The Environmental Impact of Coal Mining: A Case Study in Brazil’s Sangão Watershed

• Published in: Mine water and the environment 2011-09, Vol.30 (3), p.159-168
• Main Authors: Gomes, C. J. B., Mendes, C. A. B., Costa, J. F. C. L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abandoned mines; Algorithms; Case studies; Coal mining; Contaminants; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Ecotoxicology; Environmental impact; Geology; Hydrogeology; Hydrology; Industrial Pollution Prevention; Land reclamation; Land use; Mineral Resources; Pollution load; Pollution sources; Reclamation; Soil contamination; Soil types; Technical Article; Water Quality/Water Pollution; Watersheds
• ISSN: 1025-9112; 1616-1068
• DOI: 10.1007/s10230-011-0139-3

An algorithm was developed for quantifying and prioritizing mined areas according to their impact on watersheds. For the purpose of this case study, a pilot area of 88 km 2 was selected, which encompasses the upstream portion of the Sangão River of the Araranguá watershed in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. This methodology integrates information such as land use, soil types, topography, and hydrology using geoprocessing tools to quantify the relative load of pollutants derived from each. This permits one to prioritize reclamation. Using the algorithm and geoprocessing together has allowed us to identify the hot spots and where the rehabilitation process should begin. This tool can also be used to evaluate and analyze other watersheds impacted by mining and to integrate other pollution sources. Further research must still be done to calibrate and validate the model in order to determine the absolute contaminant loads.