Abstract
This paper highlights resource recovery and stabilization as the novel approach adopted in the rehabilitation strategy of the abandoned copper mine site (CMC mine) located in Northern Cyprus, recognized as a source of chronic pollution problems. The site holds 9.5 million tons of tailings stored in poorly equipped ponds. The waste contains pyrite and chalcopyrite undergoing slow oxidation; this way, sulfide has been partly converted to sulfuric acid causing severe acid mine drainage problems. The rehabilitation strategy adopted the EU’s key principle of resource recovery, where all tailings would be processed for copper recovery and stabilized to further prevent the chemical mobility of heavy metals before final landfilling. A leaching-cementation process, with no chemical usage, except for lime stabilization after recovery, was designed for this purpose. The corresponding action plan entailed that all the waste material be processed in situ, in a zero waste environment. Accordingly, the remediation will be carried out in a sequential process involving emptying the ponds for resource recovery, preparing the necessary number of emptied ponds with sufficient holding capacity, as selected landfill sites in a way to secure and provide all necessary measures imposed by international regulations for containing and controlling hazardous wastes. Finally closure plans will be implemented for the rehabilitation of the mining site to reclaim full attributes of natural characteristics.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Altinbas U, Erdem U, Veryeri NO (2002) Pollutions of Cyprus Mine Company (CMC) wastes on soil, water and the Mediterranean in Cyprus. In: Camarda D, Grassini L (eds) Coastal zone management in the Mediterranean region. Bari:CIHEAM, 3-13 (Options Mediterraneennes: Serie A. Seminaires Mediterraneens; n.53:3-13)
Anawar HM (2015) Sustainable rehabilitation of mining waste and acid mine drainage using geochemistry, mine type, mineralogy, texture, ore extraction and climate knowledge. J Environ Manage 158:111–121
Atımtay AT, Sarıçiçek VE (2001) Environmental effects of the copper mining activities in Lefke and Karadag Region of Nothern Cyprus: Present Status. In: Proceeding of the International Conference on European Environmental Policy and the Case of Cyprus Mines, Lefke European University
Baycu G, Tolunay D, Ozden H, Csatari I, Karadag S, Agba T, Rognes SE (2015) An abandoned copper mining site in Cyprus and assessment of metal concentrations in plants and soil. Int J Phytoremediation 17(7):622–631
Bhattacharya A, Routh J, Jacks G, Bhattacharya P, Morth M (2006) Environmental assessment of abandoned mine tailings in Adak, Vasterbotten district (northern Sweden). Appl Geochem 21:1760–1780
Boronina AV (2003) Application of Numerical Modelling, Isotope Studies and Streamflows Observations for Quantitative Description of Hydrogeology of the Kouris Catchment (Cyprus). Ph.D Thesis, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zürich
Cohen AH (2002) Preliminary Report for Environmental Assessment of the Lefka-Xeros Area of Northern Cyprus. United Nation Office for Project Services Program Management Unit, Cyprus
Cohen DR, Rutherford NF, Morisseau E, Zissimos AM (2012) Geochemical patterns in the soils of Cyprus. Sci Total Environ 420:250–262
European Commission (2009) Reference document on best available techniques for management of tailing and waste rock in mining activities http://eippcb.jrc.ec.europa.eu/reference/BREF/mmr_adopted_0109.pdf. Accessed 11 April 2016
Frempang EM, Yanful EK (2006) Chemical and mineralogical transformation in three tropical soils due to permeation with acid mine drainage. B Eng Geol Env 65:253–271
Geology and Mining Department, Ministry of Agricultural and Natural Resources, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (2009) Technical report of water quality studies in Gemikonagi-CMC mining site existing water wells. pp 7, Northern Cyprus (In Turkish)
