The use of landscape evolution models in mining rehabilitation design

Landscape evolution models can be useful tools for the evaluation of rehabilitation designs for post-mining landscapes. When calibrated for the erodible material, landscape evolution models can predict sediment loss over entire landscapes (i.e. tonnes/hectare/year), method of erosion (i.e. slope wash, gullying) and also where on a hillslope erosion is likely to occur. The models provide the ability to examine simple hillslopes through to complex whole landscapes. These models can also be used for a probabilistic risk assessment of rehabilitation design for high-risk situations such as tailings dams. Importantly, unlike other erosion models they allow the eroded landscape to be visualised. This paper outlines the capabilities of the SIBERIA landscape evolution model for the rehabilitation of mining landscapes and proposes a probabilistic approach for risk assessment and site stability.     

宽级配废石的高排土场稳定性研究

宽级配废石的一坡到底的高台阶排土场具有明显的粒径分级特征,传统稳定性分析方法将其简化为多层各向同性的均质土体,却实质性忽略了排土场粗粒土各粒组分布的不均匀性和随机性,导致难以获得其边坡稳定性的合理结论。依托江西某铜矿高台阶排土场,借助自编元胞自动机程序EPOHHM,采用5组窄级配粗粒土表征了高台阶排土场的粒径分级现象,模拟了各粒组散体分布的不均匀性和随机性,分析了不同工况下排土场的位移场及塑性状态,系统地探讨了不同堆排模式下排土场边坡的安全稳定性,提出了一种宽级配废石的高台阶排土场稳定性的精细化分析方法。研究结果表明,排土场发生“拉-剪”破坏;土体中上部有圆弧形滑坡趋势,下部变形表现为沉降,顶部平台产生拉剪裂缝。仅考虑散体力学强度时,底部粗颗粒（ 100 mm）含量的增加对排土场起显著的稳固作用,“单台阶全段高”的堆排模式比“全覆盖式多台阶”更有利于宽级配废石的高排土场安全稳定。研究成果将为保证明显粒径分级的排土场的长期安全稳定提供指导,也为今后分析此类工程问题提供借鉴。     

Application of geogrids in waste dump stability: a numerical modeling approach

Geosynthetic is widely used to reinforce the weak rock mass, mine waste dump, soil slopes road cut slopes, etc. The present paper discusses the effect of geogrids on the stability of mine waste dump. The stability of mine waste dump has been done by Fast Langrage Analysis of Continua (FLAC) slope software, which is based on finite difference method. Reinforcement by geogrids mainly depends on the tensile strength, aperture size of geogrids, and particle size distribution of dump rock mass. Different permutations and combinations of spacing between two geogrid sheets have been taken into consideration to study the stability of mine waste dump. The factor of safety is calculated to quantify the effect of geogrids on waste dump slope. It has been observed from numerical modeling that the maximum slope angle is 45° at a height of 10 m. The scope of increasing slope angle from 45 to 60° is evaluated using geogrids. It has been found from the study that the factor of safety increases as the spacing between geogrids decreases. Maximum strain is also plotted of each case to identify the slip circle. The positions of geogrids modify the probable slip circle or failure plane of mine waste dump. Using ten geogrids at a spacing of 1 m, the slope angle can be increased up to 60° with factor of safety of 1.4.     

Assessing space–time variations of denudation processes and related soil loss from 1955 to 2016 in southern Italy (Calabria region)

Studies on denudation processes and soil loss rates can provide insight into the landscape evolution, climate change, and human activities, as well as on land degradation risk. The aims of this study were to analyze the space–time distribution of denudation processes and evaluate the soil loss changes occurred during the period 1955–2016 by using an approach integrating geomorphological, geospatial and modeling analysis. The study area is a representative stream catchment of the Crati Valley (Calabria, southern Italy), which is affected by severe erosion processes. The combined use of aerial photographs interpretation, field survey, geostatistics, and GIS processing has allowed to characterize the types of denudation processes and land use change in space and time. Revised universal soil loss equation implemented in GIS environment was used to estimate the space–time pattern of soil loss and the soil erosion rates for each investigated year. The results showed that from 1955 to 2016, the study area was highly affected by denudation processes, mainly related to landslides and water erosion (slope wash erosion and gully erosion). Comparison of denudation processes maps showed that the total area affected by erosion processes has increased by about 31% and the distribution of geomorphic processes and their space–time evolution resulted from the complex interrelation between geoenvironmental features and human activities. The main land use changes concerned a decrease in areas covered by woodland, scrubland and pasture and an increase in croplands and barren lands that favored erosion processes. The most susceptible areas to soil loss in both years were mapped, and the mean soil loss rates for the study area were 6.33 Mg ha^?1 y^?1 in 1955 and 10.38 Mg ha^?1 y^?1 in 2016. Furthermore, the soil loss in 2016 has increased by about 64% compared to 1955. Finally, the results showed that integrating multi-temporal analysis of denudation processes, land use changes and soil loss rates might provide significant information on landscape evolution which supports decision makers in defining soil management and conservation practices.     

