Innovative Strategies to Mitigate the Impact of Mining

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

The importance of mining to the global economy cannot be underestimated. It provides a diverse range of mineral commodities that are essential to our everyday lives as vital raw materials for numerous products that we use. In addition, many industries depend on input from the mining industry, such as in the manufacturing of drugs, glass, plastics, ceramics, electronics, etc.

However, the evolution of the mining has been coupled with a huge environmental footprint, i.e., acid mine drainage, deforestation, noise, dust, air and water pollution, public health impacts, and a loss of livelihoods. How to mitigate the impacts of mining and, simultaneously, offset the increased environmental and social costs, has been one of the most daunting problems encountered by the mining industry.

Over the last decade, innovative strategies have been proposed to mitigate the impact of mining in different areas. Some studies propose the identification of mining-induced soil pollution using advanced remote sensing, while others intend to design novel ways to recycle solid waste. On this basis, the overall aim of this Topic is to collect state-of-the-art research findings on the latest developments, challenges, and solutions in the field of mitigating the impacts of mining. The key areas that have been concentrated on include, but are not limited to:

• Innovative strategies to mitigate the impact of mining on water resources, i.e., acid mine drainage, contaminant leaching, soil and mine waste erosion into surface waters, and groundwater drawdown.
• Innovative strategies to mitigate the impact of mining on air quality, i.e., air pollution, the incidental release of mercury during gold mining, noise pollution, and mining-induced vibrations.
• Innovative strategies to mitigate the impact of mining on soil quality, i.e., heavy metal pollution, remediation, food safety, and wildlife.
• Innovative strategies to mitigate the impact of mining on the community, i.e., human displacement and resettlement, human migration, lost access to clean water, impacts on livelihoods, public health, and cultural/aesthetic resources.
• Innovative strategies to mitigate the impact of mining on global climate change, primarily greenhouse gas emissions.
• Life cycle assessments and case studies for green mining.

Prof. Dr. Chongchong Qi
Dr. Qiusong Chen
Dr. Danial Jahed Armaghani
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Applied Sciences applsci	2.5	5.3	2011	18.4 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Crystals crystals	2.4	4.2	2011	11.1 Days	CHF 2100	Submit
Materials materials	3.1	5.8	2008	13.9 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Minerals minerals	2.2	4.1	2011	18 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Mining mining	-	2.8	2021	21.1 Days	CHF 1000	Submit
Toxics toxics	3.9	4.5	2013	18.3 Days	CHF 2600	Submit

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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20 pages, 4188 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Pollution Risk Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements in Soils Using Characterization and Microbiological Analysis: The Case of a Rare and Precious Metal Mining Site in Wuzhou, Guangxi

by Yi Sun, Zixuan Yang, Kun Dong, Fujiang Hui, Dunqiu Wang and Yecheng Huang

Toxics 2025, 13(4), 270; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13040270 - 2 Apr 2025

Viewed by 263

Abstract

To understand the characteristics of the pollution risk of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) at a rare and precious metal mining site in Guangxi and to provide scientific evidence for the comprehensive evaluation and soil remediation of PTE pollution at the site, the Cd, [...] Read more.

To understand the characteristics of the pollution risk of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) at a rare and precious metal mining site in Guangxi and to provide scientific evidence for the comprehensive evaluation and soil remediation of PTE pollution at the site, the Cd, As, Co, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn contents of five areas were determined. Laboratory testing was conducted on five soil plots in the selected five suspected contaminated areas (electroplating workshop, sewage treatment area, and boiler room). Correlation analysis, infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to evaluate and analyze PTE pollution. The average contents of Cd, Co, As, Pb, Zn, and Cu at the site were higher than the background values in the Guangxi soil. The Probability Mass Function (PMF) model was used to perform a source apportionment of the PTEs and determine the main pollution sources and their contribution rates. The results of the single factor pollution of the PTEs showed that Cd, Ar, and Cr were heavy pollutants, and Co was a light pollutant. The Nemerow comprehensive pollution index analysis showed that the study area was heavily polluted. The Earth accumulation index results show that Cd exhibited a very serious accumulation, Cu and Zn exhibited mild to moderate accumulations, and As and Co exhibited moderate accumulations. The FTIR results showed that C=O in the soil was chelated with PTEs in some samples, which weakened the characteristic peaks of C=O in proteins and polypeptides. The XRD results showed that cadmium hydroxide, lead oxide, and zinc hydroxide were present in the soil samples. The XPS results showed that the production of O²⁻ in the O 1s high-resolution spectra mainly came from the metal oxides produced by the polluting metals. Meanwhile, the microbial results showed that the pollution risk of PTEs affected the soil microbial community structure and diversity to some extent. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Innovative Strategies to Mitigate the Impact of Mining)

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18 pages, 3357 KiB  

Open AccessReview

Trends and Applications of Green Binder Materials for Cemented Paste Backfill Mining in China

by Jiandong Wang, Bolin Xiao, Xiaohui Liu and Zhuen Ruan

Minerals 2025, 15(2), 97; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15020097 - 21 Jan 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 729

Abstract

The backfill binder material is the key to the cost and performance of cemented paste backfill. This study aims to understand the current situation of metal ore backfill binders, identify industry challenges, inspire research ideas, and explore development directions. Current research investigates trends [...] Read more.

