Contaminated ground and contaminated estuary sediment illustrated by two case histories

 Contaminated ground forms a problem in all of the industrialized countries of the world. Contaminated ground may give rise to hazards and that implies a degree of risk which also involves a problem of definition. The investigation of a site which is suspected of being contaminated differs somewhat from a routine site investigation. Sampling of soil, groundwater and gas-producing material may be required. Various precautions may be necessary to do this and personnel may have to wear protective clothing. The first case history considered involves a site investigation for a relief sewer in Glasgow. As the site investigation progressed it ran into made-ground which contained chemical waste. The presence of this waste meant that the nature of the investigation changed and much more stringent safety precautions had to be taken. It also meant that the initial location of the sewer tunnel had to be repositioned at greater depth in uncontaminated sandstone rather than in the superficial deposits above. The other case history considers the contamination of sediments in the Forth Estuary. When trace metals are released into the water column they can be transferred rapidly to the sediment phase by adsorption onto suspended particulate matter, followed by sedimentation. Intertidal flats may be considered as important trace metal sinks since they accumulate large amounts of suspended matter. Hence, in polluted estuaries the deposition of suspended particles on intertidal flats may thus cause severe contamination. The Forth Estuary has unique contamination for British estuaries; it is experiencing significant Hg pollution. In addition, due to the presence of a nuclear submarine base in the Forth Estuary, ⁶⁰Co is detectable in the intertidal sediments. Temporal and spatial contamination patterns were analysed in relation to historical and present pollution point sources. The effect of fluvial and marine sediment mixing on trace metals and other processes controlling contaminant levels is reviewed. Preliminary results on quantifying sediment accretion rates using Caesium levels are discussed. Received: 9 August 1996 · Accepted: 17 December 1996     

Environmental geochemistry of the derelict Webbs Consols mine,New South Wales,Australia

Small-scale mining and mineral processing at the Webbs Consols polymetallic PbZnAg deposit in northern New South Wales, Australia has caused a significant environmental impact on streams, soils and vegetation. Unconfined waste rock dumps and tailings dams are the source of the problems. The partly oxidised sulphidic mine wastes contain abundant sulphides (arsenopyrite, sphalerite, galena) and oxidation products (scorodite, anglesite, smectite, Fe-oxyhydroxides), and possess extreme As and Pb (wt% levels) and elevated Ag, Cd, Cu, Sb and Zn values. Contemporary sulphide oxidation, hardpan formation, crystallisation of mineral efflorescences and acid mine drainage generation occur within the waste repositories. Acid seepages (pH 1.9–6.0) from waste dumps, tailings dams and mine workings display extreme As, Pb and Zn and elevated Cd, Cu and Sb contents. Drainage from the area is by the strongly contaminated Webbs Consols Creek and although this stream joins and is diluted by the much larger Severn River, contamination of water and stream sediments in the latter is evident for 1–5 km, and 12 km respectively, downstream of the mine site. The pronounced contamination of local and regional soils and sediments, despite the relatively small scale of the former operation, is due to the high metal tenor of abandoned waste material and the scarcity of neutralising minerals. Any rehabilitation plan of the site should include the relocation of waste materials to higher ground and capping, with only partial neutralisation of the waste to pH 4–5 in order to limit potential dissolution of scorodite and mobilisation of As into seepages and stream waters.     

产权政策视角下废弃矿井采矿用地再开发模式研究

废弃矿井再利用已成为资源型城市实现功能转型的主要路径,矿井地面生产区采矿用地的再开发属于城市存量工业用地更新的范畴,是一个伴随产权转移的空间转型过程.通过分析相关产权政策与废弃矿井再开发模式之间的关联性,探讨制度对空间的影响,提出对未来发展的政策建议.通过系统梳理自1990年以来国家、地方层面的产权政策,并以该时段内不...     