重庆韦家沟矸石山滑坡成因分析

对韦家沟老矸石山进行勘察、研究,分析了矸石山的滑坡成因机制,揭示出特殊堆积散体构成、排弃地点条件、排弃强度等因素造成矸石山特殊堆积特征,导致矸石山具有二元空间结构、堆积地点水文地质条件改变、可能失稳滑动方式形成及呈现自组织临界性等性状,进而影响着矸石山稳定性的变化发展。在此基础上,采用极限分析上限法及数值模拟分析评价矸石山的稳定性,最后根据分析结果,提出相应的矸石山滑坡灾害防治措施。文章将定性分析与定量计算相结合,研究方法及结论可为类似矸石山地质灾害防治提供参考。     

Effects of landscape patterns on soil erosion processes in a mountain–basin system in the North China

This study was taken up to investigate the effects of landscape patterns on the soil erosion processes in a mountain–basin watershed. The revised universal soil loss equation and sediment delivery distribution models were used to estimate the soil erosion processes. The landscape patterns include the landscape metrics at the landscape level, landscape composition and configuration indicators on the basis of source–sink landscape theory. In the study area, the grassland, bare land, farmland and construction land were the sediment-source landscape; the forest and shrub were the sediment-sink landscape. The correlation analysis results showed that the soil erosion processes were significantly associated with the landscape patterns of the study area. At the landscape level, fragmentation metric was positively correlated with soil erosion; diversity metric was negatively related to soil erosion and sediment yield at the sub-basin scale. Among the source–sink landscape composition and configuration indicators, the composition indicator was positively correlated with soil erosion rate and sediment yield. In the configuration landscape indices, the shape index was negatively correlated with soil erosion rate and sediment yield; the fragmentation index was positively correlated with soil erosion rate and negatively correlated with sediment delivery rate. These results indicated that the optimization measures, such as increase in the area, connectivity and regularity of sediment-sink landscape, or decrease in the proportion, connectivity and regularity of sediment-source landscape, were favorable for soil conservation. Furthermore, the landscape indicators based on the source–sink theory could provide more information for landscape pattern optimization to reduce soil erosion.     

林歹二矿岩溶型铝土矿区藓类植物多样性及其生态分布特征研究

文章对贵州省清镇市站街镇林歹二矿铝土矿区的四种不同生态环境下的藓类植物生物多样性及其生态分布特征进行研究。结果表明,共有藓类植物10科22属37种,其中丛藓科（Pottiaceae）、青藓科（Brachytheciaceae）和灰藓科(Hypnaceae)为本矿区的优势科,真藓属（Bryum）、曲柄藓属（Campyloopus）、毛口藓属（Trichostomum）和青藓属(Brachythecium)为优势属。黄牛毛藓（Ditrichum pallidum）、疣肋曲柄藓（Campylopus schwarzii）、日本大丛藓（Molendoa japonica）等为优势种;铝土矿区苔藓植物生活型以矮丛集型居多;单一物种群落在这一矿区的苔藓植物群落中占有一定优势。苔藓植物的Shannon-Wiener指数和丰富度指数均表现为油菜种植区多样性指数最高,其次为矿区树林区,废石堆积区和细小矿石及矿土堆积恢复区这类受人类活动影响较大的地区苔藓植物多样性指数较小;Pielous均匀度指数表现为矿区树林区（0.8525)>废石堆积区（0.8327）>矿区油菜种植区（0.7650）>细小矿石及矿土堆积恢复区（0.6229）; β多样性指数表现为细小矿石及矿土堆积恢复区—废石堆积区（0.5000）最高,最低为细小矿石及矿土堆积恢复区—矿区树林区（0.1538）。主成分分析（PCA）结果显示出细小矿石及矿土堆积恢复区和废石堆积区中的苔藓植物组成有较大差异性,小曲尾藓（Dicranella grevilleana） 和长尖扭口藓（Barbula ditrichoides）分别是矿土堆积恢复区和废石堆积区的特征种。相关性较高的苔藓植物种类在岩溶型铝土矿区环境中经常伴随生长。      

