Special Program for International Students

GRADUATE COURSE IN EARTH SCIENCE
  & GEOENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Current students


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Magai Paschal Justin (Tanzania)

Email: paschalmagai@yahoo.com

Thesis title:  Geochemical evaluation of environment of Cu mining site in Tagai area, Shimane Prefecture, Japan.
Supervisor:  Professor Hiroaki Ishiga (2014-2016).

By nature, mining involves the production of large quantities of waste. The amount of waste produced depends on the type of mineral extracted, as well as the size of the mine, with more than 99 percent of ore extracted ending up as waste (Da Rosa, 1997; Sampat, 2003). Disposing of such large quantities of waste poses tremendous challenges for the mining industry and may significantly impact the environment. The impacts are often more pronounced for open-pit mines than for underground mines, which tend to produce less waste.

While regulated mines have greatly improved their environmental performance over the years, specifically with regard to mining management, direct dumping of tailings and effluent into rivers, improperly constructed tailings dams, acid rock drainage from mining areas and absent or improper mine closure procedures, unregulated one continues to pose serious threat to water quality and surrounding environment. Old abandoned mine sites have a higher potential to contaminate sediments and nearby waterways, therefore, the sediment holds important information for the study of the contamination since it acts as a sink for environmental contaminants (E. A. Power, P. M. Chapman 1992).

Aims of the Study:

The primary goal of this research is to evaluate the current environmental situation and evaluate remediation significance of copper mining sites in the Tagi area.

Specific Objectives:
  1. To examine the geology of the area.
  2. Geochemical examination of soil and stream sediments.
  3. To evaluate mitigation of hazardous waste contamination from the mining sites.
  4. To evaluate the status of environmental contamination using enrichment factor and geo-accumulation index calculation methods.
  5. Water quality assessment on site and in the laboratory.
Significance of the Study:

This study will provide realistic information and estimates of heavy metal accumulation in rocks, soils, stream sediments as well as water quality in the old Tagi copper mine. Currently there is not enough research information about the area, so this study will provide important information to understand the current status of the environment and help to plan future research and monitoring.

References

[1] Da Rosa, C.D. and J.S. Lyon (1997), Golden Dreams, Poisoned Streams: How Reckless Mining Pollutes America’s Waters and How We Can Stop It. Washington, DC: Mineral Policy Center.

[2] Sampat, P. (2003), “Scrapping Mining Dependence,” In C. Bright et al. State of the World: 2003 Washington, DC: World watch Institute

[3] E.A. Power, P.M. Chapman, (1992) “Assessing sediment quality”. In: Burton, G.A., Editor, Sediment Toxicity Assessment, Lewis Publishers, Chelsea, Michigan, pp. 1–17.


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