River sand and gravel fuel global construction, but their extraction is reshaping rivers, ecosystems, and communities faster than sustainable management can keep pace.
mining
Posted inNews
One Billion Years Ago, Northern Minnesota Nearly Split Apart. Now, Two Companies Want to Mine the Aftermath.
A continental rift created valuable mineral deposits beneath a remote wilderness beloved by recreationists.
Posted inThe Landslide Blog
Legal action in the aftermath of the Independent Review Board report of the 24 June 2024 heap leach failure at the Eagle Gold Mine
The receiver of the operator is suing JDS Energy and Mining for breach of contract and negligence over the failure at the Eagle Gold Mine, based on the outcome of the investigation by an Independent Review Board. Loyal readers will remember a series of posts I made two years ago about a remarkable landslide that […]
Posted inResearch & Developments
Sand Demand Outpaces Sustainable Extraction
Demand for sand in the building sector is expected to rise 45% by the year 2060, outpacing current efforts to sustainably harvest it.
Posted inNews
As Ice Recedes and Land Rebounds, Antarctica’s Mineral Resources Come into Focus
Melting ice, rebounding land, and rising seas will change what resources are available in Antarctica, a new analysis finds.
Posted inThe Landslide Blog
Monitoring pre- and post-failure InSAR-derived deformation in surface mining complexes
A new paper in the International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation uses InSAR to explore the complex patterns of deformation that occur in and around large mining operations. I have frequently discussed landslides in mining operations on this site, highlighting repeatedly the unacceptable losses that result from slope failures. In many cases, these […]
Posted inThe Landslide Blog
Reports of another massive landslide at the Rubaya Coltran mining site in the DRC
There are disputed reports of another massive landslide at the infamous mining site, with over 200 deaths being described by eye-witnesses. There are reports this morning that another devastating landslide has occurred at the Rubaya coltran mining site in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This is an area controlled by a rebel group, M23, […]
Posted inNews
Engineering a Cleaner Way to Extract Lithium
The new chemical solvent technique could cut water use, speed extraction, and unlock reserves like California’s Salton Sea.
Posted inFeatures
Salt of the Earth: Vast Underground Salt Caverns Are Preserving Our History—and Just Might Power Our Future
From health spas to film storage, salt mine caverns have been put to use in surprising ways—and they’re now poised to contribute to the generation and storage of clean energy.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Making a Map to Make a Difference
A new study highlights the partnership between scientists and nonscientist community members in building an interactive GIS map to show flooding risk in a Superfund site.