by kuorwel ngang jacob
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ASSESSMENT OF THE METHODS USED IN WASTE ROCKS AND TAILINGS DISPOSAL AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS ON THE ENVIRONMENT:
A CASE STUDY OF KILEMBE MINE AT KASESE DISTRICT IN WESTERN UGANDA
A PRESENTATION ON A RESEARCH THESIS PRESENTED TO
SCHOOL OF SCIENCES DPT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, AS A FULFILLMENT FOR THE AWARD OF BSC’S IN PETROLEUM & MINERALS MGT & TECHNOLOGY
AUGUST 20TH, 2015
BYKUORWEL NGANG JACOB AUG/2013/BPLMM/B11865/DAY
SUPERVISED BY:Mr. Lugaizi IsaTell: +256703/714-022034Email: isalugayizi@yahoo.com Petroleum Course Coordinator.Nkumba University, School of Sciences P.O. Box 237, Entebbe, Kampala, Uganda.
Table of contents
Background Problem statement VS Main objectives Conceptual framework
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY Location (research Area) Population of the area Sample size Data collection methods
CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS Data, Education & Age group The types of waste rocks & tailings generated at the
mine site at Kilembe The methods used to depose off waste rocks & tailings at Kilembe mine. The positive & negative implications of the waste rocks
and tailings on the environment at Kasese district Conclusion, Challenges and Recommendations
BackgroundCopper ore was first discovered
in Kilembe in 1906 by a man called Ambrose from Italy.
In 1956, first copper wastes were produced by Facon-bridge of Canada which
operated the mine.
The reserves were originally estimated to be 12.7 million
Tonnes out of which 2% averaged copper and 0.2%
cobalt
From 1974 to 1982, the Government of Uganda took over the ownership
of Kilembe Mine.
Kilembe remains not only attractive as a
copper production area but also as a cobalt
supplier.
In 2013, Kilembe mine was privatized to a Chinese company called Tibet Hima
mining company for 25 years.
Objectives
To investigate & identify the methods
used in waste rocks & tailings disposal, their
implications on the environment
To identify the type of wastes generated at the
mine site.
Examine the negative & positive
implications of waste rocks &
tailings .
Waste rocks & tailings disposal has always been a challenge to the mining companies because they endangers the environment and human life, contaminate the water points in their vicinity and poses threat to the vegetation. I saw it necessary to identify the appropriate methods used to get rid of waste rocks and tailings at Kilembe mine and to suggest best ways to stop them from endangering people’s lives.
Problem statement VS
Conceptual framework
Figure 1.1: Conceptual frame work
Management of the wastes at the mine site basing
on the following;
The mining activities which generate waste rocks & tailings are
independent variables;
Management & mitigation measures that are put in place to grantee safety are
the immediate variables
Implications that result from the
mining activities are dependent variables.
Location (research Area) Kilembe mine is located at Kasese district in western Uganda, lying north of Lake George. Kasese town is the 'chief town' of Kasese District and the headquarters of the Renzururu sub-region. It lies at the western end of the Uganda Railway to Kampala and Tororo, and is home to Kasese Airport. The city lies near the Rwenzori Mountains and Queen Elizabeth National Park. It is located approximately 360 kilometres (220 mi), by road, west of Kampala. 36 kilometres (22 mi), by road,
northeast of Mpondwe, the border town at the International border between Uganda and the DRC.Population of the area
Sample sizeThe researcher used up to 10 respondents per group or gender and specialization to represent the whole population of 101,679 mostly the mine workers at Kilembe and in Kasese town.
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY
1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 20200
200000
400000
600000
800000
343600
52300
747800
101679
POPULATION
YEARS
POPU
LA
TIO
N
FIG
UR
ES
IN 2014, KILEMBE
ALONE HAD
101679 PEOPLE
Tools used during the investigation to aid the research included the following but not limited to;
Interviews, Questionnaires, Observation, Photography, Documentation.
The researcher took time to understand and analyze the data collected in order to
accurately extract out valuable information which enabled the
researcher to easily compile the findings of the study and
interpreted them
The work was edited by grouping the data and
checking for the errors in order to update the data and
reaching recommended standards.
Encoding the data by grouping the
information that has the same ideas together using
Microsoft word and excel.
Data analysis
CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS
Less than 1814%
18-2540%26-33
22%
34-4114%
42-498%
50+2%
AGE GROUPS AND THE NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS OUT OF 50
Less than 18 18-25 26-3334-41 42-49 50+
Figure 4.3: Age groups of the respondents Figure 4.4: Frequency levels of education for the respondents.
