STAGES IN MINING

POST MINING: RECLAMATION

MINING II (MIN21-1)

Copyright © 2014 - University of Johannesburg

 RECLAMATION

POST MINING

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STAGES IN LOM

PROSPECTING EXPLORATION DEVELOPMENT EXPLOITATION RECLAMATION

1. Prospecting
Precursors to Mining
2. Exploration
3. Development
Mining Proper
4. Exploitation
5. Reclamation Post Mining

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REHABILITATION GOALS
• Reclamation – the process of closing a
mine and re-contouring, re-vegetating, and
restoring the water and land values

• Best time to begin the reclamation process

of a mine is before the first excavation is
initiated

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SUSTAINABILITY
• Sustainability – the meeting of economic
and environmental needs of the present
while enhancing the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs.

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 RECLAMATION

PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS

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REHABILITATION GOALS
• There is a growing emphasis on the need
to rehabilitate old mine sites that are no
longer in use. If it is too difficult to restore
the site to what it was before, then a new
type of land use might be decided for that
area.

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REHABILITATION GOALS
• Any mine rehabilitation programme should aim to:
– ensure that the site is safe and stable
– remove pollutants that are contaminating the site
– restore the biodiversity that was there before mining
started
– restore waterways to what they were before mining

• There are different ways to achieve these goals. For

example plants can be used to remove metals from
polluted soils and water, and can also be used to
stabilise the soil so that other vegetation can grow.
Land contouring can help to restore drainage in the
area.

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SAFETY OF MINE SITE
• Removal of office buildings, processing
facilities, transportation equipment, utilities,
and other surface structures

• Sealing of all mine shafts, adits and other

openings that may present physical hazards.

• Any existing highwalls or other geologic

structures may require mitigation to prevent
injuries or death due to geologic failures.

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SITE RESTORATION
• Restoration of land surface, water quality, waste
disposal areas so that long-term water pollution,
soil erosion, dust generation, or vegetation
problems do not occur.

• Activities include
– The restoration of native plants to help build a stable
soil structure and naturalize the area
– Place acid-containing rock or tailings in locations
where rainfall has little effect on the material and acid
production is minimized
– Planning of waste dumps, tailings ponds, and other
disturbed areas to prevent pollution problems
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SITE RESTORATION

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SUBSEQUENT LAND USE
• Planning the mine for subsequent
development can enhance the value of the
mined land and help convert it to a use that
the public will consider favourable.

• Old mine sites have been converted to

wildlife refuges, shopping malls, golf courses,
airports, lakes, underground storage facilities,
real estate developments and more.
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SUBSEQUENT LAND USE

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CONCLUSION
• The successful completion of the
reclamation of a mine will enhance public
opinion of the mining industry and keep
the mining company in the good graces of
the regulatory agencies

• The final stage of the mine is of paramount

importance and should be planned at the
earliest possible time in the life of the mine

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 CLARITY SEEKING

QUESTIONS?

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