Distribution and environmental impact of coal-mining wastes in Upper Silesia, Poland

 About 50 million tonnes/year of waste rock from coal-mining is generated in the limited area of the thickly populated Upper Silesian Coal Basin (USCB) in Poland. There are 380 coal-mining waste dumps, including 76 active dump sites covering over 2,000 ha. About 15-16 million tonnes/year of waste rock is being reused for civil engineering purposes in the same area. This brings about a problem of ground water deterioration by constituents leached from waste rock exposed to atmospheric conditions. The major factors determining the ground water contamination potential from waste rock are chloride salinity, sulfur content and acid generation potential. The concept behind the presented studies was to provide data for correct evaluation and prediction of contaminant release from the waste rock, based on the characterization of coal-mining waste properties, as well as on long-term laboratory, lysimetric and field studies. The results show that coal-mining waste dumps can be a long-term source of ground water contamination, lasting for decades and increasing with time. Ground water down-gradient from the disused 15–30-years-old part of the studied dump displays high and increasing acidification, high TDS, SO₄, and the highest, still increasing concentrations of Mn, Fe and Zn. Cost-effective and efficient pollution control measures, similar to the presented design and construction elements of the dump site, can mitigate the negative environmental impacts. Received: 3 July 1997 · Accepted: 9 September 1998     

Landscaping with waste

For centuries back, man has searched for and utilised geological material resources for many different purposes. These efforts have left many, large wounds or “eyesores” in bedrock and soil strata, that have destroyed the appearance of the original landscape, and which now often serve as waste dumps and scrap sites. Worked-out gravel and sand pits, as well as extinct quarries and open-pit mineral mines, can extend over wide areas of land and reach considerable depths. Depths which subsequently have become particularly attractive as waste storage sites, especially when these offer short transport distances to suppliers in major, built-up areas and communities.

This paper gives some examples as to how Stockholm has replaced worked-out overburden and rock masses from eskers and rock strata with waste masses, simultaneously restoring land formation into its original condition through landscaping. Specific engineering-geological survey methods, control systems, as well as risk and sequel analyses, relating to long-term interplay between rock, soil strata and groundwater, with particular consideration to surface construction and property development planning and isostatic uplift, will be presented.     

西南喀斯特区土壤侵蚀研究进展

西南喀斯特区土层浅薄、成土速率低等特点决定了其允许土壤流失量小,土壤一旦流失,极难恢复,土壤侵蚀及其造成的石漠化现象已成为制约该区可持续发展最严重的生态环境问题。文章首先明晰西南喀斯特区土壤侵蚀特征,从坡面、小流域和区域三个尺度上系统概括西南喀斯特区土壤侵蚀的相关研究进展。针对当前喀斯特区土壤侵蚀研究野外径流小区、小流域及区域空间尺度数据缺少和相关研究模型限制性强等不足,建议从不同尺度深入研究喀斯特区土壤侵蚀发生发展规律及时空演化格局,并结合高新遥感、地球物理探测技术及模型,同步监测坡面—小流域—区域土壤流失,对土壤侵蚀进行定量评估,结合不同空间尺度土壤侵蚀特征构建系统性水土保持生态恢复治理模式和监测系统评价体系。      

煤矸石山周围地下水污染状况

以焦作市演马矿煤矸石山为对象,采集该处新鲜和风化煤矸石以及附近地下水样品,检测其中Cl^-、SO^2-₄、苯并(a)芘、Mn等22种污染物的含量,并采用超标倍数法和实测浓度法对地下水受污染状况进行分析研究。地下水中污染物含量与煤矸石山距离呈负相关,且在丰水期和枯水期存在一定差异。     

桂林毛村岩溶地下河流域水土流失遥感动态监测研究

为了给西南岩溶地区石漠化发展演变的研究工作提供一定的科学依据和决策支持,选择桂林毛村岩溶地下河流域作为研究区,利用两期遥感影像对该区影响水土流失的三个主要自然要素,即地形坡度、植被覆盖度和土地利用方式进行信息提取,并以地理信息系统为分析平台,参考水土流失强度分级标准,对该区两个时期的水土流失状况进行对比分析。调查监测结果显示,研究区随着坡度的增大,水土越容易流失,而且水土流失强度级别增大;植被覆盖度对水土流失强度起着控制性作用,为抑制并缩减水土流失面积,应保护植被,退耕还林;研究区土地利用变化比较缓慢,导致水土流失面积变化幅度不大。上述结果表明,利用遥感技术手段,可为当地的经济发展和水土流失的监测、评价、预测及治理提供参考。      

