Environmental Pollution and Remediation in Mining Areas

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Abandoned metal mining sites have left a degraded environmental legacy, threatening the ecosystem and human health, particularly through the presence of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), such as As, Cd or Pb. Before planning a soil remediation program, it is necessary to study the PTE content, natural mobility and potential mobilization and toxicity effects to obtain a comprehensive environmental and health risk assessment.

In addition, the use of non-invasive methods, particularly environmental geophysics, plays a key role in assessing and monitoring degraded areas, enhancing the understanding of subsurface features and contaminant dispersion.

The main objective of this Topic is to study the impact that the exploitation of mining deposits can have on the environment and its possible remediation. This study includes an evaluation of the levels of pollutants in soil and water, as well as a study of their source of origin, the processes by which they are dispersed and the application of innovative methods for their comprehensive characterization, remediation and restoration.

Prof. Dr. María de la Luz García Lorenzo
Dr. José María Esbrí
Dr. Oscar Andreu Sánchez
Dr. Francisco J. Martínez Moreno
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Applied Sciences applsci	2.5	5.5	2011	16 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Environments environments	3.7	5.7	2014	19.2 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
Geosciences geosciences	2.1	5.1	2011	23.6 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
Minerals minerals	2.2	4.4	2011	17.7 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Mining mining	-	4.0	2021	22.7 Days	CHF 1200	Submit
Toxics toxics	4.1	6.4	2013	17.8 Days	CHF 2600	Submit

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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All Minerals Toxics Mining Geosciences Environments Applied Sciences

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25 pages, 2771 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Distribution of Asbestos and Perceptions of Asbestosis Risk in the Ga-Mathabatha Community, Limpopo Province, South Africa

by Manuel Teleki Thobejane, Mologadi Clodean Mothapo, Hector Chikoore and Fhatuwani Sengani

Minerals 2026, 16(5), 527; https://doi.org/10.3390/min16050527 - 15 May 2026

Viewed by 271

Abstract

Asbestos dust exposure remains a significant public health concern, particularly in areas with unrehabilitated asbestos mines. This study aims to evaluate the spatial distribution of asbestos and community awareness and perceptions of the risk of asbestosis in Ga-Mathabatha, a rural settlement in Limpopo [...] Read more.

Asbestos dust exposure remains a significant public health concern, particularly in areas with unrehabilitated asbestos mines. This study aims to evaluate the spatial distribution of asbestos and community awareness and perceptions of the risk of asbestosis in Ga-Mathabatha, a rural settlement in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Using Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) satellite imagery, remote sensing techniques, and GIS mapping, we predicted areas containing different types of minerals associated with asbestos, validated by field observations at Makapeng, Moleke, Maseleseleng, Success, Masioneng, Olifants River, Mphogodima River, and Tongwane River sites. A mixed-methods research approach, including 18 in-depth interviews and 250 survey questionnaires, assessed community awareness and perceptions of potential asbestosis risk. Remote sensing analysis results indicated high concentrations of chrysotile asbestos in the eastern part of the study area, tremolite asbestos in the southern part, and minor serpentine deposits in the east. Field observations confirmed asbestos deposits along riverbanks and in the surrounding villages. Survey results revealed that 45.6% of participants were not aware of areas of high asbestos concentration in Ga-Mathabatha, while 28% (15% + 13%) did not perceive passing near asbestos dumps with or without herds as another source of exposure. These findings underscore the need for targeted education and awareness programs for communities living near asbestos deposits and those whose day-to-day activities increase their risk of exposure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Environmental Pollution and Remediation in Mining Areas)

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44 pages, 33818 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Predicting Blasting-Induced Ground Vibration in Mines Using Machine Learning and Empirical Models: Advancing Sustainable Mining and Minimizing Environmental Footprint

by Nafiu Olanrewaju Ogunsola and Hendrik Grobler

Mining 2026, 6(2), 32; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining6020032 - 7 May 2026

Viewed by 255

Abstract

Blasting-induced ground vibrations, typically quantified by peak particle velocity (PPV), pose one of the most critical environmental challenges in surface mining and can damage nearby structures and disrupt surrounding ecosystems. Consequently, the development of reliable and accurate predictive models is essential for designing [...] Read more.