The backfill binder material is the key to the cost and performance of cemented paste backfill. This study aims to understand the current situation of metal ore backfill binders, identify industry challenges, inspire research ideas, and explore development directions. Current research investigates trends and developments of backfill binders through literature review, experience summary, field research, statistical analysis, and other methods. Firstly, the main backfill binder types are summarized, including cement, metallurgical slag, thermal slag, chemical slag, and tailings binders. Secondly, the research progress regarding reactivity activation, hydration mechanism, harmful ion solidification, energy conservation, and carbon reduction is summarized. Thirdly, three industrial applications of new backfill binders are introduced and summarized. Cement is still the most common, followed by slag powder binder. The cases of steel slag binder and semi-hydrated phosphogypsum backfill have shown significant effects. Solid waste-based backfill binder materials are gradually replacing cement, which is a trend. Finally, further research is discussed, including hydration modeling and simulation, material properties under extreme environments, hardening process control, and technical standards for backfill binders. This work provides a reference and basis for promoting green and efficient paste backfill and sustainable industry development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Innovative Strategies to Mitigate the Impact of Mining)

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14 pages, 2510 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Optimizing Heavy Metal Uptake in Carpobrotus aequilaterus Through Electrokinetic Treatment: A Comprehensive Study on Phytoremediation from Mine Tailings

by Yasna Tapia, Osvaldo Salazar, Oscar Seguel, Jonathan Suazo-Hernández, Diego Urdiales-Flores, Humberto Aponte and Cristian Urdiales

Toxics 2024, 12(12), 860; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12120860 - 27 Nov 2024

Viewed by 1055

Abstract

Copper mining drives economic growth, with the global demand expected to reach 120 million metric tons annually by 2050. However, mining produces tailings containing heavy metals (HMs), which poses environmental risks. This study investigated the efficacy of phytoremediation (Phy) combined with electrokinetic treatment [...] Read more.

Copper mining drives economic growth, with the global demand expected to reach 120 million metric tons annually by 2050. However, mining produces tailings containing heavy metals (HMs), which poses environmental risks. This study investigated the efficacy of phytoremediation (Phy) combined with electrokinetic treatment (EKT) to increase metal uptake in Carpobrotus aequilaterus grown in tailings from the Metropolitan Region of Chile. The plants were exposed to varying voltages and treatment durations. In the control (no EKT), the root metal contents were Fe (1008.41 mg/kg) > Cu (176.38 mg/kg) > Mn (103.73 mg/kg) > Zn (30.26 mg/kg), whereas in the shoots, the order was Mn (48.69 mg/kg) > Cu (21.14 mg/kg) > Zn (17.67 mg/kg) > Fe (27.32 mg/kg). The optimal EKT (15 V for 8 h) significantly increased metal uptake, with roots accumulating Fe (5997.24 mg kg⁻¹) > Mn (672 mg kg⁻¹) > Cu (547.68 mg kg⁻¹) > Zn (90.99 mg kg⁻¹), whereas shoots contained Fe (1717.95 mg kg⁻¹) > Mn (930 mg kg⁻¹) > Cu (219.47 mg kg⁻¹) > Zn (58.48 mg kg⁻¹). Although EKT enhanced plant growth and biomass, higher voltages stressed the plants. Longer treatments were more effective, suggesting that EK–Phy is a promising method for remediating metal-contaminated tailings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Innovative Strategies to Mitigate the Impact of Mining)

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16 pages, 4803 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

A Deep Learning Approach for Chromium Detection and Characterization from Soil Hyperspectral Data

by Chundi Ma, Xinhang Xu, Min Zhou, Tao Hu and Chongchong Qi

Toxics 2024, 12(5), 357; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12050357 - 11 May 2024

Viewed by 1428

Abstract

High levels of chromium (Cr) in soil pose a significant threat to both humans and the environment. Laboratory-based chemical analysis methods for Cr are time consuming and expensive; thus, there is an urgent need for a more efficient method for detecting Cr in [...] Read more.