Ordinary kriging and indicator kriging in the cartography of trace elements contamination in São Domingos mining site (Alentejo, Portugal)

The abandoned pyrite mine of São Domingos, in the southeast Portugal is still an acid mine drainage generator and a source for trace elements pollution. This study aims to evaluate and map the soils and sediments chemical pollution. With this purpose three test sites located in the vicinities of the mine were sampled for soils, sediments and mining waste materials. The samples were analysed for pH, organic carbon, iron oxides and total content of As, Cu, Cr, Hg, Pb, Sb, U, Zn, Mn, S, Fe Al, Ca, K, Mg and P. The hyperspectral image of the test sites was acquired using the aero transported sensor HymapTM. Chemical analysis and hyperspectral images data were processed to estimate the contamination maps by multivariate data analysis, ordinary kriging, cokriging and indicator kriging methodologies.The test sites located downstream the mine open pit, are highly contaminated mainly in As, Hg, Pb and Sb, but no contamination was found in the third test site, upstream the mining site. The acid mining drainage seems to be the main spreading agent of chemical contaminants mostly originating from the mine waste materials. Factorial analysis and the geostatistical methodologies allowed several approaches for the contamination cartography of mining areas.     

Environmental impacts caused by phosphate mining and ecological restoration: a case history in Kunming,China

This paper presents the environmental impacts caused by surface mining and the ecological rehabilitation of Haikou phosphate deposits, Kunming, China. Surface mining entails the removal of the overburden to expose bare rock surfaces, not only causing destruction of pre-existing vegetation, but also occupying large areas of land for dumping the spoil. Severe environmental impacts are caused, e.g. rock desertification, poor forest stand structure, loss of biodiversity, aesthetic depreciation of the landscape, and the potential hazard of landslide and ground erosion. Ecological restoration has been conducted in a demonstration area since 1989 by means of control of geological hazards and revegetation of the disturbed areas. On-site dumping of waste rock for restoration of the abandoned mine area was adopted, providing a new mode of mining reclamation with high economic, environmental, and social value. Countermeasures for prevention and control of landslides included cut and fill technology, drainage, safety netting protection, retaining wall construction, and vegetation cover. By recruiting native plant species to the mine site and planting a forest imitating a natural mixed forest, the mine area was successfully revegetated.     

石油类污染建筑场地的环境调查与治理

污染造成的环境损害和土壤与地下水质量降低,直接影响生命健康与环境安全。污染企业搬迁后遗留场地的调查检测与修复治理,是土地资源开发利用与管理的重要环节。结合两个炼油厂污染地块在土地再开发期间所进行的土壤环境调查和治理修复案例,阐述了石油类污染地基土的环境调查方法、评价方式和治理修复措施,以期为污染土壤的调查与治理修复提供借鉴。     

Mobility of aqueous contaminants at abandoned mining sites: insights from case studies in Sardinia with implications for remediation

Public awareness of environmental health issues has increased significantly in recent years, creating the need for detailed scientific studies that can identify potential environmental problems. This paper reports the results of hydrogeochemical surveys carried out in Sardinia, an Italian region with a long mining history. When mining operations in Sardinia ceased, actions for limiting the potential adverse effects of mine closure on the water system were not undertaken. Drainages from flooded mines and seeps from mining residues left on the ground are the main mining-related sources of contamination in Sardinia. Due to the proximity of mining sites to water resources and land that is within reach of animals and humans, the major risks to human health are associated with the direct discharge of contaminated waters into the streams and soils located down-gradient of the abandoned mines. Results of hydrogeochemical surveys carried out under different seasonal conditions showed that the dispersion of toxic and harmful elements (As, Cd, Ni, Pb, Sb and Zn) increases during the rainy season, especially under high runoff conditions. These results should help regional and national authorities to address present environmental regulations, particularly those regarding the quality of water resources. Furthermore, the results might be useful elsewhere for planning remediation actions at abandoned mining sites. Lessons learned by past mining in Sardinia indicate that correct disposal and management of mining residues should be mandatory from the beginning of exploitation and processing at each active mine. This would allow reduction of the environmental risks as well as the cost of remediation.     

