Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Kaitlyn E. Trepanier, Brea Burton, Bradley D. Pinno
Summary: This study focuses on the impact of weeds on the establishment of native plant communities in different reclamation cover soils and finds that non-native forbs have little impact while native graminoids have a negative influence on native forb communities.
Article
Ecology
Lorna Hernandez-Santin, Mitchel L. Rudge, Renee E. Bartolo, Timothy G. Whiteside, Peter D. Erskine
Summary: The study presents a detailed approach for selecting reference sites in the context of mining and resource development within a savanna ecosystem. It emphasizes the importance of the reference site selection process to ensure the accuracy and effectiveness of closure criteria and restoration guidelines.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dominique Barrette, Philippe Marchand, Hermine Lore Nguena Nguefack, Marie Guittonny
Summary: In Canada, low-grade ore mines produce a significant amount of mineral waste. Re-vegetating the mine tailings with agronomic herbaceous plants is a common practice to control erosion. This study evaluates the impact of different herbaceous plants on soil properties and the growth and nutrient concentration of boreal tree species. The results suggest that combining legumes with willow cultivars produces the best seedling growth and survival in the harsh conditions of mine tailings.
WATER AIR AND SOIL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Sebastian Christoph Glowacki, Martin Komainda, Edmund Leisen, Johannes Isselstein
Summary: Changing climatic conditions in north-western Europe require adaptations in management of ley grassland, requiring new grass-legume mixture designs in response to increased variability in precipitation and warmer summers. Evaluation of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.)-grass swards with the grasses cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) have yet to be evaluated under the agro-climatic conditions of north-western Europe. The study found that there were no significant differences in herbage dry matter yields between lucerne pure stands and different mixture swards, indicating that the inclusion of grass species with tolerance to water shortage into lucerne-based swards offers the potential to diversify grasslands without losses of agronomic potential.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF AGRONOMY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Petra Zednikova, Jaroslav Kukla, Jan Frouz
Summary: Post-mining sites have unfavorable soil conditions that limit ecosystem function recovery. The growth of legumes is limited by soil conditions and grass competition. A greenhouse pot experiment showed that plant growth increased with substrate age and was faster in reclaimed substrates. Legumes were strong competitors with grass in post-mining substrates, but facilitation was not observed.
JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE AND PLANT NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
C. Garner, J. Strongman, B. Staniforth, J. Fletcher, C. Brough
Summary: The use of automated mineralogy is crucial in all stages of a mine cycle, but the quality and automation of the process depend on the accuracy and efficiency of sample preparation. Poor sample preparation can lead to lower quality automated mineralogy data outputs, highlighting the need for optimization in this stage.
MINERALS ENGINEERING
(2024)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Abdelkabir Maqsoud, Sekou Diaby, Mamert Mbonimpa
Summary: The study indicates that for the reclamation of the Ity gold mine, using a monolayer cover made with clayey silt material is the best scenario. Experimental results show that this monolayer cover has good hydrogeological performance, effectively reducing the risk of acid mine drainage.
JOURNAL OF AFRICAN EARTH SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Hajime Ikeda, Nur Ellisha Binti Mokhtar, Brian Bino Sinaice, Muhammad Ahsan Mahboob, Hisatoshi Toriya, Tsuyoshi Adachi, Youhei Kawamura
Summary: This study proposes using the low tunnel temperatures of abandoned mine sites to establish a sustainable data center, offsetting reclamation costs. Through simulations and analysis, optimal parameters satisfying the requirements of a data center operation were determined.
Article
Ecology
Lydia K. Roesel
Summary: Saline contaminants from potash mining pose a threat to aquatic ecosystems. Conventional coverage systems are ineffective in protecting the surrounding environment and alternative coverage systems are needed. This study found that coverage systems with additional sealings perform better in reducing contaminant release compared to conventional coverage systems. Furthermore, a mixed and site-specific coverage system is the most effective in improving water quality.
ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Haoxuan Yu, Izni Zahidi, Dongfang Liang
Summary: Dartford, a town in England heavily reliant on industrial production, particularly mining, has successfully reclaimed and re-vegetated the abandoned mine land through the innovative Ebbsfleet Garden City project. This project not only focuses on environmental management but also brings economic benefits, employment opportunities, and fosters urban development and community connectivity.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Haoxuan Yu, Izni Zahidi, Chow Ming Fai
Summary: This paper suggests that abandoned tailings ponds can be transformed into fertile agricultural land through effective reclamation efforts. Serving as a discussion paper, it explores the environmental and health risks associated with tailings ponds, as well as the potential and obstacles in repurposing them for agriculture. The discussion concludes that while there are significant challenges, there are encouraging prospects with the implementation of comprehensive efforts.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lina Xie, Dirk van Zyl
Summary: Phytostabilization on sulfidic mine tailings is an important area for future reclamation efforts. This greenhouse study found that wheatgrass and ryegrass are suitable candidates for phytostabilization, and reusing bauxite residue and compost is a cost-effective method to promote phytostabilization effectiveness. However, careful evaluation of compost is needed for zinc phytostabilization in tailings due to large Accumulation Factors and Translocation Factors of selected species.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MINING RECLAMATION AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Thitinan Hutayanon, Komsoon Somprasong
Summary: Reclamation is an important process in mining, involving activities such as reforestation and land transformation. The monitoring and evaluation of reforested areas are currently done through manual field observation, which is time-consuming. This study used remote sensing techniques, including satellite images and multispectral UAV, to determine the most effective method for monitoring and evaluating the reforestation area. The results showed that the multispectral UAV method provided a %RSD of NDVI ranging from 16.58 to 40.75, and the regression modeling for each species had an R-2 ranging from 0.568 to 0.831, demonstrating the feasibility of the indirect monitoring scheme for reclamation.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Gabrielle Dublet-Adli, Thomas Pabst, Gudny Okkenhaug, Christian Saetre, Anna M. Varheim, Mari K. Tvedten, Samuel K. Gelena, Andreas B. Smebye, Marianne Kvennas, Gijs D. Breedveld
Summary: The study found that using pre-oxidized tailings as a moisture retention layer in cover systems can effectively reduce Cu concentrations. However, despite some improvements, the issue of acid drainage continued to persist in the leachate water.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Iskandar Iskandar, Dyah Tjahyandari Suryaningtyas, Dwi Putro Tejo Baskoro, Sri Wilarso Budi, Imam Gozali, Saridi Saridi, Muhammad Masyhuri, Stefan Dultz
Summary: The growth of revegetation plants in post-mining areas is influenced by the physical and chemical properties of the original soil, with soil chemistry playing a regulatory role. The better growth of revegetation plants in the Sambarata site compared to the Lati site is attributed to the composition of exchangeable cations and higher base saturation, leading to more favorable soil quality for plant growth.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Daoming Wu, Jiayi Feng, Shuangshuang Chu, Douglass F. Jacobs, Xin Tong, Qian Zhao, Xiaoyang Chen, Shucai Zeng
Article
Ecology
Ross Vander Vorste, Anthony J. Timpano, Catie Cappellin, Brian D. Badgley, Carl E. Zipper, Stephen H. Schoenholtz
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Ecology
Morgan E. Franke, Carl Zipper, Jacob N. Barney
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Damion R. Drover, Stephen H. Schoenholtz, David J. Soucek, Carl E. Zipper
Article
Environmental Sciences
Thomas R. Cianciolo, Daniel L. McLaughlin, Carl E. Zipper, Anthony J. Timpano, David J. Soucek, Keridwen M. Whitmore, Stephen H. Schoenholtz
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
(2020)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Thomas R. Cianciolo, Daniel L. McLaughlin, Carl E. Zipper, Anthony J. Timpano, David J. Soucek, Stephen H. Schoenholtz
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2020)
Article
Forestry
Douglass F. Jacobs, Anthony S. Davis, R. Kasten Dumroese, Owen T. Burney
Review
Forestry
Caleb H. Redick, Douglass F. Jacobs
Review
Environmental Studies
Carl E. Zipper, Jeff Skousen
Summary: The coal mining industry has been a major economic force in the Appalachian region for over a century, but is now declining in a way that seems permanent. This decline has led to ecological changes in mined lands and negative impacts on economic and health indicators in the region's communities.
EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES AND SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Anthony J. Timpano, Jess W. Jones, Braven Beaty, Matthew Hull, David J. Soucek, Carl E. Zipper
Summary: Trace metals rarely contaminate freshwaters independently, and regulatory limits based on single-metal toxicity may be underprotective of freshwater mussels. The study revealed that metal mixtures exert combined effects on mussels, resulting in greater toxicity than predicted based on single-metal exposures.
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rachel A. Pence, Thomas R. Cianciolo, Damion R. Drover, Daniel L. McLaughlin, David J. Soucek, Anthony J. Timpano, Carl E. Zipper, Stephen H. Schoenholtz
Summary: Benthic macroinvertebrate community assessments are commonly used to characterize aquatic systems and identify impairments caused by various stressors. This study compared two sampling and enumeration methods in detecting macroinvertebrate responses to freshwater salinization. Results showed that full-enumeration assessments may provide a more complete characterization of macroinvertebrate communities and their response to increased salinization.
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Studies
Carl Zipper, Jeff Skousen
Summary: Appalachian coal mining has been crucial for the energy supply of the expanding American industrial development, but now faces declining production levels. The legacy of coal mining is deeply imprinted on the landscapes and communities of Appalachia, impacting land, water, and residents.
EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES AND SOCIETY-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Soil Science
J. Aaron Hogan, Jessy L. Labbe, Alyssa A. Carrell, Jennifer Franklin, Kevin P. Hoyt, Oscar J. Valverde-Barrantes, Christopher Baraloto, Jeffrey M. Warren
Summary: The release of CO2 from forest soils is influenced by root functional traits, with species with higher root functional traits having a greater contribution to CO2 release. In a temperate forest, it was found that root functional traits, such as root tissue density and nitrogen concentration, affect root and microbial respiration rates, and contribute to the overall CO2 release from the soil.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Elyse V. Clark, David J. Soucek, Stephen H. Schoenholtz, Keridwen M. Whitmore, Carl E. Zipper
Summary: Surface mining in Appalachian coal mines leads to higher concentrations of trace elements in water than natural backgrounds, potentially harming biota. This study found elevated dissolved Cu, Ni, and Sr in mining-influenced streams, as well as increased Ni, Sr, and Zn concentrations in fine sediments and Ni in macroinvertebrates. Concentrations of several elements, including Ni, were positively correlated in most media. Further research is needed on Cd, Ni, Zn, and V concentrations in biofilms and macroinvertebrates, which approached or exceeded established dietary-risk levels.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Richard H. Walker, Abigail C. Belvin, Joshua B. Mouser, Amanda Pennino, Stephen Plont, Christopher D. Robinson, Lucy B. Smith, Jyoti Thapa, Carl E. Zipper, Paul L. Angermeier, Sally A. Entrekin
Summary: Global salinization of freshwaters is negatively impacting biotic communities and ecosystem processes. A review of literature published from 1960 to 2020 on animal responses to increased salinities reveals knowledge gaps. Insects and fishes are the most studied taxa, with Na+ and Cl- being the most studied ions. Negative responses to salinization predominate, but positive and unimodal responses also occur across all taxa and organizational levels. Key areas for further research include examining salinity responses in more taxa, studying responses to toxic ions, understanding mechanisms behind different types of responses, exploring traits underlying responses, and investigating the interactions between salinity and other stressors.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)