Sediment Extraction

According to the United Nations Environmental Program, sand is the second most exploited resource on the planet after water, and local knowledge about the effects of sand mining has been little addressed in international studies. In the case of rivers, the sand and gravel used in the construction industry are part of the fluvial sediments, and the effects are different at each exploitation site. In this article, we propose a theoretical–methodological framework of the sandy field of forces for the study of the socioenvironmental aspects related to the extraction of sand and gravel at the site known as La Isla, located in the Usumacinta River Basin in Mexico. This site has specific environmental and social characteristics. Based on the results of our participation in a research project and, subsequently, on the theoretical, conceptual, and methodological thinking for the social analysis of this site, our model demonstrates how the environmental and anthropic systems converge upon the...

A decision tree that uses simple physical and chemical tests has been developed to determine whether a mine waste poses a toxicity threat to the aquatic environment. For the chemical portion of the tree, leachate tests developed by the US Geological Survey (USGS), the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (CDMG), and modified 1311 TCLP test of the EPA have been extensively used. The multi-element power of modern inductively coupled plasma, atomic-emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) is also a necessary component of the scheme. At two sites in Colorado, Virginia Canyon in the Idaho Springs/Central City Superfund Site and in the Upper Animas River Basin, 25 sediment samples and the water flowing over the sediments were collected. General analytical measurements were made in the field, and then, the water and extracts from the three leachate tests were analyzed for 31 elements by ICP-AES. Then, element concentration pattern graphs (ECPG) were produced that compared selected groups of the elements from the three leachates and the water. When the pHs of the water and the leachate were below 5.0, the element concentration patterns of all four solutions were quite similar and aquatic toxicity from metals such as Pb, Cu, Zn, Mn and Al was clearly indicated. When the pHs of the water and the leachate were above 5.0, the element concentration patterns from the four solutions were different and inferred aquatic toxicity depended on the leachate test. Usually when there was a difference, it was found that in the TCLP test, elements from carbonate minerals and oxides dissolved and these elements in the CDMG and USGS tests were not as readily released from solution. In a study done in 2002 in Russell Gulch near Central City, CO, that rated mine waste piles, it was necessary to rate the contamination possibility of the piles on separate physical and chemical scales for the most complete assessment.

According to the United Nations Environmental Program, sand is the second most exploited resource on the planet after water, and local knowledge about the effects of sand mining has been little addressed in international studies. In the case of rivers, the sand and gravel used in the construction industry are part of the fluvial sediments, and the effects are different at each exploitation site. In this article, we propose a theoretical–methodological framework of the sandy field of forces for the study of the socioenvironmental aspects related to the extraction of sand and gravel at the site known as La Isla, located in the Usumacinta River Basin in Mexico. This site has specific environmental and social characteristics. Based on the results of our participation in a research project and, subsequently, on the theoretical, conceptual, and methodological thinking for the social analysis of this site, our model demonstrates how the environmental and anthropic systems converge upon the...

According to the United Nations Environmental Program, sand is the second most exploited resource on the planet after water, and local knowledge about the effects of sand mining has been little addressed in international studies. In the case of rivers, the sand and gravel used in the construction industry are part of the fluvial sediments, and the effects are different at each exploitation site. In this article, we propose a theoretical–methodological framework of the sandy field of forces for the study of the socioenvironmental aspects related to the extraction of sand and gravel at the site known as La Isla, located in the Usumacinta River Basin in Mexico. This site has specific environmental and social characteristics. Based on the results of our participation in a research project and, subsequently, on the theoretical, conceptual, and methodological thinking for the social analysis of this site, our model demonstrates how the environmental and anthropic systems converge upon the...

According to the United Nations Environmental Program, sand is the second most exploited resource on the planet after water, and local knowledge about the effects of sand mining has been little addressed in international studies. In the case of rivers, the sand and gravel used in the construction industry are part of the fluvial sediments, and the effects are different at each exploitation site. In this article, we propose a theoretical–methodological framework of the sandy field of forces for the study of the socioenvironmental aspects related to the extraction of sand and gravel at the site known as La Isla, located in the Usumacinta River Basin in Mexico. This site has specific environmental and social characteristics. Based on the results of our participation in a research project and, subsequently, on the theoretical, conceptual, and methodological thinking for the social analysis of this site, our model demonstrates how the environmental and anthropic systems converge upon the use of sediments. We conclude that social interactions articulate the conditions of the specific context. The sandy field of forces is the reference context in which the local practices of the actors regarding the use of sand and gravel make sense.