江苏省废弃矿山旅游资源开发利用探析

随着我国生态环境建设的加快和经济的转型,一些矿山逐渐被禁止开采,废弃矿山的残垣断壁不仅严重地影响了周边的自然风貌及生态环境,而且极易诱发滑坡、崩塌、泥石流、地面塌陷等地质灾害。目前,废弃矿山的综合修复及再利用已成为我国政府和公众关注的焦点。江苏省近20年积极探索废弃矿山旅游资源开发道路,建设了南京冶山矿山公园、牛首山佛顶宫、徐州潘安湖湿地公园等特色景点,形成废弃矿山治理工程的一大特色。本文通过江苏省废弃矿山旅游开发现状的综合分析,总结出以旅游价值识别要素、开发模式及景观营造方法为核心的废弃矿山旅游资源开发模式,同时给出了目前江苏省废弃矿山旅游产业存在的问题,并从景观营造、品牌建设、旅游管理方面提出解决问题的建议,旨在促进废弃矿山旅游产业的发展。     

江苏省废弃矿山旅游资源开发利用探析

随着我国生态环境建设的加快和经济的转型,一些矿山逐渐被禁止开采,废弃矿山的残垣断壁不仅严重地影响了周边的自然风貌及生态环境,而且极易诱发滑坡、崩塌、泥石流、地面塌陷等地质灾害。目前,废弃矿山的综合修复及再利用已成为我国政府和公众关注的焦点。江苏省近20年积极探索废弃矿山旅游资源开发道路,建设了南京冶山矿山公园、牛首山佛顶宫、徐州潘安湖湿地公园等特色景点,形成废弃矿山治理工程的一大特色。本文通过江苏省废弃矿山旅游开发现状的综合分析,总结出以旅游价值识别要素、开发模式及景观营造方法为核心的废弃矿山旅游资源开发模式,同时给出了目前江苏省废弃矿山旅游产业存在的问题,并从景观营造、品牌建设、旅游管理方面提出解决问题的建议,旨在促进废弃矿山旅游产业的发展。     

关闭煤矿工业广场再开发策略研究

随着我国煤炭去产能政策的有力实施,一批资源枯竭及产能落后矿井陆续关停废弃,传统的独立工矿区因此沉寂,服务于煤炭生产和职工生活的工业广场面临功能丧失、土地闲置等问题。挖掘关闭煤矿工业广场的价值并赋予其新功能,是盘活存量资源、激发独立工矿区活力的关键。以山西省晋城市关闭煤矿凤凰山矿为例,研究该矿与晋城市的发展演变及其相互作用;分析关闭煤矿工业广场空间构成要素,采用层次分析法(AHP)进行价值评估,判明主要空间要素的价值特征与更新挑战;进而探索关闭煤矿工业广场的再开发城市设计策略。分析认为,山地矿业风貌与绿色生态本底是凤凰山矿的核心价值表征,应将风貌存续与生态保育作为再开发重点。关闭煤矿需确立“矿退城进”的更新目标,主动与城市产业对接,由“封闭的工业广场”转变为“开放的城市街区”。在此基础上,提出景观引导下的秩序控制、功能空间的整合与重置、交通体系的外通与内融、矿业文脉特色的延续与塑造、既有建筑的再循环改造5个方面的城市设计策略。研究表明,通过基础设施景观化改造,可在提升矿区环境质量的同时创造城市特色;借鉴城市设计思维可为关闭煤矿保护性再开发策略的制定提供帮助,在此类资源型地区的城市更新中具有应用前景。      

Assessment of environmental hazards at abandoned mining sites: A case study in Sardinia,Italy

In the last two centuries, several Pb–Zn mines were active in the Rio Mannu basin near Narcao (SW Sardinia, Italy), but are now abandoned. These abandoned mines pose a serious risk to the population and required an assessment of the hazard sources and the contaminant pathways in the area. The characterization plan of the Rio Mannu basin was carried out according to Italian protocols. Specifically, samples of soil, stream sediment, fine-grained ore-processing waste (from washery and flotation processes), surface water and groundwater have been analyzed in order to assess the levels of contamination in each mine area and the risks in the plains surrounding the site. Several potential chemical contaminants were considered both in solid materials and water samples. The Rosas mine was recognized as the most contaminated area in the basin, due to the presence of a large tailing pond, some fine-grained waste piles and two mine adits with concentrations of the toxic elements As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb and Zn exceeding Italian regulatory standards. The dispersion of contaminants occurs downstream from the small stream draining the area. In case of heavy rain the runoff into the streamlet transports the contaminated material far into the plain. The results of this study show that the characterization plan is a relatively cheap tool for establishing mitigation actions, prior to the realization of a complete, and usually expensive, remediation project at abandoned mine sites. Urgent recommended actions in the Rio Mannu basin include the treatment of the adit water prior to its discharge into the Rio Barisonis; the construction of drainage barriers on waste piles to reduce runoff and solid transport into the Rio Barisonis; the consolidation of the earthen dam containing the tailing pond of Rosas to avoid the deepening of erosion furrows that may threaten its stability.     