排土场散体岩石粒度分布与剪切强度的分形特征

应用分形理论研究了矿山排土场散体岩石粒度分布的分维规律,建立了分维数与排土场散体物料剪切强度参数的定量关系式。研究表明,排土场岩石块度分布具有良好的分形结构,分维数值大小随着排土场高度的增加而增加,但不超过3。当采样尺度范围一定时,分维数越大,散体中细颗粒含量越多,平均粒径也越小。分维数与散体岩石的剪切强度参数摩擦角?呈负指数关系。分维数值可用于排土场粒度资料的统计分析与剪切力学强度参数的预测。     

Cenozoic landscape evolution of the Kruger National Park as derived from cosmogenic nuclide analyses

In contrast to active tectonic settings, little is known about the potential feedback between surface processes and climate change in tectonically inactive cratonic regions. Here, we studied the driving forces of erosion and landscape evolution in the Kruger National Park in South Africa using cosmogenic nuclide dating. ¹⁰Be‐derived catchment‐wide erosion rates (~2 and ~10 mm ka^?1) are similar in magnitude to erosion and rock uplift elsewhere in South Africa, suggesting that (1) rock uplift is solely the isostatic response to erosion and (2) the first‐order topography is likely of Cretaceous age. The topographic maturity is promoted by widespread exposure of rocks resistant to erosion. Our data, however, suggest that local variations in rock resistance lead to transient landscape changes, with local increases in relief and erosion rates.     

Coupled chemistry and transport modelling of sulphidic waste rock dumps at the Aitik mine site,Sweden

The recently developed geochemical modelling code, SULFIDOX, has been applied to simulate weathering of a waste rock dump at the Aitik mine site, Sweden. SULFIDOX models the key chemical and physical processes in the dump temporally and spatially (in two dimensions). The following processes are represented: gas and heat transport; water infiltration; aqueous speciation; mineral dissolution/oxidation and precipitation.Field observations at the site suggest that sulphide oxidation rates within the dump are variable. Although the major part of the dump is oxidising slowly, there are pockets of more highly oxidising material, particularly toward the dump edges. Using SULFIDOX, several models of the dump were investigated: (i) a dump wholly comprised of slowly oxidising material (representing a case where water flow paths are such that no rapidly oxidising regions are accessed); (ii) a dump wholly comprised of the more rapidly oxidising material (representing the opposite (and probably unlikely) extreme, where water flows only through rapidly oxidising regions in the dump); and (iii) a dump comprising a mixture of both slowly and more rapidly oxidising material, that more closely represents the mix of material in the dump.All the models studied gave O₂ depth profiles consistent with those observed in probe holes at the site, and confirmed that only a minimal amount of heat production would be expected in the dump due to the role of exothermic sulphide oxidation reactions. The models suggested that a medium-term steady-state, with respect to effluent chemistry, would be achieved after 3–4 years. Based on sulphide consumption rates during this steady-state period, the time periods required to consume all the sulphide in the dump range from a few hundred to many thousands of years. Using the mixed model, and based on a mixture containing 86% slowly and 14% rapidly oxidising material, the calculated effluent chemistry was in good agreement with the observed effluent chemistry. Improvements with respect to the K concentrations were possible by including precipitation of a K-bearing secondary mineral such a K-jarosite in the model. Results from the more rapidly oxidising model suggested that gypsum precipitation might be expected in those regions of the dump containing this material.In summary, the SULFIDOX modelling code has been used successfully to reproduce observed data for the Aitik waste-rock dump. Using SULFIDOX, valuable insight was gained in relation to the temporal and spatial evolution of the dump.     

Landscape response to changes in dynamic topography

Mantle convection modelling can be used to understand the temporal evolution of dynamic, or convectively maintained, topography. A promising way of assessing these geodynamic models is by comparison of the predicted erosional response of dynamic topography with observed offshore sedimentary records. However, it is difficult to deconvolve this observed record into contributions from changes in climate, tectonics, and dynamic topography. Here, we use a landscape evolution model capable of producing simulations at the necessary spatial and temporal scales to quantify landscape response to moderate changes in dynamic topography in the presence of flexural isostatic unloading and loading due to erosion and deposition. We demonstrate that moderate changes in dynamic topography can produce an erosional response in the form of increased sediment flux to continental margins. This response can persist long after the influence of dynamic topography and is dependent on the interplay of uplift rate, rock erodibility and initial topography.     

