Coastal sand mining of heavy mineral sands: Contestations, resistance, and ecological distribution conflicts at HMS extraction frontiers across the world

Coastal sand mining for metals involves extraction of heavy mineral sands (HMS), which are sedimentary deposits of dense minerals that accumulate in coastal environments. HMS are localized concentrations of ores such as ilmenite, rutile, leucoxene, and iron, which are sources of metals such as titan...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of industrial ecology 2023-02, Vol.27 (1), p.238-253
Main Authors: Bisht, Arpita, Martinez‐Alier, Joan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural land
beach sand mining
Biodiversity
Biodiversity loss
Ceramics
Coastal areas
Coastal environments
Coastal zone
Defense industry
Dissent
Ecological distribution
ecological distribution conflicts
Ecological effects
Ecosystems
Environmental conflicts
Environmental Justice Atlas
Extraction
Heavy metals
Ilmenite
industrial ecology
Intrusion
Iron
Kyanite
Metals
Minerals
Mining
Monazite
Open pit mining
Ores
Pigments
Resistance
rutile
Sand
Sand & gravel
Sandy soils
Sea level rise
Sediment deposits
Shipbuilding
Sillimanite
Soils
Strip mining
Titanium
Zircon
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Summary:Coastal sand mining for metals involves extraction of heavy mineral sands (HMS), which are sedimentary deposits of dense minerals that accumulate in coastal environments. HMS are localized concentrations of ores such as ilmenite, rutile, leucoxene, and iron, which are sources of metals such as titanium, zircon, iron, sillimanite/kyanite, staurolite, monazite, and garnet. The applications of these metals range from everyday products such as ceramics, paint, and pigments, as well as technologically advanced applications in the airline, shipbuilding, medicine, and defense industries. HMS extraction implies strip mining of coastal areas, which are often unique biodiversity ecosystems, or fragile ecosystems built up on sandy soils or dunes. The loss of such spaces has impacts such as loss of biodiversity and habitats, salt‐water intrusion into agricultural lands and increased exposure to sea level rise. As a result of the serious ecological and socioeconomic transformations at such extraction frontiers, these operations cause resistance movements across the world. This article identifies and documents 24 cases of resistance against such operations. It presents the first comprehensive database and analysis of HMS related ecological distribution conflicts.
ISSN:1088-1980
1530-9290
DOI:10.1111/jiec.13358