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THE IMPACTS of SMALL SCALE ARTISANAL DIAMOND MINING on the ENVIRONMENT By

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THE IMPACTS of SMALL SCALE ARTISANAL DIAMOND MINING on the ENVIRONMENT By THE IMPACTS OF SMALL SCALE ARTISANAL DIAMOND MINING ON THE ENVIRONMENT by MELANIE NAIDOO-VERMAAK MINI DISSERTATION Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree MAGISTER SCIENTIAE ENGINEERING in ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT in the FACULTY OF SCIENCE at the UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG Supervisor: Dr JM Meeuwis October 2006 i ABSTRACT This mini-dissertation establishes the extent to which small scale artisanal diamond mining impacts on the environment. There has, in the past, been research undertaken specifically on the water related impacts of small scale artisanal diamond mining. This study however, looks at the environment holistically, and gauges the total degradation to the receiving environment. Small scale artisanal diamond mining is considered to be a major contributor to the local economy and improved quality of life for the communities participating in this mining and is being actively supported through the National minerals and mining policies. It is for this reason that it was deemed imperative to understand the nature of the mining and the associated environmental impacts so that the outcome of this report could be used to inform decision makers when considering the licencing and management of artisanal diamond mining operations. In order to achieve the aim of the study, a literature review needed to be conducted focusing on the nature of small scale diamond mining operations, its influence on the social and economic spheres and the known environmental damage induced by such mining activities. However, in order to internalize the impacts, the literature review also drew a comparison with large scale artisanal diamond mining. The problems identified at the four sample sites were evaluated through the OWL Risk Assessment method to gauge the high risks and major impacts. This study showed that water pollution, biodiversity depletion and waste generation were some of the main problems traversing all four sites. In all cases assessed, artisanal diamond mining impacts on the water regime as mining takes place within the riverine environment. This study also underscored the fact that there is very little, if any rehabilitation, of disturbed areas and this impacts upon fitness for use of the receiving environment in the long term. ii An urgent need exists for monitoring and regulating artisanal diamond mining so as to reduce the impacts to the receiving environment. More enforced regulation will also ensure that the mining operations practice responsibly with due care for the environment coupled to a legal undertaking for rehabilitation of the mining area. iii OPSOMMING Hierdie kort verhandeling ondersoek die impak wat klein-skaal tradisionele- en bestaans- mynboupraktyke na diamante op die omgewing het. Navorsing oor die water-verwante impakte van klein-skaal en tradisionele bestaansmynbou is ook al gedoen. Hierdie studie benader egter die omgewing meer holisties en meet die totale degradasie van die ontvangsomgewing. Klein skaal tradisionele en bestaansmynbou word geag ‘n hoofbydraer tot plaaslike ekonomieë en verbeterde lewensomstandighede te wees en hierdie vorm van mynbou word aktief deur die nasionale minerale en mynboubeleide ondersteun. Om hierdie rede is dit uiters belangrik om die aard van hierdie soort mynbou en die verwante omgewingsimpakte te verstaan sodat die resultaat van die verslag gebruik kan word vir besluitneming in die lisensieëringsproses sowel as die bestuur van klein skaal mynbouers. Om hierdie doel te bereik, moes ‘n literatuurstudie, wat fokus op die aard van kleinskaal mynbou, die invloed daarvan op die sosiale en ekonomiese sfere en die bekende omgewingsimpakte veroorsaak deur sulke werksaamhede, voltrek word. Om die omgewingsimpakte egter te kan internaliseer, het die literatuurstudie ook ‘n vergelyk getrek met groter-skaal tradisionele mynbouwerksaamhede. Die probleme wat op die vier toetsareas identifiseer is, is deur die OWL risiko bestuurstelsel analiseer om die hoë risikos en hoof impakte te identifiseer. ‘n Dringede nood bestaan vir monitering en regulasie van tradisionele mynbou sodat ‘n poging gemaak kan word om die impak op die ontvangsomgewing te verminder en om te verseker dat mynbou werksaamhede verantwoordelik en met sorg vir die omgewing, sowel as ‘n regtelike onderneming vir die rehabilitasie van die area, uitgevoer word. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to express my gratitude to the following people for their contribution to this mini-dissertation: . My Supervisor Dr J.M Meeuwis for encouraging me to “Stay the Course.” Her dedication and perserverance had been the pivotal to the finalization of this study. My parents, brothers, daughter and husband for the support and understanding during the drafting . To all Government officials I interviewed for their valuable input. v vi LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................3 LIST OF FIGURES.....................................................................................................5 1. INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................7 2. PROBLEM STATEMENT ...................................................................................12 2.1 Introduction to artisanal diamond mining........................................................................................ 12 2.2 Objectives of the mini- dissertation.................................................................................................... 14 3. BACKGROUND TO ARTISANAL DIAMOND MINING ......................................17 3.1 The Diamond Mining Industry in Africa .......................................................................................... 17 3.2 Comparison of large scale diamond mining and artisanal diamond mining.................................. 22 3.2.1 General characteristics of large scale diamond mining: ............................................................................ 22 3.2.2 General characteristics of artisanal mining................................................................................................ 31 3.3 The Miller guide on environmental problems and environmental risks:....................................... 46 4. DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY AREA .............................................................49 4.1 Occurrence of artisanal diamond mining operations and location of the study area.................... 49 4.2. Physical description of the Vaalbos Nature Reserve ....................................................................... 52 4.3 Visible impacts occurring in the environment .................................................................................. 61 5. DATA COLLECTION AND METHODOLOGY....................................................64 5.1 Information required for the study.................................................................................................... 65 5.2 Data Collection .................................................................................................................................... 67 5.2.1 Determining a representative site .............................................................................................................. 67 5.3 Methodology for the assessment of the data ..................................................................................... 68 5.3.1 Phase 1 of the study: problem identification and determination of the types of impacts........................... 68 5.3.2 Phase 2: risk analysis using the owl database............................................................................................ 71 5.4 Shortcomings of the data obtained .................................................................................................... 78 6. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION............................................................................80 1 6.1 Comparative assessment after site visits ........................................................................................ 80 6.1.1 Scan of site 1: North of the N12 highway between Wolmaranstad and Christiana ................................... 80 6.1.2 Scan of Site 2: South of the N12 highway between Wolmaranstad and Christiana................................... 86 6.1.3 Scan of Site 3: Longlands –less than 10 km north of Vaalbos National Park............................................ 92 6.1.4 Scan at Site 4: on the perifery of the Vaalbos National Park..................................................................... 97 6.2 Summary of the 4 site assessments .................................................................................................. 104 6.3 Determining the impacts of artisanal mining through the OWL Risk Assessment..................... 108 6.3.1 Water Pollution Problems:....................................................................................................................... 109 6.3.2 Biodiversity Depletion: ........................................................................................................................... 123 6.3.3 Food Supply problems:............................................................................................................................ 126 6.3.4 Waste Generation: ................................................................................................................................... 136 6.3.5 Air Pollution: ..........................................................................................................................................
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