Application of evolutionary algorithms to develop a rule set for assessing the rehabilitation status of asbestos mines in South Africa

Asbestos mining has left a legacy of pollution in former mining areas that continues to negatively affect both the environment and local communities. In 2007, the Rehabilitation Prioritisation Index was developed as a scientific tool to indicate the preferred sequence for mine site rehabilitation and served as a departure point for the present investigation in which a database for the rehabilitation success of asbestos sites was developed. Broad-based quantitative and qualitative data, typically used for monitoring rehabilitation success, including amongst others, soil cover depth, physical and chemical soil properties, microbial activity, vegetation properties and small mammal abundance were analysed using multivariate statistics, specifically a redundancy analysis. The most representative model was subsequently selected for the classification of the rehabilitated sites. The multivariate analysis revealed those factors typically associated with rehabilitation success or failure, as well as essentials to be addressed. The feasibility of development of a rule set for rehabilitated site classification was firstly investigated using neural networks which also assisted in the selection of significant parameters. Results from the neural network approach were then used to guide parameter selection for the evolutionary algorithm software. The coordinate scores for the first two axes of the redundancy analysis served as targets for the evolutionary algorithms. Overall, a targeting match of 71 % for the first axis coordinates and 38 % for the second axis coordinates were obtained. Contributing parameters for the rule set included: Cl, K, pH, percentage organic carbon, Zn, NH₄ and SO₄ content of the sites.     

废弃采空区裂隙带高度预测模型及应用

煤炭开采引起覆岩破断及地表下沉,覆岩及地表运移规律可反映裂隙带高度的动态演化过程。因地表下沉滞后于煤炭开采,对于废弃采空区,长期压实作用导致裂隙带高度较采动期间有所降低。基于地表点下沉速度的阶段特征将裂隙带高度的演化过程分为2个阶段,第1阶段裂隙带发育对应岩层破断逐步向上传递的过程,第2阶段裂隙带高度降低对应离层及裂隙闭合、断裂岩层受压后变形回弹及破碎岩体自然压实的过程。着眼于压实作用对裂隙带高度的影响,根据煤层采厚、垮落带和裂隙带岩层变形量及地表下沉值之间的定量关系,建立了第2阶段裂隙带高度预测模型,并结合太平煤矿实测结果进行验证,采用控制变量法分析了单一因素影响下废弃采空区裂隙带高度的演化特征。结果表明：废弃采空区裂隙带高度受控于垮落带块体强度、垮落带初始碎胀系数、采动期间裂隙带高度最大值及对应的垮落带高度、煤层埋深、地表最终下沉量等因素,太平煤矿采后15 a的裂隙带高度实测值11.36～13.00 m与理论预测值12.75 m吻合度较高,模型的可靠性得到验证。最后,应用此预测模型对武安煤矿（关停矿井）2002－2003年采空区裂隙带高度开展理论计算,结合地空瞬变电磁探测确定了地面瓦斯抽采钻孔理想的终孔位置并成功开展了地面钻孔瓦斯抽采试验。     

Environmental impact of uncontrolled waste disposal in mining and industrial areas in Central Germany

The present-day landscape in Central Germany, in particular the region of Leipzig, Halle and Bitterfeld, is characterized by the scars of former industrial activities. Vast districts have been devastated by lignite strip mining. Industrial and domestic waste, residues from ore smelting, and highly toxic waste products from petrochemical plants and pesticide production were deposited in abandoned pits near population centers. The chief effects of waste on the environment are the contamination of groundwater by dissolved pollutants, the acidification of soil and water by the oxidation of pyrite-containing mining waste, and the salinization of shallow aquifers by rising brines from adjacent confined groundwater affected by mining. The consequences for the region are serious: mining lakes used for recreational purposes are contaminated by leachates from adjacent waste dumps. Pyrite-containing refuse from lignite mining under oxidation gives rise to the acidification of surface and groundwater, a basic condition for pollutant mobilization. In former metal mining districts, metalliferous and radioactive residues from smelting jeopardize public health. These effects are described in detail using three case studies. Received: 30 July 1996 · Accepted: 24 February 1997     

全国采矿损毁土地分布与治理状况及存在问题

服务"源头严控、过程严管、后果严惩"全链条管理的全国矿山遥感监测技术体系已经形成.2019年遥感监测查明:全国采矿损毁土地361.05万hm2,约占全国陆域面积的0.37％;其中,挖损土地145.93万hm2,压占土地130.67万hm2,塌陷土地84.45万hm2;在建生产矿山采矿损毁土地134.04万hm2,废弃矿...     

