Inventorization of Abandoned Mines and quarry Pits in Taraba State, Nigeria

Although there have been so many studies on mining activities and their environmental impacts over the years, it is only recently that the issues of mine closure and rehabilitation have been included in mining discourse as contained in the Minerals and Mining Act 2007. Abandoned mine pits and their associated mine features constitute significant risk and environmental hazards to local communities and the natural ecosystem. This study undertook inventorization of abandoned mine sites in the state and classify the extent to which they negatively impact on the environment. This will facilitate screening of the abandoned mine sites in the state for reclamation and rehabilitation. Field identification of sites and assessment of mine features was carried out. Field assessment include measurement of mine pits dimension, quantity, volume, surface area, distance using GPS and description of the types of materials or products removed from the site. Physical hazard assessment approach was adopted. A hazard ranking system, or prioritization index (PI), was used to prioritize the mine site for reclamation and rehabilitation. The study listed 189 abandoned mine and quarry sites and visited 105 sites for detailed study. The study identified 8 abandoned mine sites that falls within the high risk hazard that were ranked for prioritization and reclamation. Most of the mining and quarry sites were abandoned as a result of communal conflicts, lack of modern equipment, inability to acquire licence and too much water in mine pond. The study recommends the need to enforce mining regulations and initiate the process of reclamation of the abandoned mine sites to reduce the dangers posed to host communities.