Bulk materials and chemical resources impacts and sustainability Flashcards
What are the problems associated with the lab testing if HSA?
Slow and expensive
Why are field assesments done?
done in the field and cheap to find a select few good samples that can then be tested in labs
What will be looked for in rocks for primary geological assesment for roadstone?
Mineral composition
Abrasion
Texture
Absorption
Reactivity
What mineral composition will be looked out for from the primary geological assesment for roadstone?
Monomineralic rocks (one crystal type) avoided as wear at same rate with polish susceptability so hand lens used to see if multiple minerals present
What is abrasion?
Wearing down or scraping away of material from physical contact on the surface by vehicles of within the road due to motion
How is primary assesment of abrasion done for roadstone?
Place a rock sample over a piece of paper and use a tungsten or steel nail to rub its surface. Assess the ease and extent that the sample is abraded.
How does rock texture determine use for roadstone?
Rock texture determine how well an aggregate will bond with bitumen – rocks with a rough texture readily stick to bitumen, whereas smooth rocks may not
How is the primary assesement for rock texture for roadstone undertaken?
Feels to see if coarse and see if angular crystal grains
Why must absorption be considered for the choice of roadstone?
If a rock sample readily absorbs water, it cannot be used in the surface layers of the road as it will be susceptive to damage from winter freeze/thaw conditions. It may be used in the base layers
How is the primary assesment of absorption done?
Weigh a sample of the dry lithology and record its weight. Immerse the sample in water for 30 minutes. Remove the sample, dry its exterior surface and
weigh it again. If it has increased in weight it has absorbed water and will be susceptible to freeze-thaw actions
What is the typical ph of rainwater in the uk?
5.6 (neutral is 7)
Why must reactivity be considered for roadstone?
Some rock forming minerals naturally react with acidic rain, causing them to soften or dissolve over time. Such rocks are not well suited to
surface courses of roads
How is the primary assesment of reactivity done?
Use an eye-dropper to place a few drops of the weak (5%) hydrochloric acid (HCL) on a lithology. If it effervesces (produces bubbles) the rock reacts with rain to release carbon dioxide
How does UK legislation define a mineral?
general term for Earth’s physical resources for extraction includes: aggregates, chemical resources and ores
What is required in the UK for planning permission and statutory regulation for site operation?
Environmental Statements
and
Environment impact Assessments
Who is the planning policy set out by in the UK?
Town & county planning legislation
What can the town and county planning legislation do?
- Framework for land use planning
- Reconcile needs for development/environmental protection
Who decideds for mineral planning?
Majority of land use decisions are made at the local level
What is the overall aim of mineral planning?
meet the justified need for minerals, as far as practicable, at the least social, economic and environmental cost
How is mineral working different from other forms of development?
Only takes place when mineral occurs in sufficient
quantity/quality (not permanent)
Restored sites can provide environmental/public assets
What does MPA stand for?
Mineral Planning Authorities
What are MPAs?
local authority with responsibility for mineral
planning – forward planning
Jurasdiction: County Councils, National Parks
What are the responsibilities of MPAs?
- Policies/plans to guide future development
- Deciding outcome of Planning Applications
- Monitoring/enforcing policy
How is the mineral considered in the planning application?
amount, nature, end use, methods for
resource evaluation
How is the site considered in the planning application?
Location e.g. area,
Present and previous use,
Type of development (e.g., surface/underground, processing, exploration etc.)
Plans
Layout,
Access provisions,
Screening & landscaping
How is extraction accounted for in planning applications?
method, scheme of work, area, depth
How is processing accounted for in planning applications?
what and how
How is waste accounted for in planning applications?
Types, quantities and storage
How is restoration and the benefits of mining accounted for in planning applications?
Restoration- aftercare and use
Benefits - job opportunities or recreation
Has the UK made specific legislation post brexit?
No, EU regulations still remain
Under UK legislation what is needed to develop uncultivated land?
