Mine Ecological Restoration

A special issue of Resources (ISSN 2079-9276).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2024 | Viewed by 4401

Special Issue Editor

School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
Interests: resource; environmental waste; high value utilization; environmental management; life cycle; water pollution control; emerging organic pollutants; environmental assessment; ecological restoration; adsorption; catalysis; water pollution; heavy metal
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Although the development and utilization of mineral resources have played a huge role in promoting social and economic development, it has also brought serious ecological environmental problems, such as geological environmental problems, ecological environmental problems and environmental pollution problems. The geological environment problems mainly include dam collapse, slope instability, debris flow, collapse, water level drop, water gushing and drainage, collapse deformation, desertification, etc. Ecological environmental problems mainly include land occupation and destruction, deforestation, increased water and soil loss, consumption of water resources, reduction in biodiversity, disturbance of wildlife habitat and change in landscape. Environmental pollution problems mainly include air pollution, water pollution, solid pollution, acoustic pollution, radiation pollution, soil pollution, etc. Therefore, it is very necessary to explore the environmental governance and ecological restoration of the mining area.

This Special Issue aims to collect contributions from all aspects of mine ecological restoration research, including (but not limited to) laboratory and field research related to the following aspects: (i) green, safe and environmentally friendly mine ecological restoration technology; (ii) cooperative repair technology combining multiple methods; and (iii) final recovery of useful substances from plant/microbial biomass or extracts.

Dr. Rongkui Su
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • mine
  • environmental pollution
  • ecological damage
  • heavy metal pollution
  • site restoration
  • ecological restoration
  • phytoremediation
  • collaborative repair technology
  • stabilization technology
  • resource utilization
  • high value

