13.6 Impacts of Mining on Geomorphic Systems

Mossa, Joann; James, L. Allan

doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-374739-6.00344-4

Cited by 46 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 84 publications

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“…Some studies have focused more explicitly on the profound, often highly visible, changes to fluvial process and form resulting from mining. Mining may involve many catchment hydrological and sediment supply changes as a consequence of deforestation, road construction, and river diversion (Mossa and James, ). Ever since Gilbert's () pioneering studies, geomorphologists have used mining‐impacted rivers as an outdoor laboratory for studying the major, commonly abrupt, changes to channel form resulting from sediment supply increases, including in California (James, ; Singer et al , ) and Australia (Pickup et al , ; Knighton, ; Erskine and Saynor, ).…”

Section: Second‐order Process Domainsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The geomorphology of the Anthropocene: emergence, status and implications

Brown

Tooth

Bullard

et al. 2016

Earth Surf Processes Landf

201

121

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The Anthropocene is proposed as a new interval of geological time in which human influence on Earth and its geological record dominates over natural processes. A major challenge in demarcating the Anthropocene is that the balance between human-influenced and natural processes varies over spatial and temporal scales owing to the inherent variability of both human activities (as associated with culture and modes of development) and natural drivers (e.g. tectonic activity and sea level variation). Against this backdrop, we consider how geomorphology might contribute towards the Anthropocene debate by focusing on human impact on aeolian, fluvial, cryospheric and coastal process domains, and how evidence of this impact is preserved in landforms and sedimentary records. We also consider the evidence for an explicitly anthropogenic geomorphology that includes artificial slopes and other human-created landforms. This provides the basis for discussing the theoretical and practical contributions that geomorphology can make to defining an Anthropocene stratigraphy. It is clear that the relevance of the Anthropocene concept varies considerably amongst different branches of geomorphology, depending on the history of human actions in different process domains. For example, evidence of human dominance is more widespread in fluvial and coastal records than in aeolian and cryospheric records, so geomorphologically the Anthropocene would inevitably comprise a highly diachronous lower boundary. Even to identify this lower boundary, research would need to focus on the disambiguation of human effects on geomorphological and sedimentological signatures. This would require robust data, derived from a combination of modelling and new empirical work rather than an arbitrary ?war of possible boundaries' associated with convenient, but disputed, ?golden? spikes. Rather than being drawn into stratigraphical debates, the primary concern of geomorphology should be with the investigation of processes and landform development, so providing the underpinning science for the study of this time of critical geological transition. Copyright ? 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.authorsversionPeer reviewe

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Section: Second‐order Process Domainsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The geomorphology of the Anthropocene: emergence, status and implications

Brown

Tooth

Bullard

et al. 2016

Earth Surf Processes Landf

201

121

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“…Especially in the Mediterranean regions, the climatic conditions in combination with the topography and the lithology lead to intensive gullying and bad land generation (Della Seta et al, 2009;Aucelli et al, 2012), with high intensities on steep and barely vegetated slopes (Haas et al, 2011). The geomorphic process dynamic, including hazards, can be intensified by anthropogenic influences, such as deforestation for agricultural utilization (Aucelli et al, 2012) or major changes e.g., by mining (Nowotny, 2003;Martín-Duque et al, 2010;Mossa and James, 2013). Especially mining sites in hilly or mountainous regions can show steep and mostly anthropogenically created slopes (also due to a recultivation) without natural soils and changed hydrological conditions influencing surface hydrology, flow paths, and groundwater level (Osterkamp and Joseph, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantification and analysis of geomorphic processes on a recultivated iron ore mine on the Italian island of Elba using long-term ground-based lidar and photogrammetric SfM data by a UAV

Haas

Hilger

Neugirg

et al. 2016

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. This study focuses on the quantification and analysis of geomorphic processes on the barely vegetated slopes of a recultivated iron ore mine on the Italian island of Elba using photographs from terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) and digital photogrammetry by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) over a period of 5 1/2 years. Beside this, the study tried to work out the potential and the limitations of both methods to detect surface changes by geomorphic process dynamics within a natural environment. Both UAV and TLS show the pattern of the erosion and accumulation processes on the investigated slope quite well, but the calculated amounts differ clearly between the methods. The reasons for these differences could be found in the different accuracies (variable level of detections) of the methods and the different viewing geometries. Both effects have an impact on the detectable process dynamics over different timescales on the slope and their calculated amounts, which in both cases can lead to an underestimation of erosion and accumulation by fluvial processes.

