DEPARTMENT OF MINING AND MINERAL PROCESSING

ENGINEERING

OPTION OF MINING TECHNOLOGY

RUTONGO MINING SCHOOL.

ASSESS THE IMPACT OF MINING ACTIVITIES ON THE

LAND.

Case of piran resources limited.

A research project Submitted

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of advanced diploma in
Department of mining and mineral processing engineering

Submitted by:

IRADUKUNDA Jean Bosco 20RP03488 Supervisor:

INEZA NIYONZIMA Diane 20RP02567

RUTONGO, march 2023.

Table of Contents
List of figures................................................................................................................................................i
List of abbreviations....................................................................................................................................ii
Chapter one: General introduction.............................................................................................................1
1.1back ground of the study....................................................................................................................1
1.2. problem statement...........................................................................................................................3
1.3 Objective of the study........................................................................................................................4
1.3.1 general objectives.......................................................................................................................4
1.3.2 specific objectives.......................................................................................................................4
1.3.3 research hypothesis....................................................................................................................4
1.4. research methodology......................................................................................................................4
1.4.1 research design...........................................................................................................................4
1.4.2 Study population and sampling methods...................................................................................4
1.4.3 data collection method. `............................................................................................................5
1.4.4 quantitative research..................................................................................................................6
1.4.5 Quantitative data collection.......................................................................................................6
1.4.6 qualitative research....................................................................................................................6
1.4.7 qualitative methods of data collection.......................................................................................7
1.4.8 Data collection instruments........................................................................................................7
1.4.9 Data analysis procedure.............................................................................................................8
1.4.10 resource required for the study................................................................................................8
1.5 scope of the study.............................................................................................................................8
1.6 significance of the study....................................................................................................................8
1.7 references..........................................................................................................................................9

List of figures.

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figure1.1 subsidence of the surface.............................................................................................................2

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List of abbreviations.

. NEMC: National Environmental Management Council.

EA: Environmental Assessment.

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Chapter one: General introduction

1.1back ground of the study

Mining is an extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, usually
from an ore which involves the removal of vegetation, soil and rocks (Nayak, 2010). Mineral
means any substance, whether in solid, liquid or gaseous form occurring naturally in or on the
earth, or in or under the seabed by or subject to a geological process.

Piran Resources Limited (“Piran”) is a mining company focused on the production and
exploration of tin, tantalum and tungsten. Piran, through its subsidiary Piran Rwanda Limited,
holds a 25-year mining license for the Musha and Ntunga mines in the prolific tin region of
Eastern Rwanda.

The initial production was procured from reprocessing of tailings dumps obtained previous
mining operations. The pilot plant operation was expected to generate monthly production of
between 5-10 tons of tin in concentrate. Piran Resources Limited employs about 1001 to 5000
miners, founded in 2012, and, its headquarters located in Saint Peter Port, Guernsey.

 The quartz veins and pegmatites containing tin (in the mineral cassiterite) and tantalum (in the
mineral group columbite-tantalite, also known as coltan) are excavated through vertical shafts
and horizontal tunnels. The valuable minerals are then separated by hand or with water according
to their specific density. Due to the mineralized quarts run and located in deep step sub surface,
they use sublevel stopping underground mining method which Continued in mining results in
subsidence of the surface, causing sink holes to appear.

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figure1.1 subsidence of the surface.
Not only this but also Piran use horizontal tunnel which need much water during cleaning and drilling
the separation of tailings from ores, during this process a lot of water are moving away which in turn
contribute different impacts to the environment such as erosion, and affect chemical composition of the
soil. When released. The focus of this project is to assess the impact of mining activities on the land, by
referring on Piran mine so that miners should be able to know the causes of those impact and how to over
came them during mining activities, and after mining. Mining activities can be controlled at both
strategic and project-level. Mineral is very important for any country to progress and their economic
wealth therefore many mines developed, open and underground both but on another hand, it is affected
our environment directly and indirectly both. Due to adaptation of heavy machinery with increased
production of overburden thus provocative the existing environmental land challenges. The
environmental problems increase due to mining activities such as Land degradation, loss of forest and
biodiversity and Soil contamination. For decreasing the problem Stakeholders and Government should
aware about the Rules and Regulation which comes under “The EnvironmentalProtectionAct,1986”. This
project represents the assessment of environmental impacts of mining activity on the land such as soil
erosion, ecological disruption, land degradation and land scape. (Krishna. K,2020).

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1.2. problem statement
Environmental effects of mining can occur at local, regional, and global scales through direct and
indirect mining practices. The effects can result in erosion, sinkholes, loss of biodiversity, or
the contamination of soil, groundwater, and surface water by the chemicals emitted from mining
processes. These processes also affect the atmosphere from the emissions of carbon which have
an effect on the quality of human health and biodiversity. (Tuija M.,2022).

