Reclamation of Abandoned Mined-Out Areas of BUKURU-RAYFIELD

Abstract

The Plateau tin fields have been subjected to mining activities and environmental degradation which spanned over a decade since mining started in 1902. Mining though an indispensable economic activity requires affective management, monitoring and control to forestall undesirable environmental degradation- This was not considered during the first 46 years of mining by the colonial government leading to the devastation of a substantial arable land. This paper examines the reclamation needs of tin fields of the Bukuru-Rayfield environs, and proposes necessary land reclamation methods and major land reclamation machineries and practice that would ensure proper management of mined-out areas and reduce risks of further environmental degradation. The study reveals that of the 9(nine) existing abandoned mine ponds and 5(five) mining spoils a total of about 22,237,380 m3 of earth material would be required for reclamation. This volume includes 435780 m3 of the available mining spoil. This therefore suggests that earth material would have to be moved from the several abandoned spoils of the Plateau tin fields to achieve a sustainable reclamation of the ponds. The study area which falls within the Jos-Bukuru Complex of the Younger Granites Province of the Jos Plateau was subjected to detailed geological investigation as part of initial surveys covering about 30km², between latitudes 9˚ 47’ 58.3” and 9˚ 50’ 43.6” North and longitudes 8˚ 51’ 49.66” and 8˚ 55’ 6.03” East (Sheet 168 Naraguta NE).