scholarly journals Sustainable Rehabilitation of Surface Coal Mining Areas: The Case of Greek Lignite Mines

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 3995 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francis Pavloudakis ◽  
Christos Roumpos ◽  
Evangelos Karlopoulos ◽  
Nikolaos Koukouzas
Keyword(s):  
Industrial Development ◽  
Land Reclamation ◽  
Balkan Peninsula ◽  
Land Uses ◽  
Livestock Farming ◽  
Socioeconomic Impacts ◽  
Surface Coal Mining ◽  
Mining Areas ◽  
Renewable Power ◽  
Lignite Mines

Surface lignite mines of the Balkan Peninsula face growing pressure due to the CO2 emissions reduction initiatives, rapidly increasing renewable-power capacity, and cheap natural gas. In this frame, the development of a modern mine land rehabilitation strategy is considered as a prerequisite for mitigating the social and economic impacts for the local communities. In the case of western Macedonia lignite mines, these prospects are investigated based on a PEST (political, economic, social, technological) analysis of seven alternative land uses. Urban (industrial) development, green houses, and industrial heritage parks are considered as the most appropriate land uses for mitigating the socioeconomic impacts due to the loss of employments. For the land uses occupying large areas (i.e., agriculture, forestry, livestock farming, and photovoltaic parks), an optimisation algorithm is proposed for determining the mix of land uses that maximise revenue, equity, and natural conservation and minimise investment. The algorithm was applied using the opinions of 10 experts, who were involved in mine land reclamation projects carried out in the western Macedonia region in the recent past. According to the results obtained, photovoltaic parks are rated as a more attractive investment than extensive agriculture, as regards the anticipation of revenues, while livestock farming and forests are necessary to safeguard the ecosystem’s functions.

scholarly journals Evaluation of surface mining areas through geospatial analysis. The case of Ptolemais lignite mines

2021 ◽  
Vol 342 ◽  
pp. 02013
Author(s):  
Aikaterini Servou ◽  
Nikolaos Paraskevis ◽  
Christos Roumpos ◽  
Francis Pavloudakis
Keyword(s):  
Land Reclamation ◽  
Surface Mining ◽  
Mining Area ◽  
Geospatial Analysis ◽  
Slope Aspect ◽  
Land Uses ◽  
Residential Areas ◽  
Present Contribution ◽  
The Road ◽  
Mining Areas

The lignite surface mines often occupy large areas to develop the mining activities: pits, dumping areas, bunkers, buildings, workshops, and other auxiliary facilities. The land reclamation methods and the corresponding land use alternatives after the mine closure constitute an important part of an integrated mining planning. In the present contribution, the main parameters of geospatial planning are investigated in order to assess the changes in land uses in a mining area and to correlate them with the spatiotemporal development of the extraction works. As a case study, geospatial analysis of the current situation in Ptolemais mines is presented. In particular, seven dumping areas are assessed regarding their suitability for specific land uses. The assessment is based on the following criteria: a) slope gradient, b) reclamation works already completed, c) slope aspect, d) proximity to the road network, and e) proximity to residential areas. Furthermore, the ArcGis software is used to compile the layer maps of the corresponding parameters.

scholarly journals A new approach to increase land reclamation rate in coal mining subsidence area: A case study of Guqiao Coal Mine, China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gensheng LI ◽  
Jianxuan Shang ◽  
Zhenqi Hu ◽  
Dongzhu Yuan ◽  
Pengyu Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coal Mining ◽  
Coal Mine ◽  
Land Reclamation ◽  
Water Area ◽  
Land Area ◽  
Reclaimed Land ◽  
Land Protection ◽  
Mining Areas ◽  
Concurrent Mining And Reclamation ◽  
Coal Mining Subsidence

Underground coal mining will inevitably cause land ponding in high groundwater table, which will affect the land sustainable development. However, the traditional reclamation (TR) is poor in land rate. Thus, finding a suitable reclamation approach is crucial to alleviate the conflicts between coal exploitation and land protection. In this paper, taking Guqiao Coal Mine of China was seriously affected by mining-induced ponding as an example. Firstly, dynamic distribution of surface subsidence and land damage from 2007 to 2017 was revealed base on concurrent mining and reclamation (CMR). Second, the land-water layout of five reclamation schemes (no reclamation, TR, CMR I, CMR II and CMR III) were simulated. Then, and the dynamic filling elevation model and filling thickness model were constructed. Finally, the sequence of earthwork allocation was optimized. The results revealed that: 1) reclaimed land area: CMR III > CMR II > CMR I > TR > no reclamation; 2) The digging depth is directly proportional to earthwork volume and land area, and inversely proportional to water area, but with increase of digging depth, the increase in the reclaimed land area relatively slowed down; 3) CMRs had reclaimed 426.31~637.82 ha and 259.62~471.13 ha more than the no reclamation and TR respectively. Compared with the no reclamation and TR, CMRs can increase the proportion of reclaimed land by 33.77~50.52% and 20.57~37.32% respectively. The research results provide a reference to increase the reclamation rate of mining areas in the high phreatic table.