Blasting-induced ground vibrations, typically quantified by peak particle velocity (PPV), pose one of the most critical environmental challenges in surface mining and can damage nearby structures and disrupt surrounding ecosystems. Consequently, the development of reliable and accurate predictive models is essential for designing safe, environmentally responsible, and sustainable blasting operations. This study develops a robust predictive framework using a harmonized database of 506 blasting events, from which 386 high-quality records were retained after preprocessing to model PPV as a function of charge per delay (Q), monitoring distance (R), and rock mass rating (RMR). Several machine learning (ML) algorithms, including artificial neural networks trained using the Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm (ANN-LM), adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems (ANFIS), Gaussian process regression (GPR), and decision trees (DT), were evaluated alongside conventional empirical models such as the USBM, Ambraseys–Hendron, Langefors–Kihlstrom, and BIS. To further enhance predictive capability, two optimization strategies, Bayesian optimization (BO) and differential evolution (DE), were applied to the GPR model, producing optimized BO-GPR and DE-GPR variants. Model performance was assessed using the correlation coefficient (r), variance accounted for (VAF), mean absolute error (MAE), and relative root mean square error (RRMSE). Results indicate that the BO-GPR model achieved the best predictive performance during testing for both the two-input (Q, R) and three-input (Q, R, RMR) configurations, with r values of 0.97426 and 0.98381, respectively, and VAF values exceeding 94%. SHAP analysis revealed monitoring distance as the dominant attenuating factor controlling PPV. The optimized framework provides an accurate, interpretable tool for vibration prediction and precision blast design, supporting environmentally responsible, sustainable mining operations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Environmental Pollution and Remediation in Mining Areas)

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16 pages, 3621 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Rock Mass Discontinuity on Blast-Induced Vibration Attenuation in Quarry

by Chi-Han Wang, Yung-Chin Ding and Fu-Hao Lee

Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 3990; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16083990 - 20 Apr 2026

Viewed by 398

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of rock mass discontinuities on blast-induced ground vibration attenuation in a marble quarry in eastern Taiwan. A total of 53 blasts and 106 vibration records were collected and analyzed using image-based rock mass characterization with WipFrag (Version 4) [...] Read more.

This study investigates the influence of rock mass discontinuities on blast-induced ground vibration attenuation in a marble quarry in eastern Taiwan. A total of 53 blasts and 106 vibration records were collected and analyzed using image-based rock mass characterization with WipFrag (Version 4) software. Discontinuity conditions were quantified through the joint factor (JF), defined by the median size (D50) and maximum size (D100) from cumulative size distribution curves. The PPV (peak particle velocity) data were fitted using the USBM, Sadovsky, and a modified Simangunsong equation incorporating a discontinuity correction factor. The modified Simangunsong model yielded the highest correlation (R² = 0.8632), followed by the Sadovsky (R² = 0.8067) and USBM (R² = 0.7674) equations, indicating improved in-sample fitting performance when discontinuity effects are included. The results show that explicitly considering discontinuity effects enhances the reliability of PPV estimates for the studied site and that highly fractured rock masses with smaller block sizes result in greater vibration attenuation. The study demonstrates that a practical approach to quantify discontinuities through image analysis and embedding them into empirical PPV attenuation models can be used to refine quarry blasting design for vibration control purposes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Environmental Pollution and Remediation in Mining Areas)

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17 pages, 1829 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Cultivating Lavandula dentata in Coal-Waste Technosols: Implications for Essential Oil Production and Post-Mining Restoration

by Arthur Cesa Venturella, Eduardo Kercher de Oliveira, Jéssica Weiler, Eduardo Miranda Ethur and Ivo André Homrich Schneider

Mining 2026, 6(1), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining6010025 - 21 Mar 2026

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Abstract

This study assessed the feasibility of cultivating Lavandula dentata in Technosols produced from fine and coarse coal mining waste, focusing on plant development, substrate functionality, essential oil production, and post-mining ecosystem restoration. The Technosols were formulated using coal waste from the Moatize Coal [...] Read more.

This study assessed the feasibility of cultivating Lavandula dentata in Technosols produced from fine and coarse coal mining waste, focusing on plant development, substrate functionality, essential oil production, and post-mining ecosystem restoration. The Technosols were formulated using coal waste from the Moatize Coal Mine, Mozambique, combined or not in different configurations with agricultural soil and amended with sewage sludge (3% organic matter) and chemical fertilizer to ensure adequate nutrient availability. The experiments were conducted in 30 L containers, performed in triplicate for each experimental group. All settings allowed good plant growth, although the treatment that used only fine waste presented the closest performance to agricultural soil in terms of the production of aerial biomass. In this case, the dried biomass production of the shoots reached an average of 165 g per pot over 8 months (with a standard deviation of 20.3). The study showed a positive correlation between plant development and the available water capacity of the substrates. The plant tissue of L. dentata, in all the Technosols configurations studied, presented a similar composition to the control, with a biomass composition within the standard range established by the literature. The essential oil production ranged from 0.3 to 0.7% (m/m), averaging 0.5% (m/m), with chemical characteristics also alike the control trial. Technosols composed of coal waste from Moatize appear to be an alternative, both to provide a suitable destination for mining waste and to provide conditions for the revegetation and recovery of degraded areas by coal mining. This avoids the commissioning of nearby areas to supply soil for the restoration process. L. dentata, in addition to its various medical, ornamental, and aromatic uses, has potential as an “ecological trigger” in the restoration process with environmental and socioeconomic benefits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Environmental Pollution and Remediation in Mining Areas)

