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Risk Assessment of Mining Environmental Liabilities for Their Categorization and Prioritization in Gold-Mining Areas of Ecuador

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  • Bryan Salgado-Almeida

    (Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Facultad de Ingeniería en Ciencias de la Tierra, Campus Gustavo Galindo km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, Guayaquil P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Ecuador)

  • Daniel A. Falquez-Torres

    (Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Facultad de Ingeniería en Ciencias de la Tierra, Campus Gustavo Galindo km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, Guayaquil P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Ecuador)

  • Paola L. Romero-Crespo

    (Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Facultad de Ingeniería en Ciencias de la Tierra, Campus Gustavo Galindo km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, Guayaquil P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Ecuador)

  • Priscila E. Valverde-Armas

    (Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Facultad de Ingeniería en Ciencias de la Tierra, Campus Gustavo Galindo km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, Guayaquil P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Ecuador)

  • Fredy Guzmán-Martínez

    (Mexican Geological Survey (SGM), Boulevard Felipe Angeles Km. 93.50-4, Pachuca 42083, Mexico)

  • Samantha Jiménez-Oyola

    (Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Facultad de Ingeniería en Ciencias de la Tierra, Campus Gustavo Galindo km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, Guayaquil P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Ecuador)

Abstract

Mining environmental liabilities (MEL) are of great concern because of potential risks to ecosystems and human health. In this research, the environmental risk (R I ) related to MEL existing in three artisanal and small-scale gold-mining areas of Ecuador was evaluated. For this purpose, data of 167 MEL including landfills, mining galleries, tailing deposits, and mineral processing plants from Macuchi, Tenguel–Ponce Enriquez, and Puyango mining areas, were analyzed. The risk assessment related to the presence of waste deposits was carried out based on the methodology proposed by the Spanish Geological Survey. Moreover, the procedure outlined in the Environmental Risk Assessment Guide of the Ministry of Environment of Peru for nonwaste deposits was applied. The highest R I values were identified in Puyango and Tenguel–Ponce Enriquez. Thus, they were both categorized as priority control areas requiring intervention and rehabilitation plans. The MEL that require a high level of intervention include waste deposits and mine entrances associated with potentially toxic elements. Moreover, the point risk maps showed that rivers in the studied areas have a potential pollution risk. This study provides risk levels associated with MEL in mining areas from Ecuador. This information could be used for environmental management and pollution mitigation.

Suggested Citation

  • Bryan Salgado-Almeida & Daniel A. Falquez-Torres & Paola L. Romero-Crespo & Priscila E. Valverde-Armas & Fredy Guzmán-Martínez & Samantha Jiménez-Oyola, 2022. "Risk Assessment of Mining Environmental Liabilities for Their Categorization and Prioritization in Gold-Mining Areas of Ecuador," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-17, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:10:p:6089-:d:817528
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Jonathan I. Mendez-Ruiz & María B. Barcia-Carreño & Lisbeth J. Mejía-Bustamante & Ángela K. Cornejo-Pozo & Cristian A. Salas-Vázquez & Priscila E. Valverde-Armas, 2023. "Assessment of the Performance of a Water Treatment Plant in Ecuador: Hydraulic Resizing of the Treatment Units," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-23, January.
    2. Carlos Mestanza-Ramón & Demmy Mora-Silva & Giovanni D’Orio & Enrique Tapia-Segarra & Isabel Dominguez Gaibor & José Fernando Esparza Parra & Carlos Renato Chávez Velásquez & Salvatore Straface, 2022. "Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM): Management and Socioenvironmental Impacts in the Northern Amazon of Ecuador," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-16, June.
    3. Paulo Campoverde-Muñoz & Luis Aguilar-Salas & Paola Romero-Crespo & Priscila E. Valverde-Armas & Karla Villamar-Marazita & Samantha Jiménez-Oyola & Daniel Garcés-León, 2022. "Risk Assessment of Groundwater Contamination in the Gala, Tenguel, and Siete River Basins, Ponce Enriquez Mining Area—Ecuador," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    4. Ottone Scammacca & Rasool Mehdizadeh & Yann Gunzburger, 2022. "Territorial Mining Scenarios for Sustainable Land-Planning: A Risk-Based Comparison on the Example of Gold Mining in French Guiana," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-25, August.
    5. Diana Méndez & Fredy Guzmán-Martínez & Mauricio Acosta & Luis Collahuazo & Danilo Ibarra & Luis Lalangui & Samantha Jiménez-Oyola, 2022. "Use of Tailings as a Substitute for Sand in Concrete Blocks Production: Gravimetric Mining Wastes as a Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-14, December.

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