Mining activity exerts a long-lasting impact on landscape, eco-system and socio-cultural-economic

considerations. It is noteworthy to mention that the actual land mass available to mankind is just 30% of
total global surface area. Mining and its subsequent activities have been found to degrade the land to a
significant extent. Overburden removal from the mine area results in a very significant loss of rain forest
and the rich top soil. Overburden removal is normally done by the process of blasting or using excavators,
which results in generation of large volume of waste (soil, debris and other material). This is useless for
the industry and is normally just stored in big piles within the mine lease area, and sometimes, on public
land. The bigger the scale of the mine, greater is the quantum of waste generated. Opencast mines are
therefore more pollution intensive as they generate much higher quantities of waste compared to the
underground. mines. Open-pit mines produce 8 to 10 times as much waste as underground mines, (Dr H.
B. Saho 2011).

Land cover changes resulting from mining activities, have serious consequences to vegetation
cover and local environment. According to NEMC (2008), the land which is currently used for
mining activities in Mbozi District was previously potential for natural forest, agriculture,
grazing, fetching fuel woods, ritual and natural herbs for the local livelihoods. However, the
current uncontrolled mining activities have resulted into removal of most vegetation cover,
through the process of forest clearing pits creation, settlement establishment and road
construction. Undoubtedly, mining activities necessitate the removal of vegetation cover where
community depends for their livelihood, Generally, the process of surface extraction of granite and
limestone minerals accelerate clearing vegetations which result into change of land cover, forest stocking
and preexisting land scape.

Piran Rwanda resources limited has a problem of suffering from different impact, they use
sublevel stopping underground mining method which Continued in mining results in subsidence
of the surface, causing sink holes to appear, and this can result in land slide and slope instability .
For these reasons we based our project on assessing the impact of mining activities on the

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environment, piran case study. Despite the fact that, mining activities result into land cover and
forest stock changes, yet studies on the impact of mining on land is scanty. Likewise, the
community perceptions on ecological impacts of mining are little understood. Therefore, this
study was an attempt to fill the existing knowledge gap

1.3 Objective of the study.

1.3.1 general objectives.
General objective of this project was:

To Assess the impact of mining activities on the land.

1.3.2 specific objectives.

Specific objectives of this project were:

I. To assess the impact of mining activities on the land structure changes.

II. To determine the change in chemical composition of the land due to mining activities.
III. To mention the main mining activities Couse land effect.
IV. To highlight mitigation and prevention measures.

1.3.3 research hypothesis.

1. What are the impacts of mining activities on the land?
2. How mining activities change the chemical composition of land?
3. Which activities address large impact on the land?
4. How those effect can be reduced and prevented?

1.4. research methodology.

1.4.1 research design.
During this research we are dealing with application research design especially research with
aimer of reducing mitigating and preventing by assessing the impact of mining activities to the
environment.

1.4.2 Study population and sampling methods.

Population is defined as group of categories of the items that have one or more similar
characteristics as the target population of universe. Piran Resources Limited employs about 1001
to 5000 miners. To take population size require use of formular to figure that sample size that is

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needed to take something which is known about population which can helpfully determine
sample size, that is when Yamane’s formular to figure out sample size you need to take which
written as:

N= (1001+5000)/2=3501

e=97%=100%-97%=3%

e=3%=0.03=0.03*0.03=0.0009

3501
n= =843.4=843
1+ 3501(0.0009)

A sampling frame is a complete list of all the units of analysis in a population from which a
sample is to be drawn (Mickelson, 1995). this research will focus on the list of 843 people
selected randomly from different department of jobs. Such as drilling team, blasting team, safety
department, environment department, Tailing Dam Supervisor, shift bosses, Mine captains.
These sample population have taken for getting better understanding on environmental problems
of the region.

1.4.3 data collection method. `

There are variety methods that can be used to collect data .it include observation, interview, mine
report as documentation, questionnaires and focus group. All this method will help us to achieve
objectives of our studies, and the researcher will be concerned with views, options, perceptions
and feelings from the mining environment.

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1.4.4 quantitative research.
It is the method used to generate numerical data by using a lot of techniques such as logical,
statistical and mathematical techniques. Data are collected in form of structured questionnaire
starting with how many or how much.

1.4.5 Quantitative data collection.

1.4.5.1 Probably sampling
In this method data are collected randomly from selected sample. probability sampling is
complex, more time consuming and more costly than non-probability sampling. Because each
unit from population are randomly selected and each unit can be calculated. We choose probably
sample in case of minimizing error of estimate for the most important survey variables.

There are many different ways probably sample can be selected but us we can use simple random
sampling.

1.4.5.2 Simple randomly sampling.

There each unit of sampling population have an equal chance of being included in the sample.
Logically each possible sample has an equal chance of being selected. So, to select simple
randomly sampling you need a list of all unit of sampling survey.

1.4.6 qualitative research.