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31 pages, 16922 KB  

Open AccessReview

Recycle and Reuse of Calcium-Rich Waste in Brownfield: Review of Practices of Sludge Pond Reuse, Upper Kama Region (Russia)

by Evgeniya Ushakova, Elena Kalinina, Pavel Belkin, Elena Menshikova, Sergey Blinov, Roman Perevoshchikov and Vladimir Pugach

Mining 2026, 6(1), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/mining6010024 - 17 Mar 2026

Viewed by 706

Abstract

The organization of safe industrial waste management is an integral part of the global sustainable development strategy. This study provides a preliminary assessment of the processing and recycling potential of strongly alkaline (pH 11–12) sediments accumulated in an abandoned sludge pond (Berezniki, Perm [...] Read more.

The organization of safe industrial waste management is an integral part of the global sustainable development strategy. This study provides a preliminary assessment of the processing and recycling potential of strongly alkaline (pH 11–12) sediments accumulated in an abandoned sludge pond (Berezniki, Perm Krai, Russia), based on the initial characterization of their material composition. Sediment samples from the sludge pond were collected, layer-by-layer, over the entire depths of four sediment cores. The collected samples have the following characteristics: sediment particles are composed of up to 80% fine particles < 0.05 mm, with up to 20% fine particles < 0.002 mm. XRD data showed that the sediment consisted of calcite (67.7 wt.%), halite (11.5 wt.%), and other hydrogenic and terrigenous minerals. XRF data also found that the primary constituents in the sediment are CaO (up to 40%), Cl (up to 13%), and LOI (up to 35%). The results of the material composition study indicate a high degree of similarity between the accumulated sediments and solid waste from soda ash production, known as ammonia–soda residue (ASR). Based on experience with calcium-containing waste, this study recommends options for the secondary use of sludge, identifying two main possibilities: environmental protection and construction. We have developed an algorithm for the recycling and reuse of sludge that identifies risks, limitations, and recommended next steps. However, significant knowledge gaps regarding the environmental, toxicological, and the physical–mechanical properties of sludge prevent us from recommending a specific disposal option. The results of this review will serve as guidelines to help develop a roadmap for the disposal process. They will also inform decision-makers about sustainability issues related to industrial waste disposal. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Environmental Pollution and Remediation in Mining Areas)

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27 pages, 10326 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Acid-Generating and Acid-Neutralizing Reactions in the Pyrite-Rich Waste Rock Composing the Main Waste Stockpile at the Red Dog Mine, Alaska, USA

by Jeff B. Langman, Amanda Balogh, D. Eric Aston, Timothy E. Link, Emile Milan, Bridget Eckhardt and Sarah Mulzet

Geosciences 2026, 16(3), 125; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences16030125 - 17 Mar 2026

Viewed by 678

Abstract

Mining at the Red Dog Mine generated a 60 million-tonne waste rock stockpile that produces acid rock drainage with pH values typically below 3. The drainage chemistry is controlled by the competing kinetics of acid-generating iron sulfide weathering and acid-neutralizing carbonate and phosphate [...] Read more.

Mining at the Red Dog Mine generated a 60 million-tonne waste rock stockpile that produces acid rock drainage with pH values typically below 3. The drainage chemistry is controlled by the competing kinetics of acid-generating iron sulfide weathering and acid-neutralizing carbonate and phosphate dissolution. To evaluate the interaction of these reactions, waste rock was collected from the stockpile by drilling a borehole from the surface to a depth of 52 m, terminating at the shale bedrock. A temporal paste pH test was conducted to extend the utility of the static paste pH test to a continuous (30 min) measurement of pH and ORP over a 24-h period. The 24-h paste pH results revealed multiple acid-generating and acid-neutralizing reactions: pH values ranged from 3.31 to 6.96. Mineralogical analysis indicated initial acidic conditions in 12 of the depth intervals (upper and lower zones) were due to the release of stored acidity from soluble iron sulfate minerals. Subsequent pH increases were driven by calcite dissolution and likely phosphate and clay mineral acid-neutralizing reactions. Conversely, late-stage pH decreases in the lower middle zone indicated the presence of highly reactive/available iron sulfide surfaces, which allowed for earlier acid generation compared to less reactive/available iron sulfide minerals in other zones. The utility of this temporal paste pH test and associated mineral analysis is to understand the mineralogical controls on early temporal acid generation to guide batch reactor testing of remaining acid potential under saturated conditions. This sequential approach provides critical information for predicting long-term acid generation and information management of the stockpile for mine site remediation and closure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Environmental Pollution and Remediation in Mining Areas)

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