Global-scale remote sensing of mine areas and analysis of factors explaining their extent

Werner, TT; Mudd, GM; Schipper, AM; Huijbregts, MAJ; Taneja, L; Northey, SA

Global-scale remote sensing of mine areas and analysis of factors explaining their extent

Werner, TT Mudd, GM Schipper, AM Huijbregts, MAJ Taneja, L Northey, SA

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Publisher:: ELSEVIER SCI LTD
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Global Environmental Change, 2020, 60
Issue Date:: 2020-01-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Werner, TT
dc.contributor.author	Mudd, GM
dc.contributor.author	Schipper, AM
dc.contributor.author	Huijbregts, MAJ
dc.contributor.author	Taneja, L
dc.contributor.author	Northey, SA
dc.date.accessioned	2020-09-18T21:14:56Z
dc.date.available	2020-09-18T21:14:56Z
dc.date.issued	2020-01-01
dc.identifier.citation	Global Environmental Change, 2020, 60
dc.identifier.issn	0959-3780
dc.identifier.issn	1872-9495
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/142745
dc.description.abstract	© 2019 Elsevier Ltd Mines are composed of features like open cut pits, water storage ponds, milling infrastructure, waste rock dumps, and tailings storage facilities that are often associated with impacts to surrounding areas. The size and location of mine features can be determined from satellite imagery, but to date a systematic analysis of these features across commodities and countries has not been conducted. We created detailed maps of 295 mines producing copper, gold, silver, platinum group elements, molybdenum, lead-zinc, nickel, uranium or diamonds, representing the dominant share of global production of these commodities. The mapping entailed the delineation and classification of 3,736 open pits, waste rock dumps, water ponds, tailings storage facilities, heap leach pads, milling infrastructure and other features, totalling ~3,633 km2. Collectively, our maps highlight that mine areas can be highly heterogeneous in composition and diverse in form, reflecting variations in underlying geology, commodities produced, topography and mining methods. Our study therefore emphasises that distinguishing between specific mine features in satellite imagery may foster more refined assessments of mine-related impacts. We also compiled detailed annual data on the operational characteristics of 129 mines to show via regression analysis that the sum area of a mine's features is mainly explained by its cumulative production volume (cross-validated R2 of 0.73). This suggests that the extent of future mine areas can be estimated with reasonable certainty based on expected total production volume. Our research may inform environmental impact assessments of new mining proposals, or provide land use data for life cycle analyses of mined products.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	ELSEVIER SCI LTD
dc.relation.ispartof	Global Environmental Change
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2019.102007
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess
dc.subject.classification	Environmental Sciences
dc.title	Global-scale remote sensing of mine areas and analysis of factors explaining their extent
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	60
utslib.for	0909 Geomatic Engineering
utslib.for	0914 Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy
utslib.for	160507 Environment Policy
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)/Institute For Sustainable Futures
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2020-09-18T21:14:52Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	60

Abstract:

© 2019 Elsevier Ltd Mines are composed of features like open cut pits, water storage ponds, milling infrastructure, waste rock dumps, and tailings storage facilities that are often associated with impacts to surrounding areas. The size and location of mine features can be determined from satellite imagery, but to date a systematic analysis of these features across commodities and countries has not been conducted. We created detailed maps of 295 mines producing copper, gold, silver, platinum group elements, molybdenum, lead-zinc, nickel, uranium or diamonds, representing the dominant share of global production of these commodities. The mapping entailed the delineation and classification of 3,736 open pits, waste rock dumps, water ponds, tailings storage facilities, heap leach pads, milling infrastructure and other features, totalling ~3,633 km2. Collectively, our maps highlight that mine areas can be highly heterogeneous in composition and diverse in form, reflecting variations in underlying geology, commodities produced, topography and mining methods. Our study therefore emphasises that distinguishing between specific mine features in satellite imagery may foster more refined assessments of mine-related impacts. We also compiled detailed annual data on the operational characteristics of 129 mines to show via regression analysis that the sum area of a mine's features is mainly explained by its cumulative production volume (cross-validated R2 of 0.73). This suggests that the extent of future mine areas can be estimated with reasonable certainty based on expected total production volume. Our research may inform environmental impact assessments of new mining proposals, or provide land use data for life cycle analyses of mined products.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/142745