cd Cu, Pb, and Zn. The most significant contributor to hazard index (HI) was ingestion of edible plants; followed by ingestion, dermal-contact, and then inhalation of soil particles. HI values for Cd (1.32), Cr (1.05), and Pb (1.97–2.04) for children in the sites exceeded United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) safe limit (HI > 1). Total cancer risk (TCR) for adults and children via soil inhalation or soil ingestion were below USEPA safe limit (TCR < 1.0 × 10−4). TCR for adults and children via consumption of T. occidentalis or A. hybridus exceeded USEPA safe limit (TCR > 1.0 × 10−4). These results strongly indicated associated noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic health risk of these metals from the soil and the edible plants around Enyigba mining sites vicinity to humans especially children, this calls for concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study investigated the effect of method of blending and spreading topsoil-waste rock (as dictated by waste dump position), rock addition, topsoil source and seed burial on seedling emergence from seeds broadcast onto mine restoration sites. Methods: Seed of 10 species were surface sown onto a waste rock dump plateau with six cover treatments spread by loose tipping; three topsoil source treatments (sand dunes, sandplains and stony hills) x two waste rock treatments (topsoil mixed and without waste rock). Results: Emergence was greater on the waste dump plateau than slopes, where very few seedlings emerged. On the waste dump plateau, the addition of rock to topsoil increased seedling emergence >2.5-fold. Soil surface temperatures were cooler and water content at a depth of 2 cm was higher in topsoil mixed with rock than without rock. Conclusions: Higher seedling emergence with the addition of rock to topsoil was due to the creation of microsites where sub-soil moisture was retained for longer durations. Lack of emergence on waste dump slopes was attributed to relatively low surface roughness that reflected operational issues associated with different methods of spreading and mixing topsoil with rock on plateau versus on slopes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants inhabiting extremely stressful mine site environments tend to be specialized and localized, where they express lower performance than nonmine site plants from adjacent areas. However, such a cost may be concealed. In a previous study at a mine site, we found mine and adjacent nonmine plants of multiple species expressed similar performances in the absence of competition. However, a lower competitive ability may be a concealed driver. We aim to test whether costs under competition could explain specialization. In a glasshouse experiment, we measured the performance (i.e. vegetative and reproductive growth) of mine and nonmine potted plants under competition. The 6 herbaceous species tested were Anagallis arvensis L., Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten., Conyza sumatrensis Retz., Echium vulgare L., Oxalis chnoodes Lourteig, and Senecio diaschides D.G.Drury. We exposed individuals to interspecific competition using a local grass (Polypogon monspeliensis), as well as to intraspecific competition. Plants were grown alone for the control group. For all treatments, the mine plants expressed similar performances to the nonmine plants, except for mine site O. chnoodes, which had lower performance under intraspecific competition. Mine plants of A. arvensis and C. sumatrensis had higher performance than nonmine plants. Overall, there was no evidence of specialization in the mine site plants. These results indicate that, under some circumstances, inhabiting a stressful metal habitat does not promote specialization in multiple species. Future research may focus on assessing the environmental conditions and population genetics that promote the evolution of generalists that inhabit extremely stressful environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological restoration of landscapes is an integral part of the mining process. However, restoration is often constrained by a lack of consistent monitoring approaches. For example, the need for specialist techniques and trapping approaches often limits monitoring of fauna recovery. Application of molecular tools has made important contributions to understanding factors influencing restoration success. Here, we outline advances in next‐generation sequencing methods, especially metabarcoding of environmental DNA. These have potential to revolutionize the practical contribution of genetics to the monitoring of fauna in a restoration context. DNA metabarcoding involves the simultaneous characterization of biota using DNA barcodes. It is a powerful method to assess the biodiversity contained within environmental samples (e.g. scats, bulk arthropods, soil, water, and sediment). This review outlines the challenges associated with current approaches to monitoring faunal biodiversity throughout ecological restoration. We also demonstrate how the emergence of DNA metabarcoding could recast monitoring capacity for improved ecological restoration outcomes, while discussing current limitations of a DNA‐based approach to biodiversity assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subsurface contamination of metals and radionuclides are common problems in abandoned mine sites. Metals and radionuclides are likely to occur in the mobile phase or may bind to soil particles and geologic framework. The transport process for reactive contaminants also include chemical reactions in groundwater aquifers, which are complex physical and biogeochemical processes. Accurate tools to reliably predict the movement and changes in concentration of metals and their daughter products (radionuclides) formations in the subsurface environment is important for decision makers to analyze impact, and to evaluate the effectiveness of remediation strategies. An advanced numerical model can provide such useful direction of predictions. A 3-D contaminant transport model for fluid flow, hydrogeologic transport, and biogeochemical kinetic and equilibrium reactions in saturated and unsaturated media was calibrated, validated and implemented to model the hydrogeochemical processes that occur in the subsurface at such a complex contaminated site, consisting of waste rock dumps and flooded mine pits of this abandoned uranium mine site. The developed flow and transport simulation model for no longer in use mine site in Northern Territory of Australia is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction of subway stations is inevitably accompanied by the formation of a large amount of waste that is extracted from the underground workings by rock. When the waste is transported, the air is polluted with the exhaust gases of the dump trucks, some of the waste can stay on the road surface, the use of dump trucks increases the load on the roadway, the disposal of waste at landfills harms the environment, and enterprises pay fees for the transportation as well as placement of the waste. The article deals with the waste from the construction of new stations in the Saint-Petersburg subway. In order to determine the possibility of using waste in the municipal economy, a comprehensive analysis of this waste was carried out, including determination of moisture content, acidity, total carbon content, as well as chemical and granulometric composition. On the basis of the study results, it was established that the waste in question belongs to the hazard class 5, which enables to use it as a component of the soil mixture. Afterwards, the hazard class 5 was confirmed by the method of bioassay based on the determination of water toxicity by changing the optical density of the Chlorella algae culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]