Jurnal Pengelolaan Lingkungan Pertambangan

The Effect of Revegetation on Soil Properties of Copper Post-Mining Land in West Nusa Tenggara

Hermanu Widjaja, Dyah Tjahyandari Suryaningtyas — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0700

Copper mining activities mainly using open-pit techniques, lead to environmental issues such as overburden waste in waste dump areas that have potential to generate acid mine drainage (AMD), which can decrease soil pH and increase heavy metal toxicity. Reclamation efforts, including revegetation using pioneer plants and cover crops are necessary to restore degraded land in waste dump areas. The aim of this research is to analyze soil physical and chemical properties improvement after revegetation on copper post-mining land as an evaluation and to provide recommendations for future reclamation. The research was carried out by analyzing and interpreting laboratory data from soil observations in revegetation areas for the 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020 planting years, as well as natural forests belonging to PT. Amman Mineral Nusa Tenggara. Revegetation of copper post-mining land does not show a significant improvement in soil physical properties because improving physical properties takes quite a long time, especially in post-mining areas with heavy structural damage. Soil chemical properties analysis shows that revegetation can increase base saturation (BS), cation exchange capacity (CEC), exch-Ca, exch-Mg, and reduce soil Al saturation. In contrast, soil pH, organic-C, total-N, and soil available-P in the revegetation area did not increase as the revegetation age increased. The effect of revegetation appears to be more significant at the age of 2 to 3 years. However, based on the Tukey test, the age of revegetation mostly does not have a significant effect on enhancing soil chemical properties.

The Diversity and Abundance of Soil Mesofauna on Lime Post-Mining Land in Padalarang, West Bandung

Dyah Tjahyandari Suryaningtyas, Rahayu Widyastuti, Angelin Septitania Sirait — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0700

Soil fauna is one of the ecosystem components that play a role in the process of organic matter decomposition and soil improvement. Soil mesofauna are sensitive to environmental changes due to human activities, including land conversion for mining activities. The diversity and abundance of soil fauna depend on environmental conditions and food availability. Soil mesofauna can be used as bioindicators of habitat degradation and soil quality. This study aims to identify and assess soil mesofauna diversity index and abundance on open access land (LAT) formerly used for limestone mining in the Padalarang area, West Bandung Regency. Soil samples were collected from natural soil (844 masl), LAT 1 (837 masl), LAT 2 (834 masl), and LAT 3 (809 masl). Soil fauna were extracted using a Berlese Funnel Extractor. Soil fauna diversity was calculated based on Shannon’s Diversity Index, while soil fauna abundance was calculated based on Meyer's (1966) equation. The highest soil fauna diversity value was found in natural soil at 1.87 (moderate), while the lowest soil fauna diversity value was found in LAT 2 at 1.38 (low). The highest soil fauna abundance was found in LAT 2 (6295 individuals/m²) with a slope gradient of 8-15%, while the lowest abundance was found in natural soil (594 individuals/m²) with a slope gradient of 15-25%. Variation in abundance, taxon count, and soil fauna diversity is influenced by environmental factors such as soil pH, slope gradient, vegetation, and moisture content.

Calculation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Mining Area

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0700

Carbon emissions are one of the components of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the form of carbon dioxide (CO₂) which mainly comes from the use of fossil fuels and various human activities. Based on fossil fuel and industrial emissions data, in 2022 Indonesia ranked as the 6th largest carbon emitting country in the world after China, the United States, India, Russia and Japan, with 728.88 million tons of CO2e total emissions. The Ministry of Industry reported that total GHG emissions from Indonesia's industrial sector reached 238.1 million tons of CO2e in 2022. In the mining industry, GHG emissions originate from deforestation, energy use, processing, and refining, with non-renewable energy use being the largest emitter. GHG emissions from primary mineral and metal production contribute approximately 10% of global GHG emissions related to energy. Each mining industry may have varying primary sources of GHG emissions depending on the type of mine and the final product. Mining industries, as one of the major emitters, must conduct GHG inventories to understand emission sources and develop effective reduction strategies. GHG inventory activities are conducted based on guidelines provided by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry's National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Management Handbook (2012), Book II Volumes 1-4. Efforts to reduce GHG emissions can be undertaken through planting plants that have high carbon absorption and storage capabilities in mine reclamation activities, as well as using New and Renewable Energy (NRE) as an alternative to replace fossil energy.