Shank (2002) defines qualitative research as “a form of systematic empirical inquiry into
meaning” (p. 5). By systematic he means “planned, ordered and public”, following rules agreed
upon by members of the qualitative research community. By empirical, he means that this type
of inquiry is grounded in the world of experience. Inquiry into meaning says researchers try to
understand how others make sense of their experience. Denzin and Lincoln (2000) claim that
qualitative research involves an interpretive and naturalistic approach: “This means that
qualitative researchers study things in their natural settings, attempting to make sense of, or to
interpret, phenomena in terms of the meanings people bring to them’’ (p. 3).

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1.4.7 qualitative methods of data collection.
1.4.7.1. observation.
the action or process of closely observing or monitoring something. The researcher observes
participant ongoing behavior in a natural situation(patton,2015). Not only this, but also this
involve observing the situation, especially the mine and the surrounding and make an analysis.

1.4.7. 2. Interview.
An interview is a structured conversation where one participant asks questions, and the other
provides answers.
. the conversation is made with participant s such as miners, workers, engineers, neighbors
(people live near the site). where question will be asked to elicit information. the interview is
usually a professional or paid researcher, sometimes trained, who poses questions to the
interviewers. this methodology is used to get information, about how people think, feel, act and
they know.

1.4.7.3. questionnaire.
A questionnaire is a list of questions or items used to gather data from respondents about their
attitudes, experiences, or opinions. In this research, questionnaire is used and the information
collected was presented in a narrative form that includes description and analysis of data.

1.4.7.4. focus group.

 A focus group is a small set of six to ten people who usually share common characteristics such
as age, background, geography, experiences etc. The set comes together to discuss a
predetermined topic. A focus group is useful in analyzing a topic or getting an opinion on a
predetermined topic for research. The questions are asked about their perception attitudes, beliefs
and opinion or ideas(kreger,2002).

1.4.8 Data collection instruments.

There are some of instruments, tools and equipment that will help us to collect data such as:
i. Oral questions
ii. Note books and pens
iii. Computer machines
iv. Recorders
v. Telephone

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1.4.9 Data analysis procedure.
1.4.9.1 Quantitative and qualitative data analysis.
In order to analyses data according to the objective we have, we used observation, interviewer,
focused group and documentary report with complete information required. Data analysis
procedure started on data findings.
After collecting data, the researcher with help of supervisor will go through data solving, editing,
coding, and the data entry that has been done. After all of this process the analysis of data has
been done through analytical tools and with respect to the research objectives.

1.4.10 resource required for the study.

i. Transport fees for visiting mine site (Piran).
ii. Internet
iii. Personal protective equipment
iv. Tools that will help us to gather information such internet bundle
v. Library for reading many books related to our topic
vi. Money for food when we are on the site.

1.5 scope of the study.

In this research we emphasize to assess the impact of mining activities on the land, case of Piran
Rwanda resources limited, to provide positive contributions to the natural environment and well-
being, and we try to find solutions of how they could be prevented. this research take place in
one of Rwanda mining company ltd which is Piran Rwanda resources limited, in the site of
Musha and Ntunga mines, an international company ltd located in Rwamagana district. all
information stated in this study is relevant and structured so easily to notice from introduction
and background of related case.
This enables reader to have clear view about the study case and continue for further related
literature with provision of potential objectives and importance to be gained after revising this
study.

1.6 significance of the study

Most governments and donor agencies acknowledge the contribution of EA to improved project
design. in this project of assessing the impact of mining activities on the environment at Piran
Rwanda mining resources, furthermore this study will result in the benefits to local communities

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from taking part in environmental assessments include: A healthier local environment (forests,
water sources,). Improved human health and Maintenance of biodiversity. They provide the
opportunity to expand our technical skills and knowledge taken during our academic study .in
addition to this, it helps to analyses the factors that impact the environmental Piran Rwanda
mining resource .in other hand Piran will benefit from Avoided treatment/cleanup costs, and
Avoided impacts and violations of laws and regulations with Rema. not only this but also this
will improve safe environmental land to piran.
1.7 references.
Krishna. K, International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 10, Issue 5, May 2020
784 ISSN 2250-3153.
(Tuija M. University of Eastern Finland, impact of mining activities on the environment (lead
author),2022.
Sonja K, impact of mining activities on the environment, University of Eastern Finland,2022.

A s h t i a n i M., 2005 – Environmental considerations in the mines. Paper presented at the 1st
Environmental Considerations in the Mines, National Conference, Kerman, Iran, pp. 30–38.

H a u p t C., M i s t r y M., W i l d e J., 2001 – Development of measures to minimize adverse ecological

effects generated by abandoned mines in developing countries. Institute fur Bergbaukunde I. der
Rheinisch- -Westfa¨lischen Technischen Hochschule Aachen 51–54.
M o n j e z i M., S h a h r i a r K., D e h g h a n i H., S a m i m i N a m i n F., 2008 –
Environmental impact assessment of open pit mining in Iran, Environmental Geology, Springer-
verlag

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