Geosurvey (2015) Gemikonağı/Lefke Port İSBİ Soil Survey Report of Port ISBI Waste Ponds, Lefkoşa KKTC. pp 8 (In Turkish)
Gökcekuş H, Turker U, Gokcekush H, Rızza T, Sıdal M (2007) The management of polluted coastal mining activities at Morphou Bay, Northern Cyprus. Natural Cataclysms and Global Problems of the Modern Civilization. Special edition of Transaction of the International Academy of Science. H and E. ICSD/IAS, Baku-Innsbruck, pp 179–186
Gökçekuş H, Kabdaşlı S, Kabdaşlı I, Türker U, Tünay O, Ölmez T (2003) Pollution of coastal region impacted by acid mine drainage in Morphou Bay. North Cyprus Enviro Sci Health-A 38:1445–1457
Gökmenoğlu O, Erduran B, Özgür C, Tamgaç ÖF (2002) Hydrogeology Report of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, MTA (In Turkish- unpublished report)
Gücel S, Öztürk M, Yücel E, Kadis C, Güvensen A (2009) Studies on trace metals in soils and plants growing in the vicinity of copper mining area-Lefke, Cyprus. Fresenius Environ Bull 18:360–368
Gündüz Ş, Erbulut C, Öznacar B, Baştaş M (2016) Determination of consciousness and awareness of the public in Lefka about the Cyprus Mining Corporation (CMC). Eurasia J Math, Sci Technol Educ 12(4):783–792
Hakyemez YH (2014) Main Geological Characterisitics of Northern Cyprus (In turkish: Kuzey Kıbrıs’ın Temel Jeolojik Özellikleri). TAPG Bull 26(2):7–46
Johansson L, Xydas C, Messios N, Stotz E, Greger M (2005) Growth and Cu accumulation by plants grown on Cu containing mine tailings in Cyprus. Appl Geochem 20:101–107
Lavender D (1962) The story of Cyprus Mines Corporation. In: Henry E (ed) Huntington Library and Art Gallery, San Marino
Morelli J (2013) Environmental sustainability: a definition for environmental professionals. J Environ Sustain 1(1):2
Oruç O (2007) US company’s toxic waste under scrutiny in Cyprus. Today’s Zaman. Accessed 11 April 2016 (May 2007)
Stumm W, Morgan JJ (1996) Aquatic chemistry: chemical equilibria and rates in natural waters, 3rd edn. Wiley, New York, p 1024
The Council of the European Communities (1991) Council Directive 91/689/EEC of 12 December 1991 on hazardous waste. Off J Eur Communities No:L 377/20, pp. 8
The Council of the European Communities (2000) Commission Decision of 3 May 2000 replacing Decision 94/3/EC establishing a list of wastes pursuant to Article 1(a) of Council Directive 75/442/EEC on waste and Council Decision 94/904/EC establishing a list of hazardous waste pursuant to Article 1(4) of Council Directive 91/689/EEC on hazardous waste. Off J Eur Communities No:L 226/3, pp. 22
The European Parliament and The Council of the European Union (2006) Directive 2006/21/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2006 on the management of waste from extractive industries and amending Directive 2004/35/EC—Statement by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission. Off J Eur Communities No:L 102/15, pp. 19
The European Parliament and The Council of the European Union (2008) Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste and repealing certain Directives (Text with EEA relevance). Off J Eur Communities No:L 312/3, pp. 28
U.S. Department of Interior (2014) U.S. Geological Survey, 2012 Minerals Yearbook: Cyprus. (Advanced Release), March
Wilson RAM, Ingham FT (1959) The Geology of the Xeros-Troodos Area. Cyprus Geological Survey Department Memoir 1
Yesilnacar MI, Kadiragagil Z (2013) Effects of acid mine drainage on groundwater quality: a case study from an open-pit copper mine in eastern Turkey. B Eng Geol Env 72:485–493
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sözen, S., Orhon, D., Dinçer, H. et al. Resource recovery as a sustainable perspective for the remediation of mining wastes: rehabilitation of the CMC mining waste site in Northern Cyprus. Bull Eng Geol Environ 76, 1535–1547 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-017-1037-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-017-1037-0