Ohorongo mining is the holder of epl 3371, the extent of which is shown in figure 2 inside back cover. Impacts of sand and gravel quarrying on the stream channel. The massive sand mining industry is often forgotten. Environmental impact of sand mining in tamiraparani river, south tamilnadu. Impacts can result in erosion, sinkholes, loss of biodiversity, or the contamination of soil, groundwater, and surface water by the chemicals emitted from mining processes. Assessing environmental impacts of inland sand mining in parts of ogun state, nigeria. Below is a partial list of the potential cumulative impacts from the development of a typical sand and gravel mine. The sand mining has several impacts on the river environment. Among the different types of human interventions, mining of sand and gravel is the most disastrous one, as the activity threatens the very existence of river ecosystems. Both levels of authority use the national environmental management act of 1998 nema to regulate certain environmental aspects of sand mining.
Dust and diesel fumes generated on the haul road to and from the mine. Pdf the aim of the study was to assess the consequences of sand mining activities on soil erosion, vegetation clearance and landslide levels. It leads to changes in its channel form, physical habitats and food webs the river. Environmental impacts the benefits of industrial silica sand mining are realized in economic terms, whereas the costs are merely theoretical, in the form of potential environmental impacts.
Silica sand mining has minimal environmental impact, involves virtually no public health risk, and is an important part of domestic energy production that has substantial economic benefits. Effects of mining on the environment and human health. The mining sector in ghana consists of both smallscale and largescale mining, each of which has varying environmental impacts. The aim of the study was to assess the consequences of sand mining activities on soil erosion, vegetation clearance and landslide levels in the o. The paper mainly focused on the mining activities in prestea in the western region of the country. Instream sand mining results in the destruction of aquatic and riparian habitat through large changes in the channel morphology. Section 5 explains the criteria used to assess the potential environmental impacts that were.
Sand mining various environments is presented below. In comparatively recent times the sand dunes which had been excluded from earlier. Pdf assessing environmental impacts of inland sand. Potential environmental impacts of quarrying stone in. Key environmental and social impacts environmental and social impacts of mining have been welldocumented and an ample. The mining operation will have minimal impacts on the natural environment if mitigation measures proposed in this environmental management plan emp are implemented and strictly adhered too. Environmental impacts of sand and gravel operations in new. Environmental impact refers to the impact on the ecosystem. Sharip and zaki 2014 illustrated the impacts of sand mining on the dynamics of the thermal structure and water quality in bukit merah lake, indicating that sand mining led to an increase in turbidity exceeding 100 ntu and an enhanced temperature gradient. The physical and environmental impacts of sand mining. It happens on a vast scale, is poorly regulated, and.
The hidden social and environmental costs of sand mining. Case studies of environmental impacts of sand mining and gravel extraction for urban development in gaborone, phd thesis, university of south africa. As a worldwide economic activity, pit and river sand mining and gravel extraction has both positive and negative impacts to the environment. In this article we are discussing about the direct and indirect impacts due to soil and sand. Environmental impacts of sand mining in the city of santarem, amazon region, northern brazil. In this study we assess the impact of sand mining in poyang lake, where dredging began in 2001 after sand mining in the yangtze river had been banned.
Sand mining also adds to the water pollution problems in the rivers, especially in the urbanized areas. Pdf the physical and environmental impacts of sand mining. The goal of this report is to inform the surinamese government and public on the impacts of sand mining on beaches in suriname, based on the analysis of satellite images of the suriname coast, and on ground observations on braamspunt beach, and the necessity for conservation of. Strategic assessment of the magnitude and impacts of sand. Environmental impacts of industrial silica sand frac sand. Land use and river degradation impact of sand and gravel mining. Mining methods and impacts sand and gravel are regulated as industrial minerals in missouri. Although extensive clearing followed settlement of the area in the 1850s many of the dunes were not cleared due to early recognition of the sand drift problems occasioned by their clearance. This book addresses most of the environmental impacts of sand mining from small rivers the problems and solutions addressed in this book are applicable to all rivers that drain through densely populated tropical coasts undergoing rapid economic growth. Recent case studies of sand mining, utilization and. Environmental impact an overview sciencedirect topics.
He is an expert in quaternary geology and environmental geology and has been studying sand mining and related environmental problems for almost 20 years. Aggregate is used for road and bridge construction and in a variety of building. Although there are more than 2,500 sand and gravel pits in wisconsin, and probably several thousand more throughout. The impact of sand mining may vary depending upon geologic and geomorphic settings, river size, resource availability, climatic conditions, etc. The impacts are made worse, says unep researcher pascal peduzzi, because a lack of proper scientific methodology for river sand mining has led to indiscriminate sand mining, while weak governance and corruption have led to widespread illegal mining. Sand mining environmental impacts and selected case. Pdf recent case studies of sand mining, utilization and. It leads to changes in river channel form, physical habitats and food webs.
