Assessment of Mercury Pollution in Rivers and Streams around Artisanal Gold Mining Areas of the Birim North District of Ghana

Artisanal gold mining in local communities is on the increase. This has led to concerns about mercury pollution resulting from these mining activities. This study was conducted to assess the level of mercury pollution in rivers and streams around artisanal gold mining areas of the Birim North District of Ghana. Rivers, streams, sediments and boreholes were sampled to determine total mercury levels during the wet and dry seasons and to explore the potential impact of the mercury levels on water quality in the area. The results show that the total mercury concentrations measured upstream were significantly lower than concentrations in samples taken downstream. Also, the total mercury concentrations measured in the stream water samples in both seasons exceeded the WHO guideline limit (1.0 μg/L) for drinking water. However, one downstream total mercury concentration exceeded the guideline limit in the dry season. The total mercury concentrations in sediments upstream and downstream in both seasons exceeded the US-EPA guideline value of 0.2 mg/kg. The boreholes in the study area have total mercury concentrations exceeding the WHO guideline limit during both seasons. Total mercury concentrations in the boreholes in the wet season were lower than the dry season.

Coordinated Mining Procedures of Open Pit Mines Based on River Management

This paper primarily concerns the effective coordination of the procedures and methods employed in open pit mining operations under the background of river management.The central objective of this study is to identify a viable approach for ensuring rational and efficient development of open pit mineral resources while simultaneously protecting and restoring the ecological environment of the river.This approach should facilitate the realization of a harmonious symbiosis between mining and river management.The intricate mutual influence relationship between river management and open pit mining is first analyzed in depth,which provides a solid foundation for the subsequent coordination strategy development.In light of the aforementioned considerations,a set of coordination procedures for open pit mining based on river management conditions is proposed.These procedures emphasize the integration of river protection into the overall layout of mining at the planning stage.The implementation of scientific mining schemes,accompanied by rigorous control of the scope and depth of mining operations,has proven to be an effective means of reducing the impact of mining activities on river environments.This approach has also facilitated the achievement of a balance and coordination between mining and river management.

Analysis on Typical Spatio-temporal Characteristics of Open-cast Mining and Its Countermeasures

In order to deal with the special spatio-temporal environmental changes encountered in the process of open-cast mining,taking Huolinhe No.1 Open-cast Mine as the research object,this paper studied its typical problems in river reconstruction and cultural relics protection.The study focused on eight key core aspects,including the design optimization of the spatial layout of the mining area,the accurate estimation of the mineral resources reserves,the scientific theoretical demonstration of the mining scale,the fine analysis and calculation of the stripping ratio,the comprehensive consideration of the transport distance and efficiency,the accurate judgment of the best time for the implementation of the transformation,the analysis and evaluation of the slope stability,and the overall planning of the production system.The results show that the extracted problem-solving strategies and scheme system for special mining conditions can not only provide specific and practical guidance for Huolinhe No.1 Open-cast Mine,but also serve as a valuable reference and practical reference for other open-cast mine enterprises facing similar challenges.

The Influence of Alluvial Mining on the Morphology and Ecological Health of the Jhimruk River in Pyuthan, Nepal

Historically, alluvial rivers have been a desirable source of sediment for various industrial purposes. However, the demand for sand is rapidly increasing, leading to environmental concerns associated with its extraction. The extraction of sediment from riverbeds has both visible and invisible effects. This research aims to investigate the dynamics of the Jhimruk River’s morphology and its impacts by evaluating the river’s quality and studying its changing morphology. To assess morphological changes, satellite images from different years were compared using Geographic Information System (GIS). Physical assessments were conducted by calculating a Habitat score based on various parameters. Water quality assessments involved measuring factors such as pH, temperature, nitrate levels, and alkalinity. A water quality map of the river was generated using color coding to indicate different conditions. The Habitat score demonstrated variations in the data collected from all sites, with factors such as instream cover, bottom substrate stability, riparian vegetation, and aesthetic of the river stretch playing crucial roles in influencing the total score. The Water Quality Index value for the disturbed site indicated moderate pollution, falling under class II. Aquatic macroinvertebrates displayed natural responses to increasing levels of stressors across their life stages, as observed through the analysis of the GRS-BIOS/ASPT index. With the exception of the disturbed site, all other sites were classified under water quality class II, while the disturbed site belonged to class III, indicating a moderate to critically polluted state for most of the Jhimruk River. Furthermore, an increase of 180.87 meters in the river width at the disturbed site provided evidence of morphological changes occurring over the specified period. Mining activities were identified as a significant contributor to the alteration in river morphology.