动态古地貌再造: Badlands软件在盆地分析中的应用*

近几年来的研究发现,当存在较强的构造活动时,古地理特征变化将会加快,而常规方法很难对这一构造活动过程中的古地理和古地貌进行有效的恢复和研究。Basin and Landscape Dynamics(Badlands)软件正是基于前人的研究工作而开发的一款数值模拟软件,用于模拟各种空间和时间尺度的地貌演化。它可用于研究地表演化过程、预测侵蚀和沉积速率并评估沉积物通量,从而实现对古地理和古地貌进行更为精细化的研究。笔者介绍了Badlands软件的基本原理和方法,并将此方法应用于东海陆架盆地南部中生代地貌及地质演化过程的研究: 首先利用研究区域内现有的地震剖面、测井、平衡剖面等资料获得中生代早期的古地形;再通过恢复的古地形构建数值模型,并加载降雨量、岩石侵蚀性、海平面变化、动力地形调整和地壳弹性层厚度等相关参数进行模拟研究,以分析强烈的构造运动对盆地地貌演化的影响;最后对比模拟结果与已知的中生代的地貌特征和沉积分布,并据此进一步分析中生代盆地演化过程中的沉积物分布规律以及三维古地理和古地貌演化特征。该方法可以为沉积盆地充填过程分析和能源矿产勘探提供有益的思路。     

冰缘地区岩质斜坡冻融侵蚀时空分异特征与产屑率研究

新疆天山地区是我国高海拔、高纬度、大温差典型代表冰缘山区,本文基于气象水文站及现场监测获取的大气温度和降水变化规律,建立了天山地区冻融侵蚀强度评价模型,结合野外三维激光扫描观测结果初步探讨了冻融侵蚀时空分异规律对岩体产屑率的影响。研究结果表明:(1)大气温度、岩体结构、降水量、坡度、地震烈度和坡向等因素对冻融侵蚀强度的贡献值依次减小。(2)天山地区冻融侵蚀下界海拔约为2600~2900 m,冻融侵蚀的空间分布具有明显的垂直分带性和纬度坡降性,时间上具有明显的季节变化特征,融化和冻结交替时大气温度在冻融侵蚀基准线0 ℃上下波动频繁,冻融侵蚀最为强烈。(3)溜砂坡形成过程被划分为岩体冻融侵蚀产屑、岩屑运移和堆积3个阶段;花岗岩(硬岩)、砂岩(中硬岩)和千枚岩(软岩)斜坡产屑率随冻融侵蚀评价指数增加而增加,随岩石冻融系数增加而减小,建立不同岩性斜坡产屑率与冻融侵蚀强度和岩石冻融系数的定量关系式。该成果可以为冰缘山区岩体冻融侵蚀理论研究、工程建设及防灾减灾提供参考。     

从古地理学角度探讨广西石漠化分布特征*

岩溶石漠化是指碳酸盐岩发育地区,由于人类不合理活动造成的土壤严重侵蚀,基岩大面积出露,地表出现类似荒漠景观的现象。石漠化的产生取决于基底岩石结构特点和酸不溶物含量。目前对于究竟哪种类型的岩石易于形成石漠化,利于形成石漠化的岩性在空间分布上有无规律性等问题,单纯利用传统的遥感解译方法显得力不从心。作者从古地理学角度对广西石漠化的形成及分布情况进行了研究,将广西石漠化区域划分为7个分区,包括桂林—贺州分区（Ⅰ）、柳州—来宾分区（Ⅱ）、都安—马山分区（Ⅲ）、平果台地分区（Ⅳ）、靖西台地分区（Ⅴ）、扬子台地南缘分区（Ⅵ）和西林—乐业—凌云分区（Ⅶ）。从广西石漠化分布情况可以看出,具有较为稳定台地相格局的地区容易发育连续性的碳酸盐岩（并诱发石漠化）,同时重度石漠化一般分布于长时期发育台地边缘礁（滩）相的环境中（例如平果台地相区、靖西台地相区、扬子台地南缘分区）。广西众多的、较为稳定的孤立碳酸盐岩台地建造为石漠化产生提供了“机会”。通过研究容易诱发石漠化岩性的空间分布特征,结合遥感解译和实地调查,对石漠化风险进行评估,对属于不同时代和不同沉积环境下形成的石漠化采用不同的治理模式,这无疑为石漠化研究提供了一个新的角度。