Strategies for sustainable development of the small-scale gold and diamond mining industry of Ghana

The small-scale gold and diamonds mining industry is of great importance to Ghana. Since its regularization in 1989 the sector has produced and sold over 1.5 million troy ounces of gold and 8.0 million carats of diamonds. During the same period the sector also provided direct employment to over 100,000 people and improved the socioeconomic life of many individuals and communities. However, these were largely achieved at a cost to the environment in areas where mining is carried out and there is the need to develop the industry in a sustainable manner. This paper looks at the developments in the small-scale gold and diamonds mining industry in Ghana and proposes some strategies on how the concepts of sustainable development could be applied to the industry.     

Microbial cycling of iron and sulfur in acidic coal mining lake sediments

Lakes caused by coal mining processes are characterized by low pH, low nutrient status, and high concentrations of Fe(II) and sulfate due to the oxidation of pyrite in the surrounding mine tailings. Fe(III) produced during Fe(II) oxidation precipitates to the anoxic acidic sediment, where the microbial reduction of Fe(III) is the dominant electron-accepting process for the oxidation of organic matter, apparently mediated by acidophilic Acidiphilium species. Those bacteria can reduce a great variety of Fe(III)-(hydr)oxides and reduce Fe(III) and oxygen simultaneously which might be due to the small differences in the redox potentials under low pH conditions. Due to the absence of sulfide, Fe(II) formed in the upper 6 cm of the sediment diffuses to oxic zones in the water layer where itcan be reoxidized by Acidithiobacillus species. Thus, acidic conditions are stabilized by the cycling of iron which inhibits fermentative and sulfate-reducing activities. With increasing sediment depth, the amount of reactive iron decrease, the pH increases above 5, and fermentative and as yet unknown Fe(III)-reducing bacteria are also involved in the reduction of Fe(III). Sulfate is reduced apparently by the activity of spore-forming sulfate reducers including new species of Desulfosporosinus that have their pH optimum similar to in situconditions and are not capable of growth at pH 7. However, generation of alkalinity via sulfate reduction is reduced by the anaerobic reoxidation of sulfide back to sulfate. Thus, the microbial cycling of iron at the oxic-anoxic interface and the anaerobic cycling of sulfur maintains environmental conditions appropriate for acidophilic Fe(III)-reducing and acid-tolerant sulfate-reducing microbial communities.     

黄冈市矿业经济布局研究

文章针对黄冈市矿业经济发展的需要，在充分考虑黄冈市地区经济发展，矿产资源分布，矿业经济合理布局的必要性的基础上，对黄冈市矿业经济布局作了详细深入研究，提出了“一个中心，四个矿业规划区，五类开发矿种，十个矿业基地”的布局构架，为该市矿业经济发展提供了明确的发展思路，并指出了发展重点，也为政府宏观调控和矿政管理提供了依据。     

我国矿业"走出去"风险勘探问题分析与建议

根据我国资源条件和经济发展的需要以及获取国外资源的方式进行比较分析得知，我国非常有必要到国外进行风险勘探。虽然我国经历了多年境外风险勘探的实践和探索，但是步伐缓慢，在实践中面临很多问题。对此，作者提出了我国境外风险勘探问题的建议。     

PROFILE: Hungry Water: Effects of Dams and Gravel Mining on River Channels

/ Rivers transport sediment from eroding uplands to depositional areas near sea level. If the continuity of sediment transport is interrupted by dams or removal of sediment from the channel by gravel mining, the flow may become sediment-starved (hungry water) and prone to erode the channel bed and banks, producing channel incision (downcutting), coarsening of bed material, and loss of spawning gravels for salmon and trout (as smaller gravels are transported without replacement from upstream). Gravel is artificially added to the River Rhine to prevent further incision and to many other rivers in attempts to restore spawning habitat. It is possible to pass incoming sediment through some small reservoirs, thereby maintaining the continuity of sediment transport through the system. Damming and mining have reduced sediment delivery from rivers to many coastal areas, leading to accelerated beach erosion. Sand and gravel are mined for construction aggregate from river channel and floodplains. In-channel mining commonly causes incision, which may propagate up- and downstream of the mine, undermining bridges, inducing channel instability, and lowering alluvial water tables. Floodplain gravel pits have the potential to become wildlife habitat upon reclamation, but may be captured by the active channel and thereby become instream pits. Management of sand and gravel in rivers must be done on a regional basis, restoring the continuity of sediment transport where possible and encouraging alternatives to river-derived aggregate sources.KEY WORDS: Dams; Aquatic habitat; Sediment transport; Erosion; Sedimentation; Gravel mining     

经济欠发达地区的可持续发展战略

在人类面临多种生存危机的今天，经济欠发达地区应重视发展中“不可持续”观念和行为，控制人口数量，提高人口质量，规范政府行为，树立一种全新、科学和适度的富裕观，并通过有节制，保护性地发展生产，走上可持续发展的轨道。     

采掘诱发地震的成因及对策

根据煤或岩体的赋存特征及采动后的受力特点，将采矿及掘进等工程进行过程中诱发的地震灾害分为三类，即完整煤岩体受压应力作用的失稳、顶底板受拉应力型地震及断层走滑受剪型诱发地震。文章在分别分析其成因的基础上，研究了采矿诱发三种类型地震的发生条件，提出了防治发生诱发地震的对策。     

皖南山区中华猕猴桃的气候适宜性区划

本文在简要分析皖南山区气候特征的基础上，根据中华猕猴桃的生长习性，提出了发展只结猕猴桃的适宜栽培高度区划，为合理利用山区气候资源发展猕猴桃生产提供科学依据。     

地貌对矿区环境,灾害的影响与对策

论述了地貌对矿区环境、灾害的产生及发展的影响，并以中国几个矿区的实例论述这一问题，同时，提出一些减缓影响的对策．     

关于综放开采技术安全问题的几点认识

本文从放顶煤开采的一次采高大、上覆岩层的活动范围大、破碎顶煤的存在等基本特征出发,论述了关于放顶煤开采中瓦斯、顶板和冲击地压等安全问题.放顶煤开采对有些安全问题可以缓解,比如工作面的瓦斯突出.但是也可能诱发一些安全问题,如坚硬顶板对支架的冲击、采空区垮落岩石的撞击与摩擦诱发瓦斯事故等.在放顶煤大面积推广应用的同时,更应重视其相应的安全问题的系统研究与解决.