Mine spoil acts as a sink of carbon dioxide in Indian dry tropical environment.

Economically important mining operations have adverse environmental impacts: top soil, subsoil and overburden are relocated; resulting mine spoils constitute an unaesthetic landscape and biologically sterile or compromised habitat, and act as source of pollutants with respect to air dust, heavy metal contamination to soil and water bodies. Where such spoils are revegetated, however, they can act as a significant sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) through combined plant succession and soil formation. Revegetation, drainage, reprofiling and proper long term management practices help recapture carbon, improve soil quality and restore the soil organic matter content.

Risk assessment, statistical source identification and seasonal fluctuation of dissolved metals in the Subarnarekha River, India.

Surface water samples were collected from 21 sampling sites throughout the Subarnarekha River during pre monsoon, monsoon and post monsoon seasons. The concentrations of metals were determined using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for the seasonal fluctuation, source apportionment and risk assessment. The results demonstrated that concentrations of the metals showed significant seasonality and most variables exhibited higher levels in the pre monsoon season.

Prediction of sea water intrusion for mining activity in close precincts of sea shore.

The mining lease area of Surka [District Bhavnagar, Gujarat (India)] is located within 6-12 km horizontal distance of sea shore of Gulf of Cambay. Whenever, there will be onset of lignite extraction, there will be always a threat of sea water intrusion into the mining lease area due to its close proximity to seashore. This article describes the prediction of sea water intrusion into the lease area of whole mining block using Ghyben-Herzberg relation between fresh and saline water, Remote Sensing, Ground Truth verification, Electrical Resistivity Survey and groundwater table monitored during the year 2004.

Estimation of annual effective dose due to ingestion of natural radionuclides in foodstuffs and water at a proposed uranium mining site in India.

Purpose: To study the distribution of (210)Po, (226)Ra, (230)Th and U(nat) (naturally occurring radioisotopes of uranium [(234)U, (235)U and (238)U]) in food and water around the Bagjata uranium mining area in India.

Materials And Methods: Radionuclides were analyzed in food samples of plant and animal origin after acid digestion. Intake and ingestion dose of the radionuclides were estimated.

Biomarkers: A potential prognostic tool for silicosis.

Long-term exposure to respirable dust containing silica leads to pneumoconiosis/silicosis. The disease is irreversible and incurable, and only preventive steps such as job rotation, use of personal protective equipment, etc., remain solutions to the problem.

Fate of radionuclides present in Indian fly ashes on its application as soil ameliorant.

Natural radioactivity depends primarily on the geological and geographical conditions, and appears at different levels in the soils. Coal contains various organic and inorganic substances including trace quantities of the naturally occurring radionuclides, which are of human health concern. The combustion of coals releases natural radioactive elements in the form of their oxides to the environment.

The accident analysis of mobile mine machinery in Indian opencast coal mines.

This paper presents the analysis of large mining machinery related accidents in Indian opencast coal mines. The trends of coal production, share of mining methods in production, machinery deployment in open cast mines, size and population of machinery, accidents due to machinery, types and causes of accidents have been analysed from the year 1995 to 2008. The scrutiny of accidents during this period reveals that most of the responsible factors are machine reversal, haul road design, human fault, operator's fault, machine fault, visibility and dump design.

Assessment of human health risks from heavy metals in outdoor dust samples in a coal mining area.

Jharia (India) a coal mining town has been affected by the consequences of mining and associated activities. Samples of outdoor fallen dust were collected at different locations of Jharia covering four different zones: commercial, petrol pump, high traffic, and residential areas. The dust samples were analysed for different trace elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn).

Ecological study of revegetated coal mine spoil of an Indian dry tropical ecosystem along an age gradient.

Mineral nitrogen (MN), belowground (root) biomass (BGB), soil nitrogen (N) mineralization (NM), microbial biomass N (MBN) and mine dump stability of a revegetated mine spoil were studied after 2, 6, 10 and 12 years of re-vegetation on coal mine spoil site. MN in revegetated mine spoil ranged from 7.4 to 11.

Dump stability and soil fertility of a coal mine spoil in Indian dry tropical environment: a long-term study.