Technology For Reclaiming Post-Mining Tin Lands Through The Application Of Soil Ameliorant And Plant Selection: A Case Study Of The Bangka Belitung Islands

Suwardi, Octaviana Randrikasari — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0700

Indonesia, besides being the country with the largest nickel reserves in the world, also holds the largest tin reserves globally in 2023. Meanwhile, in terms of production, Indonesia ranks second after China. Tin mining in Indonesia has led to serious environmental damage, illustrated by the numerous open pits and inadequately restored tin mining sites. The characteristics of soil in these post-mining lands generally include sandy texture, low pH, nutrient deficiencies, low organic carbon content, and low water holding capacity. This study aims to improve the soil chemical properties in post-mining lands by utilizing the KOMFABA technology, which consists of a mixture of compost and fly ash-bottom ash with appropriate dosages tailored to the type of crops to be planted, along with revegetation strategies involving suitable plant selections. The research methodology consists of field experiments to test the application of KOMFABA with various dosages and crop types, as well as a literature review to identify suitable revegetation strategies. The research result show that Indonesia holds tin reserves of 800,000 tons, making it the largest in the world, with a production of 74,000 tons, placing it second after China. Additionally, the results of KOMFABA testing demonstrate its effectiveness in improving soil chemical properties such as soil pH, organic carbon content, cation exchange capacity (CEC), nutrient content, and soil base saturation. The success of reclaiming post-mining lands also dependent on proper fertilization dosages and suitable plants selection.

Remediation Technology for Heavy Metal-Contaminated Soil on Copper Post- Mining Land Reclamation

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0700

Indonesia is a country with very high mineral reserves. Copper is one of the most important minerals found and produced in Indonesia. According to data from USGS in 2023, Indonesia is the world's seventh-largest copper producer. Copper mining activities primarily utilize open-pit mining techniques compared to underground mining techniques. Open-pit mining techniques lead to environmental damage, including land degradation, erosion, deforestation, ecosystem destruction, and soil, air, and water pollution due to acid mine drainage. The aim of this research is to provide remediation technologies recommendations for heavy metal-contaminated soil on copper post-mining land. Mine reclamation plays a crucial role in addressing various issues on post-mining lands. Waste dump area is one of the focus areas in reclamation activities that used as a place to store non-valuable materials. Waste dump area typically contain heavy metals that are harmful to the environment. High concentrations of heavy metals in the soil can make it toxic, which then has an impact on reducing soil quality and poisoning plants. Selecting suitable ameliorants and hyperaccumulator plants that are capable to reduce heavy metal toxicity is the key to successful mine reclamation. Zeolite ameliorant can reduce heavy metal content in the soil by increasing adsorption complexes, while dolomite can reduce heavy metal content in the soil by increasing soil pH. Phytoremediation by using hyperaccumulator plants also can reduce soil toxicity through destruction, inactivation, or immobilization of heavy metals into harmless forms.

Constraints of chemical and physical properties of soil on the growth of revegetation plants on ex-nickel mining land

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0700

The chemical and physical properties of soil as a planting medium in ex-mining land reclamation areas play an important role in supporting successful revegetation. This study aims to study the properties of soils in the reclamation area of a former nickel mine which is thought to be a factor inhibiting plant growth. Undisturbed and disturbed soil samples were taken in the reclamation area and the natural environment at depths of 0-30 cm and 30-60 cm. Soil sample analysis includes pH, organic C, total N, available P and potential P reserve, cation exchange capacity (CEC), base saturation, micronutrients, texture, bulk density, permeability, and pF curve. Soil biological properties are represented by the number of mycorrhiza parameters. Several plant leaf samples were also taken for analysis of N P K Ca Mg S and micronutrient content. The results showed that the soil in the reclamation area has several anomalous properties that cause the growth of revegetation plants to be hampered, i.e. the soil pH is slightly acidic to neutral, the CEC is very low due to a positive net charge, the exchangeable Ca/Mg ratio is less than 1, the levels of elements that are potentially toxic to plants are quite high, and the distribution of soil particles is dominated by silty size. These properties are closely related to iron oxides in the soil as a result of chemical weathering of ferromagnesian minerals contained in ultramafic rocks which are the parent material of the soil.