scholarly journals The Landscape of the Dehesa in the Sierra Morena of Jaén (Spain) – the Transition from Traditional to New Land Uses

2015 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonia Paniza Cabrera
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
20Th Century ◽  
Land Uses ◽  
Livestock Farming ◽  
Sierra Morena ◽  
Olive Groves

This paper tracks the evolution of the area covered by the dehesa in Sierra Morena from the mid 20th century to the present day, in an attempt to identify those areas in which traditional land uses still hold sway and others in which new land uses are appearing in relation to emerging business activities. These new uses have brought about an important transformation in the landscape of the dehesa, which in some areas is being replaced by other more profitable forms of land use, in particular with olive groves. In many areas where the dehesa still exists, livestock farming has been replaced by hunting, which has led to internal changes in the structure of the dehesa with an increase in scrubland. Another emerging land use is tourism-related activities, which many farmers now use to complement their income from livestock and which help preserve the traditional landscape of the dehesa.

scholarly journals CONCEPTIONS OF LAND RECLAMATION IN THE POLISH OPENCAST MINING

1997 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 26
Author(s):  
Tadeusz Chrzan ◽  
Henryk Greinert
Keyword(s):  
Coal Mining ◽  
Brown Coal ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Land Reclamation ◽  
Surface Mining ◽  
Cultivated Plants ◽  
Opencast Mining ◽  
Direct Introduction ◽  
Mining Areas ◽  
Humus Soil

In the paper the influence of surface mining on the environment is presented. The sizes of mining areas and depression funnels has been shown. Also are presented the amount of cover materials and the quantity of water pumped out from the mines in five regions of brown coal mining in Poland.Various conceptions of land reclamation are discussed, from the method of pioneer vegetation in the years of 1950 - 1970, trough selective excavation of the humus soil in the years 1970 - 1980, to conception of the direct introduction of the final type of vegetation.In the lost part of the paper three models of agricultural land remediation are discussed, as well as the yields of the cultivated plants on recultivated former mining areas.

scholarly journals Benefits of wildlife-based land uses on private lands in Namibia and limitations affecting their development

Oryx ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. A. Lindsey ◽  
C. P. Havemann ◽  
R. M. Lines ◽  
A. E. Price ◽  
T. A. Retief ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southern Africa ◽  
Livestock Production ◽  
Private Land ◽  
Land Uses ◽  
Livestock Farming ◽  
Private Lands ◽  
Economic Output ◽  
Black Farmers ◽  
Key Species ◽  
Legislative Changes

AbstractLegislative changes during the 1960s–1970s granted user rights over wildlife to landowners in southern Africa, resulting in a shift from livestock farming to wildlife-based land uses. Few comprehensive assessments of such land uses on private land in southern Africa have been conducted and the associated benefits are not always acknowledged by politicians. Nonetheless, wildlife-based land uses are growing in prevalence on private land. In Namibia wildlife-based land use occurs over c. 287,000 km2. Employment is positively related to income from ecotourism and negatively related to income from livestock. While 87% of meat from livestock is exported ≥ 95% of venison from wildlife-based land uses remains within the country, contributing to food security. Wildlife populations are increasing with expansion of wildlife-based land uses, and private farms contain 21–33 times more wildlife than in protected areas. Because of the popularity of wildlife-based land uses among younger farmers, increasing tourist arrivals and projected impacts of climate change on livestock production, the economic output of wildlife-based land uses will probably soon exceed that of livestock. However, existing policies favour livestock production and are prejudiced against wildlife-based land uses by prohibiting reintroductions of buffalo Syncerus caffer, a key species for tourism and safari hunting, and through subsidies that artificially inflate the profitability of livestock production. Returns from wildlife-based land uses are also limited by the failure to reintroduce other charismatic species, failure to develop fully-integrated conservancies and to integrate black farmers sufficiently.

A Discussion on the Reuse of Disused Mining Areas from a Land Reclamation Point of View, Using Dayoukeng as an Example

2013 ◽  
Vol 813 ◽  
pp. 284-291
Author(s):  
Ling Yuh Sheu ◽  
Ying Lin Lee ◽  
Shaw Bing Wen ◽  
Yun Hwei Shen
Keyword(s):  
Hot Springs ◽  
Land Reclamation ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Mining Area ◽  
Field Investigation ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Landscape Conservation ◽  
Ecological Planning ◽  
Mining Areas ◽  
Planning Methods