Quantifying the hydrodynamic impacts of cumulative sand. This in turn leads to soil erosion and destruction of. The main emphasis of this report is on aggregate extraction from rivers, which encompasses sand, gravel, pebbles or cobbles, but is collectively referred to as sand mining. The problems and solutions addressed in this book are applicable to all rivers that drain through densely. Pdf environmental impacts of sand mining in the city of santarem.
Mining and its associated activities can be responsible for considerable environmental damage. In april 2008 concern over the impact on the biodiversity led to a ban on sand mining in. Unep the environmental impact of sand mining lemun. Pdf page 2 of 62 generic environmental impact statement. Sand mining also affects the adjoining groundwater system and the uses that local people make of the river. Strip mining destroys landscapes, forests and wildlife habitats at the site of the mine when trees, plants, and topsoil are cleared from the mining area. Environmental impact assessment and management plan. Per definition, sand mining is the application in which sand is extracted through. The hidden social and environmental costs of sand mining the massive sand mining industry is often forgotten. This paper provides an exposition on the environmental impacts of mining activities in ghana. Case studies of environmental impacts of sand mining and gravel extraction for urban development in gaborone by tariro madyise submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of master of science in the subject environmental management at the university of south africa supervisor. Per definition, sand mining is the application in which sand is extracted through an open pit, other practices could include the extraction of sand from ocean or river beds.
Sand mining disturbs and completely remove the habitat from the mined zones. The paper discusses the imperatives of sand mining and the environmental impacts using selected case histories in the niger delta and elsewhere. Natural aggregate crushed stone, sand, and gravel is a vital part of our economic infrastructure in minnesota. This practice is used to extract sand that is predominantly utilized in manufacturing. Impacts of sand mining envis centre on environmental.
Generic environmental impact statement sand dune mining geological survey division. By removing the alluvial soil or sand, the river geomorphology will change be cause it can bring the river banks under unstable conditions. Environmental impacts of mining can occur at local, regional, and global scales through direct and indirect mining practices. The study showed that improper sand mining causes degradation of the nzhelele river and its floodplains. Strategic environmental assessment sea is a sister tool applied upstream at the level. Copy of environmental impact of soil and sand mining. The impact of land use activities on vegetation cover and water quality in the lake victoria. Planning for the extraction of aggregates is typically dealt with at a case to case basis, without assessing environmental impacts strategically. Pollution of the water is evident by the colouration of water which in most of the rivers and streams in the mining area varies from brownish to reddish orange. Dry pit mining is a method used when sand is extracted above water table from a dry stream bed and exposed bars using conventional bulldozers, scrapers and loaders. Pdf environmental impact of sand mining in tamiraparani. Wet pit mining involves extraction of sand and gravel from below water table stream channel or a perennial river using hydraulic excavator or dragline.
The continuation of sand mining in spite of the associated adverse environmental effects, have been linked to the creation of new usable land from marginal. The continuation of sand mining in spite of the associated adverse environmental effects, have been. The hidden environmental toll of mining the worlds sand. The problems and solutions addressed in this book are applicable to all rivers that drain through densely populated tropical coasts undergoing rapid economic growth. This book addresses most of the environmental impacts of sand mining from small rivers.
Other industrial minerals commonly mined in missouri include limestone, clay, and some sandstone and. To mine the sand without causing undue erosion or degradation at the site. Effect of sandgravel mining in minna emirate area of nigeria on stakeholders, journal of sustainable development, vol 4, no. River environment impact of sand mining sand is vital for sustenance of rivers. Illegal sand mining in south africa saiia policy briefing 116 4 dea and the department of water affairs dwa, while each province has a department responsible for environmental matters. Eia is intended to identify the impacts both beneficial and adverse of a proposed public and private. A better understanding of sand budgets is necessary if the problems of river and coastal environments are to be solved.
It is sure that all these activities ultimately end up in the degradation of the rivers. Effects of mining on the environment and human health impacts of strip mining. The elimination or disruption of members of various flora and fauna species are of particular interest. Padmalal is a research scientist at the centre for earth science studies trivandrum, kerala, india.
Impacts include bed degradation, bed coarsening, lowered water tables near the streambed, and channel. However, only a small portion of the epl is required for the quarry and cement. With any electrical generation facility there will be environmental impacts related to mining and processing the fuel, and transporting it. Illegal sand mining in south africa the green times. K maya this book addresses most of the environmental impacts of sand mining from small rivers. Study of sand mining and related environmental problems. The physical and environmental impacts of sand mining occur due to excavation that is taking place in the study area.
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