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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Article
Overview of Abandoned Mines in the Limpopo Province, South Africa: Rehabilitation Challenges
Author(s)
Khodani Matshusa and Mosidi Makgae
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DOI:10.17265/2162-5263/2014.03.005
Affiliation(s)
ABSTRACT
South Africa is facing enormous financial, environmental and social
challenges posed by abandoned mines. This investigation focused on field
verification of 850 abandoned mines and associated rehabilitation challenges in
the Limpopo Province. The investigations included desktop studies, standardised
field-based ranking system and sampling. The waste material samples were
analysed using XRF (X-ray fluorescence spectrometry) at the Council for
Geoscience Laboratory. Approximately 5% of 850 abandoned mines in the Limpopo
Province require urgent rehabilitation either due to high concentrations of
metals from mine dumps or presence of open shafts. For example, copper
concentrations at Messina and Spoedwel were 9,719 ppm and 56,160 ppm,
respectively. Birthday Gold Mine in Giyani area is characterised by un-safe
open shafts and un-stable grounds which poses safety problems and limits the
future land-use. Although these investigations have been conducted, it is not
possible to rehabilitate all abandoned mines mainly due to limited financial
resources. The abandoned mines close
to human settlement are given priority due to their
immediate threat to people. This study recommends that rehabilitation of
abandoned mines should take cognisance of the sustainable future land use that
will favour the creation of jobs and nature conservation.
KEYWORDS
Abandoned mines, rehabilitation challenges, Limpopo Province.
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