Plant available nitrogen, belowground (root) biomass, soil nitrogen (N) mineralization and microbial biomass N (MBN) were studied for 12 years at the interval of 2 years (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 years) and mine dump stability at the intervals of 6 years (0, 6 and 12 years) after re-vegetation on coal mine spoil site. Plant available nitrogen in revegetated mine spoil ranged from 4.51 to 6.

Evaluation of the co-application of fly ash and sewage sludge on soil biological and biochemical quality.

Disposal of sewage sludge (SS) and fly ash (FA) is a multifaceted problem, which can affect environmental quality. FA has the potential to stabilize SS by reducing metal availability and making the SS suitable for application in the agricultural sector. An experiment was performed to evaluate soil biological quality changes with the combined amendment of SS and FA (fluidized bed combustion ash (FBCA) and lignite fly ash (LFA)).

Dose estimates for the local inhabitants from 210Po ingestion via dietary sources at a proposed uranium mining site in India.

Purpose: To study the distribution of (210)Po activity in food in Bagjata in East Singhbhum, India.

Materials And Methods: (210)Po were analyzed in the food samples of plant origin such as cereals, pulses, fruits, vegetables and food of animal origin such fish, chicken, egg, etc., in and around Bagjata uranium mining area as a part of baseline study after acid digestion.

Characterization of different road dusts in opencast coal mining areas of India.

Dust from haul and transport roads are the major source of air pollution in opencast coal mining areas. Dust generated during mining operations pollutes air which causes different health problems. Various available techniques are implemented in the field to minimize and control dust in mining areas.

Impact of rainfall on residual subsidence in old coal mine workings.

Subsidence over old coal mine workings can not be avoided if the underground workings are not fully filled. Existence of fire, illegal mining operation and seasonal impact (rainfall) aggravate proneness of subsidence over old workings. This paper deals with the causative factors of subsidence over old workings and its relation with rainfall with reference to Jharia and Raniganj Coalfields, India during the year 2007.

An appraisal of the potential use of fly ash for reclaiming coal mine spoil.

Growing dependence on coal-fired power plants for electrical generation in many countries presents ongoing environmental challenges. Burning pulverized coal in thermal power plants (TPPs) generates large amounts of fly ash (FA) that must be disposed of or otherwise handled, in an environmentally-sound manner. A possible option for dealing with fly ash is to use it as an amendment for mine spoil or other damaged soil.

Appraisal of carbon monoxide emission at surface due to long standing underground fires in Jharia coalfield, India.

Several locations of Jharia coalfield are affected by fire, and carbon monoxide (CO) is a product of active fires in coal mines. The paper deals with the investigation on emission of CO concentration at surface due to long standing fire at Lodna and Kusunda areas of Jharia coalfield. CO level was high at the point of emission from the surface (> 1000 ppm).

Heavy metals leaching in Indian fly ash.

Fly ash is an industrial waste generated from thermal power plants. Fly ash constitutes 80-85% of the total ash produced. A small part of fly ash is utilised in some sectors such as construction materials, building engineering, road, back fill, agriculture, selective engineering and processing useful materials.

Impact of post-mining subsidence on nitrogen transformation in southern tropical dry deciduous forest, India.

The goal of our research was to assess the impact of post-mining land subsidence, caused due to underground coal mining operations, on fine root biomass and root tips count; plant available nutrient status, microbial biomass N (MBN) and N-mineralization rates of a Southern tropical dry deciduous forest of Singareni Coalfields of India. The changes were quantified in all the three (rainy, winter and summer) seasons, in slope and depression microsites of the subsided land and an adjacent undamaged forest microsite. Physico-chemical characteristics were found to be altered after subsidence, showing a positive impact of subsidence on soil moisture, bulk density, water holding capacity, organic carbon content, total N and total P.

Environmental impact of coal washery and Damodar River water on the morphometry and biochemical changes of maize (Zea mays L.) and soil health.

Enormous quantity of water is used for coal beneficiation and accordingly huge amount of effluents are being generated. In this study an attempt was made to evaluate the potential of this effluent water for irrigation. Water samples were collected from three different points (a) feeding point, (b) thickening point, and (c) outlet point of coal washery, and from Damodar River for monitoring the water quality.