An Integrated Geostatistical Approach for Contaminated Site and Soil Characterisation

For several years, abandoned or stopped industrial sites increasingly arouse the interest of politics and investors. Having a high social and economic estate value, these sites generally reveal contaminated soils that must be remediated first before receiving any new use. Due to financial, environmental or human health stakes, heuristic methods appear inappropriate because they do not provide reliable estimations of contaminated soil volumes and ignore spatial uncertainties. Problems at hand may be very complex, involving multiple correlated contaminants for which spatially varying pollutant grades are to be estimated and confronted to various regulatory thresholds, depending on redevelopment target areas. In such conditions, geostatistics provides effective methods to quantify local and global uncertainties about soil contamination and contaminated soil volumes. By quantifying uncertainties, geostatistical models are useful as support for decision-making about redevelopment scenarios or remediation techniques. Specific approaches are required, however, to overcome particular modelling issues as related to the skewness of pollutant grade distributions or change of support. Making use of our practical experience, such an integrated geostatistical approach is proposed for modelling contaminated sites. It is illustrated by application to a recent actual case study.     

马陵山废弃矿山生态环境治理技术探讨

乱采滥挖形成了一个废弃矿山带,区域范围内,采坑密布,不仅在景观上造成了苍凉景象,而且极大地破坏了当地的自然生态环境。在调查研究的基础上,提出了马陵山废弃矿山的综合治理方案和施工工艺,主要有采空地覆土植树工艺和局部石质坡面挂网喷播工艺以及步道景点布设技术。     

矿采对高寒草地的影响及植被恢复技术

矿业废弃地的复垦已成为中国当前面临的紧迫任务之一。针对青藏高原植物生长期短,矿渣的砾质性、松散性和土壤贫瘠性植被生长的自然环境的约束瓶颈,通过研究生态脆弱区矿业废弃地的修复治理进程,总结提出了青藏高原典型矿山废弃土地的生态修复和植被重建的治理模式,凝练筛选出关键技术,为高寒高海拔矿区的地质环境治理和土地复垦提供技术参考。     

矿井瞬变电磁法探测井下工作面顶、底板的含水构造

将地面瞬变电磁法应用于煤矿井下，探测矿井下采煤工作面顶、底板的含水构造。对矿井瞬变电磁法的基础理论进行了分析，对矿井瞬变电磁法探测工作面顶、底板的含水构造应用技术进行了系统研究。     

Rough evaluation of the water-inflow discharge in abandoned mining tunnels using a simplified water balance model: the case of the Cogne iron mine (Aosta Valley, NW Italy)

One of the most complex hydrogeological problems in the design and maintenance of drainage systems in abandoned mining sites is quantifying the maximum water infiltration and, therefore, the amount that is potentially drainable by the tunnels. This problem is compounded when water-inflow data are limited or lacking. The aim of the study was to present a single but reliable model for making this evaluation; this model was applied to the case history of the abandoned Cogne iron ore mining complex (Western Alps, Aosta Valley Region, NW Italy). The study focused on quantifying the amount of water infiltrating into the mine drifts, using a water balance model in a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment. In the model, five different infiltration scenarios were calculated, including a detailed analysis of rainfall data, snow density and thickness (Snow Water Equivalent calculation), and melting periods. The maximum water discharge that could affect the mine tunnels was, therefore, determined under several scenarios of normal precipitation conditions and during heavy rainfall, including the case of the Cogne valley flood in October 2000, used as a reference for the limit conditions. Taking into account the various approximations considered, the results can be considered a good indication of the magnitude of the total amount of water that should be drained out through abandoned mine drifts and in the drainage network during implementation of final closure of the mine.