How can mining operations prevent soil erosion?

An effective water management and drainage plan should be an integral part of the mine plan. The site plan needs to take into account the progressive changes to the mine topography as the mine chamges over time.

Beside the typical site invesigation, the hydrological and hydrogeological investigation is critical especially with the effects of the climate change. It is crucial to understand the long term effects due to climate change on some of the design and operation considerations, such as 100 year storm or flood info.

In as much as reclaiming land is an ingenious method of mitigating soil erosion , I wish to present my contribution in line with this practice by suggesting that; Mines that Run mineral ore processing concentrator Plants may choose to pump tails back into redundant Open Pits other than: ? Increasing volumes of tails in tailings storage facilities, which are costly to maintain, because failure of Tailings Storage facilities can be catastrophic to surrounding communities and also to the environment. ? Sourcing for materials to fill exhausted Pits, especially excavated material is a reintroduction of the same scenario, as this method will in one way or the other impact on the environmental, which will further demand mitigation measures.

The great fear is that dams of all kind fail. The best examples are coal tip failures, waste or mill tailings failures. That problem can be solved by not allowing water atop any soil pile of any sort. Infiltration of water causes most problems. Sliming, plastic deformation, ice dams or perched water within a pile is the source of soil erosion problems. There is a solution. Examples include topographic reversion by beavers or other natural dam building processes. Whole drainages in dry lands of Arizona are alleged to have been reclaimed by ranchers making dams in what are now dry gulches. This might be helped by Invoking flood prevention. The problem has been demonstrated recently with changes in the EMSO “rivers in the air”.

Para tener en cuenta la erosión hay que diferenciar entre minería de interior y de exterior. Como bien dice el artículo hay que realizar una buena investigación previa a la explotación, estudiar el tipo de suelo y si hay afección por acuíferos o fallas por las cuales pueda filtrarse agua. Durante la explotación es importante realizar los cálculos de mecánica de rocas y ver como esa explotación puede estar afectando en superficie. Una vez realizada la explotación será necesaria una buena reforestación para evitar la erosión del suelo.

Minimizing disturbances in mining operations in open cast or open pit mines is not possible. We shall ensure vegetation to flourish in our waste dumps or the areas where mining operations are not planned.

People don’t want to hear promises of this and that. The approach is good but look at what flooding happened in China…showy works failed when the rain came!

Para minimizar las molestias es necesario mantener sin afección las zonas de dominio público hidráulico, como pueden ser las zonas cercanas a ríos o torrentes, de igual manera no se puede realizar afección a las zonas inundables. En zonas donde no se pueda evitar la afección habrá que realizar las labores tanto de explotación como de reforestación según marque la normativa local de la zona y seguir las labores según se hayan acordado en el documento de impacto ambiental y con el cual se haya aprobado el proyecto de explotación.

Mining technology has improved significantly along this years. Uncontrolled blasting always become the biggest enemy of soil disturbances. The issue can be improve with develop well planned blasting design with software (or perhaps in the future AI) with consideration of soil/rocks condition and selection of mining machines for the material. This will avoid unnecessary disturbance in the operation.

Usually the SHEQ department which deals with Environment should come up with initiatives of planting trees in the mines. Restricting cutting down of trees and unauthorized ground clearance within the mines is another was way of minimizing soil erosion

Selling this is hard if it has never been done. Look to the farming community. Maybe their experiences will be believed. I spent 25 years trying to push good management with the EPA. Our waste disposal sites were still rejected even though the engineering was decent. Mostly folks are afraid their home values will erode. Many have no other source of value. This was overlooked when the Warren toxic waste Landfill was permitted in North Carolina. The “castle on a hill” with PCB’s failed because of sabotage! It filled with water when a hurricane came and the hole could not be drained. Sabotage!

Utilising vegetation is an effective strategy for mitigating soil erosion, but it's crucial to consider the ecological intricacies. Prioritising the natural composition and distribution of plant species is key, as over time, these species will naturally reorganise and adapt within their ecological niches. Influential environmental factors such as soil nutrient composition, natural water flow, and the specific soil profile play a pivotal role in ensuring both environmental sustainability and long-term financial viability. By aligning with these natural processes, the effectiveness of vegetation in controlling soil erosion can be enhanced, creating a more resilient and sustainable ecosystem.

