Search

South Africa has numerous voluminous tailings dumps that will certainly require rehabilitation. The aim of this work was to develop a methodological approach for prioritization of rehabilitation of abandoned tailings dumps. To test the applicability of the developed method in different conditions, it was applied on six abandoned tailings dumps denoted as FGMT, LMMT, KLMT, MCMT, NMMT-A and NMMT-B found in the Giyani and Musina areas of South Africa. The method involved integration of quantitative and qualitative techniques in making sound decision on the order of rehabilitation of the tailings dumps in the area. It considered the contamination potential of the dumps, the ease of their dispersion to the surroundings and the impact they have on the appearance of the natural landscape. The use of the tool on abandoned tailings dumps in the study area revealed that gold tailings dumps are to be rehabilitated first than magnesite and copper tailings dumps. The study indicated that the dump with the highest pollution potential was the FGMT and that physical stabilization was considered the most suitable rehabilitation option for abating its high toxic metals from polluting the environment. The combination of methods that improve physical stability of the dump while enhancing nutrient availability for plant growth were found appropriate for rehabilitation of MCMT. The rehabilitation of the rest of the dumps required the use of chemical methods that promote growth of vegetation. According to the study, the developed tool can be used to guide rehabilitation of abandoned tailings dumps in different settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mining has been the backbone of the South African economy for many years. For over a century it has contributed considerably in the welfare of the people of South Africa. As a result of South Africa’s long history of mining, the country has many abandoned mines that are currently the major source of various environmental and social problems. This review looks at the general problems of abandoned mines in South Africa and the efforts made towards rehabilitation of abandoned mine sites. The issues discussed include the controversy around the definition of abandoned mines, their associated problems, regulatory issues, prioritisation of rehabilitation and the rehabilitation cost estimation concerns. It was concluded that in order to fast track the work of cleaning up the negative legacy of abandoned mines in South Africa, appropriate definition for these mines should be identified and used in guiding the work of developing the country’s abandoned mines inventory while assisting in the prioritisation of rehabilitation efforts. The abandoned mines rating system and the cost estimation model that can account for the site-specific issues in the rehabilitation of abandoned mines were recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]