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“…Because little vegetative cover or biomass during the initial phases of reconstruction is present on site, resource flows from landscapes are controlled by the newly reconstructed landform and micro-topographic features (Whisenant, 2005). Geomorphic processes and landforms function at larger scales to control resource flows by the fluvial (water) or eolian (wind) transport of soil, water, nutrients, basic cations, and organic materials (Whisenant, 2005;Mossa and James, 2013). The relative position on the landform affects runoff rates, watercapture and erosion potential.…”

Section: Hydrologic Functionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Consequently, geomorphic reclamation approaches should create a stable landform by reproducing the natural landform's evolution to the mature stage, resulting in stable slopes and channels, in balance with local environmental conditions. Successful geomorphic designs reestablish suitable hydrologic function for balance transport of water and sediment from the reclaimed land surface (Martin-Duque et al, 2010;Mossa and James, 2013). Consideration of geomorphic stability and channel design while considering the landscape within the mine permit boundary and expanded landscape impact area is critical (DePriest et al, 2015).…”

Section: Hydrologic Functionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developing Diverse, Effective, and Permanent Plant Communities on Reclaimed Surface Coal Mines: Restoring Ecosystem Function

Vasquez¹,

Sheley²

2018

JASMR

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Surface coal mine disturbances affect vegetation, soil chemical/physical properties, bedrock, and landforms. The scope of this article focuses on lands to be reclaimed back to rangelands (post-mine land use) similar to the pre-mine ecosystem in terms of plant composition/diversity, structure, and ecosystem function. Reclamation programs that solely emphasize plant community composition and structure rather than effectively repairing disturbed or altered ecological processes ignores the foundation upon which the sustainability of reconstructed plant communities depends. Reclamation success may be improved by addressing primary ecological processes driving ecosystem function as part of the reclamation process. Altered primary processes require repair of the physical system in conjunction with adding seeds or plants. Land-form design strategies, which are designed to capture, store, and release water effectively into reconstructed watersheds is the foundation of successfully reclaimed ecosystems. Because plant functional groups can differ in their spatial and temporal acquisition of resources, improving functional diversity may be a method to more fully utilize soil nutrients in reclaimed soils and improve resilience to weed invasion. Strategically combining species with different seed/seedling traits in seed mixtures can increase chances of achieving adequate plant establishment during revegetation. Monitoring program design should be an integral part of the reclamation planning process, and indicators reflecting landscape-scale processes can be adapted to monitor reclamation project success. Effective reclamation plans are process-oriented, seek to initiate self-repair, and address landscape interactions. The probability of achieving successful reclamation is enhanced by pursuing a broader goal of improving ecosystem vigor, organization and resilience utilizing novel assemblages of species that perform desired functions and produce a range of ecosystem goods and services. Reclaiming mined land requires realistic objectives that consider the ecological potential of the site, land-use goals, and socioeconomic constraints. Additional

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13.6 Impacts of Mining on Geomorphic Systems

Cited by 46 publications

References 84 publications

The geomorphology of the Anthropocene: emergence, status and implications

The geomorphology of the Anthropocene: emergence, status and implications

Quantification and analysis of geomorphic processes on a recultivated iron ore mine on the Italian island of Elba using long-term ground-based lidar and photogrammetric SfM data by a UAV

Developing Diverse, Effective, and Permanent Plant Communities on Reclaimed Surface Coal Mines: Restoring Ecosystem Function

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