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 1094 KiB  
Article
Phytoremediation Characterization of Heavy Metals by Some Native Plants at Anthropogenic Polluted Sites in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
by Sameera A. Alghamdi and Manal El-Zohri
Resources 2024, 13(7), 98; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources13070098 - 16 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1306
Abstract
Many anthropogenic activities have lately resulted in soil adulteration by heavy metals (HMs). The assessment of native plant species that grow in the polluted environments is of great importance for using these plants in phytoremediation techniques. This study was conducted in three industrial [...] Read more.
Many anthropogenic activities have lately resulted in soil adulteration by heavy metals (HMs). The assessment of native plant species that grow in the polluted environments is of great importance for using these plants in phytoremediation techniques. This study was conducted in three industrial regions in Jeddah city, Wadi Marik, Bahra, and Khumrah, to assess the HM contamination level in them. This study also evaluated the phytoremediation ability of nine plant species collected from the studied regions. Soil physicochemical properties of the studied sites were investigated. Nine HMs, aluminum (Al), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), cobalt (Co), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), and barium (Ba), have been evaluated in the collected soil, plant shoots, and root samples. Total thiol concentration in the plant shoots and roots was determined. The phytoremediation indexes, such as bioaccumulation factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF), were estimated. The results show that the soil of all the explored sites was sandy and slightly alkaline. It was found that Ni, Pb, and Cr were above the international permissible limit in all soil samples. The Wadi Marik region recorded the highest HM concentration compared to the other sites. In the Bahra region, Fe, Zn, Co, and Mn in all collected soil samples were below internationally permissible levels. In Khumrah, the highest concentration of Zn was found in the soil sample collected around F. indica plants, while Fe, Co, and Mn in all collected soil samples were below the international permissible limit. Depending on the BCF calculations, most of the investigated species showed phytostabilization ability for most of the studied HMs. Of them, E. indica, T. nubica, and P. divisum recorded the highest BCF values that ranged from 16.1 to 3.4. The BCF values of the studied HMs reduced in the order of Cr > Zn > Mn > Co > Ba > Fe > Al > Pb. Phytoextration of Co and Cr could be achieved by P. oleracea and F. indica, which showed TF values that reached 6.7 and 6.1, respectively. These plants showed high potential for phytoremediation and can be suggested as protective belts close to the contaminated regions of Jeddah. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mine Ecological Restoration)
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20 pages, 4030 KiB  
Article
Hg Pollution in Groundwater of Andean Region of Ecuador and Human Health Risk Assessment
by Irene Passarelli, Demmy Mora-Silva, Mirian Jimenez-Gutierrez, Santiago Logroño-Naranjo, Damaris Hernández-Allauca, Rogelio Ureta Valdez, Victor Gabriel Avalos Peñafiel, Luis Patricio Tierra Pérez, Marcelo Sanchez-Salazar, María Gabriela Tobar Ruiz, Katherin Carrera-Silva, Salvatore Straface and Carlos Mestanza-Ramón
Resources 2024, 13(6), 84; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources13060084 - 19 Jun 2024
Viewed by 942
Abstract
In Ecuador, illegal gold mining has led to significant environmental impacts, with the release of harmful elements such as mercury (Hg) into the environment. Mercury, due to its physical–chemical characteristics and the transport elements involved between different environmental matrices, can easily percolate through [...] Read more.
In Ecuador, illegal gold mining has led to significant environmental impacts, with the release of harmful elements such as mercury (Hg) into the environment. Mercury, due to its physical–chemical characteristics and the transport elements involved between different environmental matrices, can easily percolate through the soil and reach groundwater. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mercury concentration levels in the Andean region in order to perform a human health risk assessment. For this purpose, 175 water samples were analyzed, of which 9.71% exceeded the maximum permissible limit (MPL) established for drinking water in accordance with Ecuadorian regulations. The risk analysis was conducted by applying two approaches: deterministic and probabilistic. The deterministic approach involves a specific analysis based on the calculation of the risk quotient (HQ) and risk index (HI) for both receptors (adults and children) and scenarios (residential and recreational) considered; the probabilistic approach is based on the use of stochastic simulation techniques. The results obtained from the two approaches show a discrepancy, with the deterministic analysis providing more conservative results; however, they coincide in showing higher risk for the child population; decision-makers could use these results to identify areas to be monitored and plan more detailed investigation plans. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mine Ecological Restoration)
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18 pages, 1922 KiB  
Article
Risks to Human Health from the Consumption of Water from Aquifers in Gold Mining Areas in the Coastal Region of Ecuador
by Irene Passarelli, Demmy Mora-Silva, Carla Arguello Guadalupe, Thalía Carrillo Arteaga, Rogelio Ureta Valdez, Luz María Orna Puente, María Gabriela Tobar Ruiz, Guicela Ati-Cutiupala, Marcelo Sanchez-Salazar, Salvatore Straface and Carlos Mestanza-Ramón
Resources 2024, 13(4), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources13040053 - 8 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1519
Abstract
Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) is a source of supply in many areas of the world, especially in developing countries. This is often carried out illegally using toxic substances such as mercury. Mercury, due to its chemical–physical properties and the transport factors [...] Read more.
Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) is a source of supply in many areas of the world, especially in developing countries. This is often carried out illegally using toxic substances such as mercury. Mercury, due to its chemical–physical properties and the transport factors involved between the different environmental matrices, can percolate through soil and from surface water to groundwater. The objective of this study was to conduct a human health risk assessment. For this purpose, a screening of mercury concentrations was carried out, collecting 67 water samples at selected points, and a risk assessment was performed applying both a deterministic and a probabilistic approach. A deterministic approach is a specific analysis based on determining the values of the risk quotient (HQ) and the risk index (HI) for each receptor category (adults and children) and scenario (residential and recreational) considered; a probabilistic approach is based on stochastic simulation techniques and the evaluation of the statistical quantities. There was found to be a discrepancy between the results provided by the two approaches, with the deterministic approach suggesting a more worrisome picture. However, in general, the results showed a greater exposure in the provinces of El Oro and Esmeraldas, and a greater vulnerability of child receptors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mine Ecological Restoration)
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