Methods of soil recovery in quarries of arid and semiarid areas using different waste types

Abstract

In the Region of Murcia, there are many abandoned quarries in which restoration processes have not been carried out, and there are others that have a restoration plan but soil rehabilitation has not been achieved. Open pit mining generates a great environmental impact in the area where the activity takes place since it alters the morphology of the earth's crust, pollutes the air, the surface and underground waters, eliminates the flora of the area and destroys the biotope, causing changes in the landscape and strong changes in ecosystems. There is an international concern to promote sustainable development and waste reuse. In the European Union and Spain there is a requirement to carry out a restoration plan for mining operations. Waste production is a big problem; ways of reusing waste without polluting the environment and reintroducing it into economic activity are sought. In this article, several techniques are compiled that have given satisfactory results in the restoration of mining spaces, mainly in the Region of Murcia (SE Spain), by using waste such as pig manure, marble debris, sewage sludge or compost of urban household waste. These wastes pose a problem due to their disposal if they are not reused, and their use to restore mining spaces is a good option against dumping, abandonment or incineration.

Opportunistic vegetation in quarry soil restoration from semiarid South East Spain: Pines and spontaneous species

“…Can there be competition between planted vegetation, ruderal species and pines? We hypothesize that an improvement in soil quality due to restoration treatments (Luna, Pastorelli, et al, 2016;Luna et al, 2017;Peñaranda-Barba et al, 2020), as previously stated in other experiments in the same and similar areas, can also promote competition for nutrients, space, and light.…”

“…Quarries of calcareous rocks for both aggregate and cement industries are common worldwide and leave large scars in the landscape along with degraded or no soils (Correia et al, 1970; Bradshaw & Chadwick, 1980). Southeastern Spain, where drylands are ubiquitous, is not the exception (IAPH, 2019; Peñaranda‐Barba et al, 2020). One of these quarries for cement production on calcareous lithology started its activity in the late 1970s.…”

“…After 40 years of continuous extraction and opening of several quarry fronts, denudated areas are still present and strongly contrast with the typical surrounding espartal (alpha grass land) because very little restoration was achieved or, where done in slopes, showed many signs of soil erosion. These facts are unfortunately quite common in disturbed semiarid lands (Peñaranda‐Barba, 2020).…”

“…But it is well known that soil restoration is very slow and difficult in semiarid Mediterranean environments where soils are frequently shallow (Moreno de Las Heras et al, 2008; Khater et al, 2019; Espinosa et al, 2020; Peñaranda‐Barba et al, 2020). Along with the climatic aridity, precipitation seasonality, and its high inter‐annual variability, vegetation establishment in such environments is quite uncertain because long annual dry periods and short‐lasting torrential rainfalls with high erosive impact (Puigdefábregas et al, 1999; Lázaro et al, 2001; Blondel et al, 2010; Espinosa et al, 2020).…”

Restoration Techniques Applied in Open Mining Area to Improve Agricultural Soil Fertility

“…Specifically, the last one is represented by the extraction of marble, marble limestone and limestone aggregates [18]. Currently, the mining regulations require the rehabilitation of the land after exploitation [19]. In areas degraded by open-pit mining in arid and semi-arid zones, ecological restoration is aimed to support the development and establishment of long-term, healthy and self-sustaining ecosystems with good vegetation cover [20].…”