High levels of chromium (Cr) in soil pose a significant threat to both humans and the environment. Laboratory-based chemical analysis methods for Cr are time consuming and expensive; thus, there is an urgent need for a more efficient method for detecting Cr in soil. In this study, a deep neural network (DNN) approach was applied to the Land Use and Cover Area frame Survey (LUCAS) dataset to develop a hyperspectral soil Cr content prediction model with good generalizability and accuracy. The optimal DNN model was constructed by optimizing the spectral preprocessing methods and DNN hyperparameters, which achieved good predictive performance for Cr detection, with a correlation coefficient value of 0.79 on the testing set. Four important hyperspectral bands with strong Cr sensitivity (400–439, 1364–1422, 1862–1934, and 2158–2499 nm) were identified by permutation importance and local interpretable model-agnostic explanations. Soil iron oxide and clay mineral content were found to be important factors influencing soil Cr content. The findings of this study provide a feasible method for rapidly determining soil Cr content from hyperspectral data, which can be further refined and applied to large-scale Cr detection in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Innovative Strategies to Mitigate the Impact of Mining)

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19 pages, 4933 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Study of the Critical Safe Height of Goaf in Underground Metal Mines

by Qinli Zhang, Peng Zhang, Qiusong Chen, Hongpeng Li, Zian Song and Yunbo Tao

Minerals 2024, 14(3), 227; https://doi.org/10.3390/min14030227 - 23 Feb 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1412

Abstract

The empty-space subsequent filling mining method is the main mining scheme for underground metal mines to achieve large-scale mechanized mining. The stage height, one of the main parameters of this method, affects the various production process aspects of the mine and influences the [...] Read more.

The empty-space subsequent filling mining method is the main mining scheme for underground metal mines to achieve large-scale mechanized mining. The stage height, one of the main parameters of this method, affects the various production process aspects of the mine and influences the stability of the goaf. In order to determine the stage height scientifically and rationally in the empty-space subsequent filling mining method, a formula for the stabilized critical safe height of a high goaf in an underground metal mine was derived based on Pu’s arch equilibrium theory, Bieniawski’s pillar strength limit theory, and the Kastner equation and combined with the results of an orthogonal analysis to rank the importance of the main factors in the formula. A copper mine in Jiangxi Province was used as a case study, with the reliability of the formula verified by numerical simulation and industrial testing. The factors in the formula influencing the critical stabilized safe height of the goaf were, in descending order, the compressive strength of the rock body, the width of the two-step mining pillar, the width of the one-step mining room, the mining height, and the depth of mining. Based on the calculation results, the recommended stage heights are 30 m (−378 m middle section) and 25 m (−478 m middle section) in the area of poor rock body stability and 50 m in the area of better rock body stability. The simulation results show that the goaf is significantly affected by the compressive stress under the condition of a certain rock body stability and that the compressive stress increases with increasing goaf height. The minimum recommended values of the sidewall safety coefficients in areas of poor and better rock stability are 1.04 and 1.06, respectively. The volume deviation coefficients of the three industrial test mines were all controlled within 3%, indicating that no obvious collapse and destabilization phenomenon occurred in the goaf. This paper provides some theoretical and applied guidance for the stage height design of similar underground metal mines using the empty-space subsequent filling mining method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Innovative Strategies to Mitigate the Impact of Mining)

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21 pages, 2621 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

A Mine Closure Risk Rating System for South Africa

by Megan J. Cole

Mining 2024, 4(1), 58-78; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining4010005 - 30 Jan 2024

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 6530

Abstract

Mine closure is a growing concern in mining countries around the world due to the associated environmental and social impacts. This is particularly true in developing countries like South Africa where poverty, social deprivation and unemployment are widespread and environmental governance is not [...] Read more.

Mine closure is a growing concern in mining countries around the world due to the associated environmental and social impacts. This is particularly true in developing countries like South Africa where poverty, social deprivation and unemployment are widespread and environmental governance is not strong. South Africa has 230 operating mines located in diverse natural and social settings. Over 6 million people live in urban and rural mining host communities who will be significantly affected by mine closure. The national, provincial and local governments need guidance in identifying high-risk areas and relevant policy and programmatic interventions. This paper describes the development of a quantitative mine closure risk rating system that assesses the likelihood of mine closure, the risk of social impact and the risk of environmental impact of mine closure for every operating mine in the country. The paper visualises the high likelihood of closure and environmental impacts for numerous coal and gold mines, and the significant social risks in the deprived rural platinum and chrome mining areas. The rating system was tested with 10 mines and 19 experts, and the resulting maps are communicated in an online South African Mine Closure Risk and Opportunity Atlas. The risk ratings could be used in mine closure planning and management by mining companies, consultancies, governments and affected communities. While this risk rating system has been designed for South Africa, the methodology and framework could be applied to any mining country in the world. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Innovative Strategies to Mitigate the Impact of Mining)

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