This ignores the problem of long term finance. Most projects open and close and open again as things change. The mindset of these suggestions ignores the problem of mismanagement. Even when money is set aside the problem of perpetuity is significant. Perpetual care claims are not legal. Cemeteries face the same issue. I know. I tried to do all this. It caused riots when governmental Agencies disagreed. I saw this happen in Illinois….and lots of other places where careful monitoring showed “chemical leaks”. open debate was not effective.

Una buen proyecto de reforestación es aquel que deja el terreno en el mismo estado o mejor del que había previo a la explotación. Las tierras vegetales obtenidas del desmonte deben acopiarse en la fase de pre-explotación. Para mantener estas tierras bien oxigenadas se irán removiendo a medida que vaya pasando el tiempo. Estas tierras serán utilizadas para extenderlas una vez la explotación haya finalizado y serán la base de la reforestación final.

Land reclamation should (or always) be important for all mines. Backfilling will be cost effective with better mine plan preparation and selection of mining machines. Be mindful of the soil condition will be different when it starts and when the miners need to closed. Therefore, every miners should understand the ground condition and avoid mine acid drainage, which will cause another everlasting issue.

Supervisión y mantenimiento: -Comprobación y seguimiento de la extensión superficial afectada por el proyecto a lo largo de todas sus fases i la adecuación del plan de restauración. -Control de la geometría y dise?o de los elementos del proyecto como soporte de la restauración. -Control de las propiedades de los acopios de tierra vegetal prevista para la restauración. -Monitorización de la evolución de la biodiversidad. -Control de emisiones a la atmósfera y de la correcta ocupación y mantenimiento de la maquinaria. -Vigilancia al sistema de drenaje para evitar vertidos i controlables de escorrentía fuera del perímetro de explotación. Control de la calidad del medio hídrico del entorno, afección de las aguas superficiales y subterráneas.

Remote sensing technology should be promoted for the long term monitoring for the soil erosion, such as InSAR or LiDAR. Also the (Artifical Intelligence) AI and (Machine learning)ML boost drone survey could provide fast response compared to the conventional mointoring method.

Agree. Every country should have this standard, but the implementation could be the question. In my experience, not many mining closed being monitored, instead causing issues to the neighborhood. Having said that, it need to have proper financial incentive for the miners who execute their reclamation plan and maintain it for the people in the future.

Mine geothermal brines for their metal salts and refine them. Leave the rocks in the ground. Mine the brine before it becomes ore.

In the most cases, the environmental related mining operation strategy is driven by the local regulation. The education and engagement is definitely important not just to workers, community, and public but also to local authorities, especially in developing countries. This could be promoted through the collaboration among researchers, regional mining and engineering association, and local enviromental regulators.

Educar, comprometer y hacer difusión de los siguientes controles: -Control de los residuos generados durante las labores de explotación i potencial contaminación del suelo. -Control del crecimiento de las especies vegetales. -Programación de la reposición de marras en el caso de ser necesario. -Vigilancia del sistema de drenaje para evitar vertidos incontrolados de escorrentía fiera del perímetro de explotación. -Control del medio hídrico del entorno, afección a las aguas superficiales y subterráneas. -Vigilancia de taludes para identificar potenciales inestabilidades geotécnicas en un estado incipiente. -Monitorización de la evolución de la biodiversidad. Todo ello para concienciar a la población sobre las buenas prácticas de la minería

Apart from the six suggestions which are well considered, there are a few more aspects of prevention of soil erosion. First, designing a drainage system in the catchment area of the mining leasehold. If required, this can go beyond the leasehold, with consent of government and public.

I find most problems come from social failures. Over and over I see companies that check all the boxes fail because of public appeals to historical nostalgia. Discussions about money jobs and soil erosion are a sign of weakness. Discussion of social erosion is a much better way to frame the issue. See “Sandman” on “Explaining Environmental risk”. Discuss the erosion of family…children who might want to leave! Acceptance is generally based on appeals to continuation of history…not its erosion.