Must prepare an EIA
What do EIAs do?
Predicts/assesses potential environmental impacts
Evaluates alternatives
Plans appropriate preventative, mitigation, management and monitoring measures
What organisations are screening decisions for EIAs made by?
Natural England or equivalents for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
When is an enviromental statement needed for mineral workings?
all applications for sites of over 25 ha (250,000 m2, 0.25 Km2) or 150 ha (1,500,000 m2, 1.5 km2) for peat
What happens if a site is below 25 Ha (too small for ES)?
MPA decides if the development is likely to have significant environmental impacts
What happens if the MPA identifies significant environmental impacts on a site below 25 Ha?
An EPA is required
Does the Uk have major metal work industries?
Yes aluminium (previously Iron and steel but these have folded this year)
Where were the historical major mining companies based?
London (now since brexit looking for other european foothold)
What is mineral ownership like in the UK?
Crown Estate owns rights to Gold/Silver in UK
Other metallic minerals mainly privately owned
What are the planning/ extraction limitations of metals?
Metal prices (global market)
Mineral policies
Relationship with environment (mountains harder to extract)
Identification (extensive eveulation due to set up cost)
High waste to mineral ratio
Ore processing (intense, complex)
Tailings dams
What environmental impact from the legacy of mining?
Contaminated waters entering rivers/streams
Flooded mine workings oxidisation/reduction
Visual impacts of quarrying
Health and Safety for quarrying
Visual and environmental impacts of waste material
Subsidence from underground workings
Hazards from unmapped workings
What is the effect of heavy metal contamination?
Arsenic, cobalt, copper, cadmium, lead, silver, zinc leached from mines/excavated rock
Can cause heavy metal poisoning
What is the effect of acid mine drainage?
Sulphides in rock exposed to air/water -> sulphuric acid produced
Kills aquatic life, makes water unusable
What is the effect of processed chemical pollution?
Chemical agents (e.g., cyanide, sulphuric acid) used to separate target mineral
May leach/spill into water bodies/groundwater
How is erosion and sedimentation affected by mining?
Unstable land more susceptible to erosion -> affects rivers/lakes
What are some examples of land protection?
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
Special Areas of Conservation (SAC)
Special Protection Areas (SPA)
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
National Nature Reserves (NNR)
Ramsar Sites
Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs)
What is the use of SSSIs?
Protection of the most significant sites for the conservation of wildlife (species & habitats)
and/or geology
What is the use of SACs?
Classification under the European Union’s Habitats Directive of areas of value for species,
plants and habitats.
WHat is the use of SPAs?
Classification under the Birds Directive to protect internationally valuable populations of
eligible bird species
What is the use of AONB?
Designation to conserve areas on account of their natural beauty. AONBs have equal status
to National Parks within the planning system
WHat is the use of NNR?
Areas managed for either (or both) the preservation of flora, fauna, geological and
physiological features of special interest or to provide opportunities to study
WHat is the use of Ramsar sites?
Protection of wetlands
WHat are the Equator principles?
Relates to Environmental/social risk in new projects
Sets baseline standards for determining, assessing and managing risk
Focus on Environmental and Social risk over financial
WHat di mining companies need to understand t reduce local tensions?
the country, region, politics,
communities and social dynamics
WHat are the 10 equator principles?
- Scope
- Review and Categorisation
- Social & Environmental Assessment
- Applicable Social & Environmental Standards
- Action Plan & Management System
- Consultation & Disclosure
- Grievance Mechanism
- Independent Review
- Covenants (binding contract)
- Independent Monitoring & Reporting
How can mining developments have a positive lasting legacy?
Upgrading of infrastructure
Employment -> Opportunity for development
What are the impacts of mining during production?
Influx of migrants -> substantial social problems
E.g., loss of local traditions, feeling of envy within community
Social benefits can be uneven, for example job allocation
Environmental damage
Corruption