Les sédiments de l’Usumacinta, que les habitants appellent « sable », « cailloux » ou « pierres », sont composés d’argile, de limon, de boue et de gravier. Essentiels à l’écosystème fluvial, ils abritent une vie secrète et participent à la dynamique du fleuve. Ces sédiments ont été extraits et travaillés depuis des temps immémoriaux pour la production de poteries, l’amélioration des sols ou comme matériau de construction. Les sociétés se sont développées et se sont nourries grâce aux sédiments, mais avec
l’expansion des activités humaines et la transformation des écosystèmes, la production, le transport et l’accumulation des sédiments ont été modifiés. Ces processus sont pourtant fondamentaux pour l’ensemble du bassin versant de l’Usumacinta.
Cette publication propose d’expliquer en douze questions la nature et l’importance des sédiments de l’Usumacinta : à quoi servent-ils, quel est leur rôle dans les écosystèmes, sont-ils contaminés, quels usages ont-ils eu au fil du temps, comment peut-on les valoriser ? Les réponses, rédigées par des scientifiques, contribuent à la connaissance du fleuve et à la construction d’une relation durable avec les êtres humains qui vivent sur ses rives. Ces enjeux, exposés à travers l’exemple de l’Usumacinta, peuvent être transposés à tout autre grand fleuve.
Cette publication s’inscrit dans le cadre d’une étroite collaboration scientifique entre des chercheurs mexicains et français, entre 2018 et 2022 : le projet VAL-USES « De l’usage traditionnel à la valorisation
intégrée des sédiments dans le bassin du fleuve Usumacinta ». Ce projet interdisciplinaire a été approuvé et financé par l’Agence nationale de la recherche française (ANR-17-CE03-0012-01) et le Conseil national de la science et de la technologie du Mexique (FONCICYT-290792).

Los sedimentos de la cuenca del Usumacinta son compuestos de arcilla, limo, barro y grava, esenciales por albergar una vida secreta y participar en la dinámica de este ecosistema fluvial. Los lugareños los llaman “arena”, “guijarros” o “piedras”, y han fungido como recursos desde tiempos inmemoriales para la producción de cerámica, la mejora del suelo o como material de construcción. Las sociedades se han expandido y alimentado gracias a ellos, pero con el crecimiento urbano y la transformación de los ecosistemas, hemos alterado sus dinámicas de generación, transporte y acumulación; ni más ni menos que todo aquello que resulta fundamental para la vida de un territorio conformado por una cuenca y un río compartido por Tabasco, Chiapas y el altiplano guatemalteco.
Con esta publicación buscamos explicar en doce preguntas la naturaleza e importancia de los sedimentos del Usumacinta: ¿para qué se utilizan actualmente?, ¿qué usos han tenido a lo largo del tiempo?, ¿cómo pueden aprovecharse? ¿están contaminados? Nuestras respuestas buscan contribuir a la construcción de una relación sostenible entre el Usumacinta y los seres humanos que viven en sus riberas. Con este ejemplo bien podría abordarse la misma problemática respecto a cualquier otra cuenca.
Esta publicación se realizó en el marco de una estrecha colaboración científica con la participación de investigadores mexicanos y franceses que, iniciada en 2018, concluye en 2022: el proyecto VAL-USES
“Desde el aprovechamiento tradicional hacia la valorización integral de los sedimentos en la cuenca del río Usumacinta”, un proyecto interdisciplinario aprobado y financiado por la Agencia Nacional de Investigación en Francia y el Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología en México.

An initial reclamation of the Young Dong coal mine site, located in northeastern South Korea, was completed in 1995. Despite the filling of the adit with limestone, acid rock drainage (ARD) enters Young Dong tributary and is then discharged to Imgok Creek. This ARD carries an average of 500 mg CaCO 3/l of mineral acidity, primarily as Fe(II) and Al. Before spring runoff, the flow of Imgok Creek is 3.3-4 times greater than that of the tributary and has an alkalinity of 100 mg CaCO 3/l, which is sufficient to eliminate the mineral acidity and raise the pH to about 6.5. From April through September 2008, there were at least two periods of high surface flow that affects the flow of ARD from the adit. Flow of ARD reaches 2.8 m 3/min during spring runoff. This raised the concentrations of Fe and Al in the confluence with Imgok Creek. However, by 2 km downstream the pH of the Imgok Creek is 6.5 and only dissolved Fe is above the Korean drinking water criteria (0.30 mg/l). This suggests only a minor impact of Young Dong Creek water on Imgok Creek. Acid digestion of the sediments in Imgok Creek and Young Dong Tributary reveals considerable abundances of heavy metals, which could have a long-term impact on water quality. However, several water-based leaching tests, which better simulate the bioavailable metals pool, released only Al, Fe, Mn, and Zn at concentrations exceeding the criteria for drinking water or aquatic life. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10653-011-9415-1