The rapid development of land resources and the sharp growth in demand for land have resulted in land degradation. Therefore, the reclamation, planning and management of such areas, including plans for implementing corresponding measures, are a very important topic at present. Located in the Yangmingshan National Park, the Dayoukeng disused mining area has craters created by volcanic activities and hot springs, and it was once the mining centerpiece of Taiwan. In addition to related literature review and field investigation as well as discussions on the operational procedures of ecological planning methods, this research carried out studies on landscape reclamation cases at home and abroad. Afterward, this research analyzed the land fitness of the Dayoukeng area based on landscape conservation principles. Finally, according to the analysis results, this research proposed land reuse planning principles and concept planning for the landscape reclamation and reuse. Meanwhile, the author expects to build up the experience of this case's research to serve as a reference to the reuse planning of disused mining areas in the future.

scholarly journals Approaches to Post-Mining Land Reclamation in Polish Open-Cast Lignite Mining

2014 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zbigniew Kasztelewicz
Keyword(s):  
Land Reclamation ◽  
Opencast Mining ◽  
Mining Operations ◽  
Lignite Mining ◽  
Recreational Area ◽  
Development Processes ◽  
European Standards ◽  
Open Cast ◽  
Lignite Mines

Abstract The paper presents the situation regarding the reclamation of post-mining land in the case of particular lignite mines in Poland until 2012 against the background of the whole opencast mining. It discusses the process of land purchase for mining operations and its sales after reclamation. It presents the achievements of mines in the reclamation and regeneration of post-mining land as a result of which-after development processes carried out according to European standards-it now serves the inhabitants as a recreational area that increases the attractiveness of the regions.

scholarly journals Origin of Critical Metals in Fe–Ni Laterites from the Balkan Peninsula: Opportunities and Environmental Risk

Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1009
Author(s):  
Maria Economou-Eliopoulos ◽  
Magdalena Laskou ◽  
Demetrios Eliopoulos ◽  
Ifigeneia Megremi ◽  
Sofia Kalatha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Human Health Risk ◽  
Balkan Peninsula ◽  
Critical Metals ◽  
Mining Areas ◽  
Icp Ms ◽  
Lowermost Part ◽  
The Eu ◽  
Laterite Ore ◽  
Epigenetic Processes

As the global energy sector is expected to experience a gradual shift towards renewable energy sources, access to special metals in known resources is of growing concern within the EU and at a worldwide scale. This is a review on the Fe–Ni ± Co-laterite deposits in the Balkan Peninsula, which are characterized by multistage weathering/redeposition and intense tectonic activities. The ICP-MS analyses of those laterites indicated that they are major natural sources of Ni and Co, with ore grading from 0.21 to 3.5 wt.% Ni and 0.03 to 0.31 wt.% Co, as well as a significant Sc content (average 55 mg/kg). The SEM-EDS analyses revealed that fine Fe-, Ni-, Co-, and Mn-(hydr)oxides are dominant host minerals and that the enrichment in these elements is probably controlled by the post-formation evolution of initial ore redeposition. The paucity of rare earth element (REE) within the typical Fe–Ni laterite ore and the preferential occurrence of Co (up to 0.31 wt.%), REE content (up to 6000 mg/kg ΣREE), and REE-minerals along with Ni, Co, and Mn (asbolane and silicates) towards the lowermost part of the Lokris (C. Greece) laterite ore suggest that their deposition is controlled by epigenetic processes. The platinum-group element (PGE) content in those Fe–Ni laterites, reaching up to 88 μg/kg Pt and 26 μg/kg Pd (up to 186 μg/kg Pd in one sample), which is higher than those in the majority of chromite deposits associated with ophiolites, may indicate important weathering and PGE supergene accumulation. Therefore, the mineralogical and geochemical features of Fe–Ni laterites from the Balkan Peninsula provide evidence for potential sources of certain critical metals and insights to suitable processing and metallurgical methods. In addition, the contamination of soil by heavy metals and irrigation groundwater by toxic Cr(VI), coupled with relatively high Cr(VI) concentrations in water leachates for laterite samples, altered ultramafic rocks and soils neighboring the mining areas and point to a potential human health risk and call for integrated water–soil–plant investigations in the basins surrounding laterite mines.

Land Reclamation and the Botanical Significance of Some Former Mining and Manufacturing Sites in Britain

1978 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 223-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael S. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Industrial Development ◽  
Land Reclamation ◽  
Industrial Wastes ◽  
British Isles ◽  
Mineral Extraction ◽  
Biological Resources ◽  
Domestic Refuse

Whilst major new industrial development sometimes poses a threat to scenic values and ecologically important habitats, it is also evident that industry has contributed significantly to the present-day biological resources of the British Isles. In particular, several former mineral-extraction sites have been maintained and developed specifically for the security and management of wildlife, and now constitute important habitats for the protection and survival of less-common members of the British flora. Several locations have even been successfully defended on biological grounds against proposals to reutilize them for disposing of industrial wastes and domestic refuse.

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