Characteristics of Coal Ashes in Yanzhou Mining District and Distribution of Trace Elements in Them

In the process of combustion of coal organic and inorganic materials in it will undergo a complex variation. Part of them will become volatiles and, together with coal smoke, enter into atmosphere, some will remain in micro-particulates such as ash and dust and find their way into atmosphere in the form of solid particles, and the rest will be retained in ash and slag. Coal ashes are the residues of organic and inorganic substances in coal left after coal combustion and the composition of coal ashes is dependent on that of minerals and organic matter in coal. This paper deals with the chemical composition of coal ashes, the distribution of trace elements in them and their petrological characteristics, and also studies the relationship between the yield of coal ashes and the distribution of trace elements. In addition, a preliminary study is also undertaken on the factors that affect the chemical composition of coal ashes. As viewed from the analyses of coal ash samples collected from the Yanzhou mining district, it can be seen clearly that coal ashes from the region studied are composed chiefly of crystalline materials, glassy materials and uncombusted organic matter and the major chemical compositions are SiO 2, Al 2O 3, Fe 2O 3, and CaO, as well as minor amounts of SO 3, P 2O 5, Na 2O, K 2O and TiO 2. During the combustion of coal, its trace elements will be redistributed and most of them are enriched in coal ashes. At the same time, the concentrations of the trace elements in flying ash are much higher than those of bottom ash, i.e., with decreasing particle-size of coal ashes their concentrations will become higher and higher. So the contents of trace elements are negatively proportional to the particle-size of coal ashes. There has been found a positive correlation between the trace elements Th, V, Zn, Cu and Pb and the yield of coal ashes while a negative correlation between Cl and the yield of coal ashes.

Waterfront Landscape Planning along the Yihe River in the New District of Luoyang City in China

General situation of the Yihe River in the new district of Luoyang City and its evolution history were introduced and evaluated from 4 perspectives of water,embankment,vegetation and traffic accessibility.On this basis,orientation of waterfront landscape planning of the Yihe River in the overall urban planning of Luoyang City was proposed,and it was proposed that waterfront landscape planning in the study area should follow the principles of "ecological,cultural and regional,public,accessible and human-centered".It was to provide references for the landscape planning and design of the Yihe River in the new district of Luoyang City,and to promote its waterfront landscape construction.

Late Mesozoic Ore-forming Events in the Ningwu Ore District, Middle-Lower Yangtze River Polymetallic Ore Belt, East China: Evidence from Zircon U-Pb Geochronology and Hf Isotopic Compositions of the Granodioritic Stocks

Late Mesozoic volcanic-subvolcanic rocks and related iron deposits, known as porphyry iron deposits in China, are widespread in the Ningwu ore district （Cretaceous basin） of the middle-lower Yangtze River polymetallic ore belt, East China. Two types of Late Mesozoic magmatic rocks are exposed： one is dioritic rocks closely related to iron mineralization as the hosted rock, and the other one is granodioritic （-granitic） rocks that cut the ore bodies. To understand the age of the iron mineralization and the ore-forming event, detailed zircon U-Pb dating and Hf isotope measurement were performed on granodioritic stocks in the Washan, Gaocun-Nanshan, Dongshan and Heshangqiao iron deposits in the basin. Four emplacement and crystallization （typically for zircons） ages of granodioritic rocks were measured as 126.1±0.5 Ma, 126.8±0.5 Ma, 127.3±0.5 Ma and 126.3±0.4 Ma, respectively in these four deposits, with the LA-MC-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb method. Based on the above results combined with previous dating, it is inferred that the iron deposits in the Ningwu Cretaceous basin occurred in a very short period of 131-127 Ma. In situ zircon Hf compositions of εHf（t） of the granodiorite are mainly from -3 to -8 and their corresponding 176Hf/177Hf ratio are from 0.28245 to 0.28265, indicating similar characteristics of dioritic rocks in the basin. We infer that granodioritic rocks occurring in the Ningwu ore district have an original relationship with dioritic rocks. These new results provide significant evidence for further study of this ore district so as to understand the ore-forming event in the study area.