Pri-mary 40%
Sec-ondary
38%
Tertiary 22%
A PIE-CHART SHOWING THE FREQUENCIES OF THE ED-UCATION LEVELS OF THE RESPONDENTS
Primary
Secondary
Tertiary
Wastes commonly associated with mining activities include the following but not limited to;
Chemical Properties
Overburden
Waste rocks
Tailings Slags & Slurry
Mine water
Gaseous wastes
Clay-rich tailings
Types of waste rocks & tailings generated at the mine site at Kilembe
0 2 4 6 8 10 120
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
4-Mar
MAJOR TYPES OF TAILINGS AND WASTE ROCKS PRODUCED AT KILEMBE MINE.
Copper Tailings Iron Ore Tailings Cobalt Tailingsvarious types of Tailings & waste rocksT
ailin
gs &
was
te r
ocks
in T
onns
Figure 4.6: Waste rocks piled at mill site in the past (left) and wagons used to transport them to convenient disposal points (right).
Mine water
Figure 4.7: Mine water (left) and pipelines (right) that were used to pump water into the mine at Kilembe.
The methods used to depose off waste rocks & tailings at Kilembe mine. Backfilling of the waste-rocks into the
underground mines tunnel to get access to an ore above the miners.
Dry backfill Cemented backfill Dumping more or less dry tailings or waste-
rocks onto heaps or hill sides Using the tailings & waste-rock for land use,
e.g. as aggregates for restoration Discarding tailings into surface water (e.g.
sea, lake, and river) or groundwater. Construction industry River bank stabilization & diversion of the
river Planting Eucalyptus grandis trees, Leucaena
glauca, and Cassia siamea Plants and reeds along rivers
Figure 4.8: An over view of the mining industry associated with waste rocks and tailings generation (Source: www.interbasemetals.com).
Figure 4.9: The settling basin (left) used to control tailings temporarily at Kilembe mine and participants of a workshop on climate change (Right) in Kasese (September, 2010) visit one of the previous stock piles of tailings near Kilembe mines.
Tailings dams are built to retain slurried tailing have many features in common with water retention dams
Positive impacts of the mining industry to the population at Kasese district. Copper
Between 1957-1979 a total of 16.29 million tons ore averaging 1.95% copper & 0.18% cobalt were mined & treated to yield 217,000 tons of blister copper which was exported.
1.1 million tons of cobaltiferous pyrite (iron sulphide) was stockpiled Copper is mainly used in making electrical conductors, special alloys
for the aerospace industry, electronics and high-tech industry.
Kasese Cobalt Company has installed a 1,000-tonnes per year plant and is processing the stockpile concentrates of pyrite.
Cobalt salts are used in the chemical industry and in tinting glass to give a blue colour.
Galena: A mineral containing lead (with minor zinc and gold), occurs in quartz veins. It is associated with tin (cassiterite) at Kilembe.
It is used in making motor vehicle batteries and heavy metal shield for nuclear radiation protection.
Talc: Occurs at Kisinga, in Kasese district. Talc is used as an extender in paints, ceramics, radio tubes, refractories, toilet powders, lotions and face creams.
The negative impacts of the mining industry on the
environment at Kasese district
Figure 4.10: President Museveni (left) and participants (Right) in the workshop for climate change, visited Kilembe mine’s previous tailing stockpiles after the severe flooding in the area (October 2013).
Copper ‘waste’ poisoning fish in river Nyamwamba, Lake Edward, Lake Albert and Lake George
Blanketing/suffocating Contamination of soil Loss of animal life. Health risks Long food chain:
Metals accumulation in plants aquatic life and animals
The collapse of a tailing dam can be fatal or can generate short-term and long-term problems such as;
Tailings dams are built to retain slurried tailing
Figure 4.11: The stock-pile of the copper-cobaltiferous pyrites (Left) along the Kasese-Kilembe road eroded when River Nyamwamba burst its banks (Right), 2013.
CHALLENGES
Definitely, it required a lot
of money
language barrier
Lab testing was required to test water
quality, soil pH, heavy metals.
Inadequacy of the data.
The sit was under construction, renovation, rehabilitation.
exploration, mining, processing were undergoing
Limited time due to the strike
of 2014.Long distance between
Kampala and Kasese district
Waste management plans should be developed before
the mine is constructed
promote capacity building
Waste characterization
practices, prediction, monitoring, and
treatment
Tougher laws should be put in place
Recommendations
14
4457
5
46
214 2
3139
134 2
16
The world’s Share of mineral production from Africa (World Bank Report 2005) percentage
Type of minerals exported
perc
enta
ges i
n to
nns
Conclusion:Mining industry remains a key to economic growth in Africa
Minerals exploration and
production remain a key to
economic growth in
Africa.
• Africa is richly endowed with mineral reserves and ranks first or second in world’s reserves of bauxite, cobalt, industrial diamond, phosphate rock.
• Gold mining is Africa's main mining resource.
“”
I ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR PRESENCETHANK YOU
Asanti sana, We ca keek leec, Agandi, Webale Nyo’
Your questions are welcome:
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