As global temperatures continue to reach all-time highs and discussions intensify about ways to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change, researchers at the University of São Paulo's Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture (ESALQ-USP) in Brazil have reported the results of a scientific study showing that if all the country's active legal mining sites continue to operate in the coming decades, emissions will total an estimated 2.55 gigatonnes of equivalent carbon dioxide (Gt CO2eq) due to loss of vegetation (0.87 Gt CO2eq) and soil (1.68 Gt CO2eq).
, they can also support native plants, crops and forests, capturing carbon as organic matter accumulates. Brazil is one of the world's ten largest producers of mineral commodities. Mining is an important driver of economic development, but it is also a source of ecosystem degradation, including pollution of soil and water, as well as loss of biodiversity.
The caused two recent disasters in Brazil due to tailings dam collapses in Mariana and Brumadinho , Minas Gerais state, with high human, economic and environmental costs.The knowledge used to make Technosols comes from understanding the natural processes by which soil organic matter is formed, weathered and stabilized. To test the hypothesis that Technosol construction mitigates COemissions from open-cast mining, the researchers estimated carbon stocks in Brazilian mining sites using data available from the literature. The first step in the process consisted of determining the geolocation and area of all legal mining sites using SIGMINE, an online platform maintained by the National Mining Agency . They found that recovery of soil organic stocks with Technosols is climate-dependent, with tropical Technosols showing the greatest potential carbon stock recovery owing to high input of plant-derived carbon and strong potential for carbon stabilization through mineral-organic interactions. The researchers stress in the article that some types of mine waste contain potentially toxic elements such as arsenic, mercury, cadmium, copper, and lead, and that precautions should be taken to avoid their use or combine it with strategies aimed at preventing pollution and inclusion of heavy metals, including remediation techniques such as phytoremediation and soil amendment .obtained in Technosols. In some cases, it exceeds the total in natural soils. The studies conducted by Francisco [Ruiz] show that it's possible in a very short time to construct soils that perform even better than natural soils and help mitigate the adverse effects ofRuiz has been studying Technosols since his master's research. In 2020, he was awarded a Prize for Excellence in the Brazilian mining and metallurgy industry by the magazine. The study in question focused on the use of tailings by a dolomitic limestone miner in Saltinho, São Paulo state, to construct Technosol and restore the topography and plant cover.Communications Earth & Environment
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Cal State University Board of Trustees are set to vote on a 6% tuition hikeStudents say the increase will make higher education out of reach. CSU says it already has done deep budget cuts, but still faces a funding deficit
Read more »
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reports 'armed, dangerous person' on or near cPolice at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on Wednesday sent out an emergency alert about an 'armed, dangerous person' on or near the campus.
Read more »
University of Alabama ‘disgusted’ by remarks made by Tide fans during UT gameThe school said it condemns bad behavior and it will not be tolerated at the school's venues.
Read more »
Regis University under lockdown during search for homicide suspectRegis University is under lockdown Thursday morning, the university announced on social media.
Read more »
'A Revival Is Happening': Hundreds Choose Christ at Auburn, Get Spontaneously Baptized in a LakeGod is moving on college campuses across the country. Revival hit campuses like Asbury University, Lee University, and Samford University, earlier ...
Read more »
Bowling Green State University ranked Ohio's top universityBowling Green State University is claiming the number 1 spot for best student experience in the midwest.
Read more »