Zoning of land reclamation in coal mining area and new progresses for the past 10 years

Coal mining disturbed land is the main sources of land reclamation in China.With the rapid increase of economy and coal production,more and more land has been disturbed by construction and coal mining;thus,land reclamation has become highlights in the past 10 years,and China is boosting land reclamation in mining areas.Disturbance characteristics vary from region to region,according to natural and geological conditions,coal mining area land reclamation was divided into 3 zones,which are eastern,western and southern.Reclamation strategies are focused on prime farmland protection in eastern and ecological restoration in western and southern zones,respectively.Several innovative reclamation technologies and theories for the past 10 years were introduced in this paper,including concurrent mining and reclamation,Yellow river sediments backfilling,self-reclamation,and topsoil alternatives in opencast mines.Besides,in the government regulation and legal system building respect,several important laws and regulations were issued and implemented in the past 5 years,promoting land reclamation management and supervision greatly.Land reclamation is and will still be one of the most important parts of coal industry in the future,and more efforts and funds are expected to get involved.

Impacts of the large amount of sand mining on riverbed morphology and tidal dynamics in lower reaches and delta of the Dongjiang River

The sand dredging and its impacts on riverbed evolution and tidal dynamic change in the lower reaches and delta of the Dongjiang River are examined in this paper. The large amount of sand, totally 3.32 billion m^3 from 1980 to 2002, was mined from the riverbeds of the lower reaches and delta of the Dongjiang River. Increasing of the channel capacity, lowering of the average riverbed elevation, deepening of the water depth and decreasing of the longitudinal riverbed gradient are the main effects on the riverbed evolution brought by the large amount of sand dredging. Under the strong sand dredging and associated significant riverbed deformation, the notable changes of the tidal dynamic in the lower reaches and delta of the Dongjiang River occurred, including： （1）in the upper reaches of the Dongjiang River delta and lower reaches of the Dongjiang River, tidal level dropped apparently, tidal range widened, flood tidal duration became longer, amplitudes for major tidal components became bigger and tidal dynamics intensified; （2） tidal wave spread faster; and （3） the limits of the tidal level, tidal current and salt water moved upstream.

Evaluation of reclamation land productivity in mining districts

In order to evaluate the productivity of reclamation lands in mining districts, field investigation and spatial information technique were adopted to investigate influence factors of land. Based on the collected data of each land, membership grade of each factor was obtained based on Fuzzy logic, and combined weight of each factor was got by analytica1 hierarch process and Delphi method. According to membership grades and combined weights of all factors, integrated fertility index (IFI) of every land was calculated to reflect levels of the productivity of reclamation lands in mining districts. Experimental results show that spatial information technique is an efficient method in field data collection, while lack of evaluation data. By means of quantificational analysis of this method, IFI is appropriate to describe the productive capacity level of reclamation lands.

Molybdenite Re-Os,titanite and garnet U-Pb dating of the Magushan skarn Cu-Mo deposit,Xuancheng district,Middle-Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt

The Magushan skarn Cu-Mo deposit is a representative example of the skarn mineralization occurring within the Xuancheng ore district of the Middle-Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt of eastern China.The precise age of an ore deposit is important for understanding the timing of mineralization relative to other geological events in a region and to fully place the formation of a mineral deposit within the geological context of other processes that occur within the study area.Here,we present new molybdenite Re-Os and titanite and andradite garnet U-Pb ages for the Magushan deposit and use these data to outline possible approaches for identifying genetic relationships in geologically complex areas.The spatial and paragenetic relationships between the intrusions,alteration,and mineralization within the study area indicates that the formation of the Magushan deposit is genetically associated with the porphyritic granodiorite.However,this is not always the case,as some areas contain complexly zoned plutons with multiple phases of intrusion or mineralization may be distal from or may not have any clear spatial relationship to a pluton.This means that it may not be possible to determine whether the mineralization formed as a result of single or multiple magmatic/hydrothermal events.As such,the approaches presented in this study provide an approach that allows the identification of any geochronological relationships between mineralization and intrusive events in areas more complex than the study area.Previously published zircon U-Pb data for the mineralization-related porphyritic granodiorite in this area yielded an age of 134.2±1.2 Ma(MSWD=1.4)whereas the Re-Os dating of molybdenite from the study area yielded an isochron age of 137.7±2.5 Ma(MSWD=0.43).The timing of the mineralizing event in the study area was further examined by the dating of magmatic accessory titanite and skarn-related andradite garnet,yielding U-Pb ages of 136.3±2.5 Ma(MSWD=3.2)and 135.9±2.7 Ma(MSWD=2.5),respectively.The dating of magmatic and hydrothermal activity within the Magushan area yields ages around 136 Ma,strongly suggesting that the mineralization in this area formed as a result of the emplacement of the intrusion.The dates presented in this study also provide the first indication of the timing of mineralization within the Xuancheng district.providing evidence of a close genetic relationship between the formation of the mineralization within the Xuancheng district and the Early Cretaceous magmatism that occurred in this area.This in turn suggests that other Early Cretaceous intrusive rocks within this region are likely to be associated with mineralization and should be considered highly prospective for future mineral exploration.This study also indicates that the dating of garnet and titanite can also provide reliable geochronological data and evidence of the timing of mineralization and magmatism,respectively,in areas lacking other dateable minerals(e.g.,molybdenite)or where the relationship between mineralization and magmatism is unclear,for example in areas with multiple stages of magmatism,with complexly zoned plutons,and with distal skarn mineralization.

Sand mining disturbances and their effects on the diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in a riparian forest of Iran

The major objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of sand mining disturbances on the diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi（AMF）. In addition, the proportional changes in the diversity of AMF to the distances from riverbanks were assessed. For this purpose, the riparian forest of the Maroon River, Iran was divided into three locations with a 200-meter wide zone in between. Thus, the locations studied were named Distance I（riverbank）, Distance II（intermediate）, and Distance III（farthest from riverbank）. In each of these distances, 10 Tamarix arceuthoides and Populus euphratica of each species were randomly selected. At the same time, soil and root samples were collected from the rhizosphere of the tree species studied. Results indicated that totally 13 AMF species were observed in T. arceuthoides and 19 AMF species were recorded in P. euphratica rhizosphere belonging to 6 genera and 6 families. In these AMF species, Glomus segmentatum, G. geosporum, G. rubiforme, G. nanolumen, G. spinuliferum, Claroideoglomus drummondii, Gigaspora gigantea and Acaulospora paulinae appeared only in P. euphratica rhizosphere, while G. multiforum and Claroideoglomus claroideum were observed only in T. arceuthoides rhizosphere. Moreover, Distance II had the least AMF species both in T. arceuthoides and in P. euphratica rhizospheres, and also the least spore density and root colonization rate. Our results are important in that they provide a list of resistant AMF species that could be used in the conservation of biodiversity.

Key Issues for Water Quality Monitoring in the Zambezi River Basin in Mozambique in the Context of Mining Development

Zambezi River Basin is located in Southern Africa. It is essential for the economy of its eight riparian countries. The delta and almost 11% of its total catchment area are located in Mozambique. The main stream of the river receives a run-off contribution of 1800 m3/s in Mozambique and reaches the ocean with a flow of about 4100 m3/s. Coal mining is developing fast in the Zambezi River Basin in Mozambique due to favourable geological conditions. The coal mining and other activities have an impact on the surface and groundwater quality of the river basin. ARA-Zambeze is the river basin organization responsible for the water quality monitoring in Zambezi River Basin in Mozambique. In spite of limited resources ARA-Zambeze performs surveillance monitoring, while the institutions influencing the water quality of the river are doing operational monitoring. In this paper a monitoring system for the Zambezi River Basin in Mozambique is proposed. The system includes two alternative monitoring procedures. One procedure considers improvement of the current situation, which is characterized by multiple actors doing monitoring in isolation, by standardizing the analytical methods and improving data sharing through a web-based reporting system. The other proposed monitoring procedure considers a centralized approach, by having a consulting company doing the monitoring for the whole river basin in Mozambique. The second option has the advantages of improving consistency and comparability of the data, thereby allowing for more accurate trend analyses. It is concluded that the best way forward is to implement the first procedure and slowly move to the second.

Mining and Seasonal Variation of the Metals Concentration in the Puyango River Basin—Ecuador

The Puyango River Basin covers approximately an area of 4400 km2, it is located in Southern of Ecuador, with Calera and Amarillo rivers as tributaries. In this region, one of the main activities is small scale gold and silver mining. Currently there are 110 processing plants on the bank of Calera and Amarillo rivers, causing a significant degradation of natural resources. A seasonal comparison of metal concentrations in surface water, sediments and particulate matter from the Puyango River and its effluents is made. It was done a differentiation between natural contaminations with the anthropogenic one generated by mining activity. Samples were taken during dry season (2004) and rainy season (2006), and analyzed physicochemical parameters, anions and cations and the concentrations of heavy metals. The results show a clear influence of gold mining in Puyango River contamination, starting with its tributaries, Calera and Amarillo rivers, which have the highest concentrations of heavy metals from the basin, corresponding with the location of the mineral processing plants.

Research and application of strip mining of village coal pillar at coal field of the north of the Yellow River in Shandong Province

This paper focuses on the village coal pillar under huge thick loose bed and thin bedrock over high prelatic water level at the north of the Yellow River. The strip mining technology was used to protect the village houses. The stratum structure control action of mining subsidence was used to design the mining and pillar width. To further raise resources recovery, we adopted the mutative scheme of mining and pillar width. Observation was carried out while mining. Research shows there is feasibility of the strip mining technology to protecting the village buildings of the village coal pillar under huge thick loose bed and thin bedrock over high prelatic water level at the north of the Yellow River. Finally, subsidence parameters of strip mining were obtained. It is the basic data of the strip mining of the coal field at the north of the Yellow River.

The status and protection of the ecological environment in Heihe River water source district

This article discusses the status of the ecological environment in Heihe River water source district, and points out that the decline of the forest coverage, the degradation of the pasture and the shrinking back of the glacier, the increased soil erosion and other phenomena are the main ecological and environmental problems in this area. The main reason is the natural and man-made results. This article proposes the specific measures to protect the ecological environment in Heihe River water source district.

Fe-Ti Oxide Mineralization in the XV Intrusion,Bafq Mining District,Central Iran:Insights from Mineralogy,Mineral Chemistry and S Isotopic Data

The mafic-ultramafic intrusion in the XV anomaly area,contains magmatic Fe-Ti oxides±(p)ore,is located in the Bafq mining district in the Central Iran.It consists of cumulate and layered Fe-Ti-bearing gabbros and pyroxenites.The mineral assemblages include clinopyroxene,Fe-Ti oxides,plagioclase,amphibole,apatite and sulfides(pyrite and chalcopyrite).The Fe-Ti oxides mainly consist of magnetite-titanomagnetite and ilmenite,which occurred as disseminated,intergrowth,lamellae(trellis and sandwich textures)and inclusions.Magnetite in the gabbroic rocks is from the near end-member of Fe_(3)O_(4)(<1 wt.%TiO_(2))to titanomagnetite containing up to 8 wt.%TiO_(2)(about3.73 wt.%to 26.84 wt.%Ulvospinel(X_(Usp))).Magnetite in pyroxenite rocks is characterized with TiO_(2)range from 0.46 wt.%to 3.14 wt.%(X_(Usp)varied from 1.76 wt.%to 10.46 wt.%).The abundances of V_(2)O_(3)range from 0.03 wt.%to 1.29 wt.%and 0.24 wt.%to 1.00 wt.%for gabbro and pyroxenite,respectively.X_(Usp)contents of magnetite show insignificant correlations with Al_(2)O_(3)and MgO.The average XIlmin the ilmenite of gabbro is 92%,whereas it is 90.37%in the pyroxenite rocks.The MgO and V_(2)O_(3)contents show a slightly positive correlation with TiO_(2)in ilmenite.The composition of clinopyroxenes in gabbro and pyroxenite rocks fall in the diopside to augite field with Mg#ranging from 67 to 98 and 74 to 96,respectively.In both rock types,amphiboles are mainly pargasite and rarely actinolite.Plagioclase in pyroxenite rocks is clustered in the labradorite to andesine fields with a compositional ranges of An46-69and in gabboic rocks fall in two fields with compositional ranges of albite with An0.65-5.95and labradorite with An50-63.Theδ34S isotopic values cover a limited range from+3.15‰to+4.10‰V-CDT consistent with magmatic origin.Fe-Ti mineralization is formed in two stages,minor inclusions of Fe-Ti oxide minerals in the pyroxene and plagioclase crystallized in the early magmatic stage,whereas interstitial oxides formed by fractional crystallization processes that accumulated by gravitational settling in the later stage as intercumulus phase.Gravitational settling process is supported by the observation of decreasing the amount of Fe-Ti oxides from Fe-Ti oxide-rich pyroxenite to weak mineralized gabbro(base to top).The high contents of H2O,phosphorate and high initial Ti-Fe in parental magma are the crucial factors controlling the Fe-Ti oxides enrichment and mineralization.