Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Synergetic Network Evolution of Mineral Exploitation on the Water Environment in the Yangtze River Economic Belt

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Natural Resources Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

    We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.

    Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.

Abstract

Achieving the coordinated development of mineral exploitation and the water environment (the mine–water system, MWS) is an urgent difficulty in the construction of China’s ecological civilization. Based on the theory of synergy, a synergetic model was used to construct a network of the MWS, and then, social network analysis was applied to study the network characteristics for ten provinces of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. The research results show that the natural water system has always been at the center of the MWS, and water conservancy construction is particularly critical. However, the synergistic effect is not strong between the water environmental stress system and other systems, and as a result, the water environment is under great pressure. Among the crucial factors, the discharge of wastewater and solid waste is at the core of the network and directly affects the coordinated development trend of the MWS. However, the sustainable development of the water environment is better achieved by the treatment of solid waste than by the control of wastewater discharge. Generally, the synergistic relationship based on the natural water system is very important. At the same time, the core role of the water environmental protection system should be strengthened by adjusting sequence parameters to promote the overall coordinated development of the MWS.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bansah, K. J., Dumakor-Dupey, N. K., Kansake, B. A., Assan, E., & Bekui, P. (2018). Socioeconomic and environmental assessment of informal artisanal and small-scale mining in Ghana. Journal of Cleaner Production, 202, 465–475.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boularbah, A., Schwartz, C., Bitton, G., & Morel, J. L. (2006). Heavy metal contamination from mining sites in South Morocco: Use of a biotest to assess metal toxicity of tailings and soils. Chemosphere, 63(5), 802–810.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carmo, F. F. D., Kamino, L. H. Y., Junior, R. T., Campos, I. C. D., Carmo, F. F. D., Silvino, G., et al. (2017). Fundão tailings dam failures: the environment tragedy of the largest technological disaster of Brazilian mining in global context. Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation, 15(3), 145–151.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, F., Yao, Q., & Tian, J. (2016). Review of ecological restoration technology for mine tailings in China. Engineering Review, 36(2), 115–121.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng, J. H., & Peng, X. J. (2019). Influence of mineral resources development on ecological environment in Yangtze River economic belt and its countermeasures. Journal of Environmental Economics, 4(02), 125–134.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, Y. L., & Xu, C. Q. (2017). The influence of mineral resources exploitation on hydrogeology and environmental geology in Jilin Province. Environment and Sustainable Development, 42(02), 185–186.

    Google Scholar 

  • CSYE. (2016). China statistical yearbook on environment. China Statistical Publishing House, Beijing 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015.

  • Ding, N., Lu, X. H., Yang, J. X., & Lu, B. (2016). Water footprint of coal production. Acta Scientiae Circumstantiae, 36(11), 4228–4233.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dong, L. J., Tong, X. J., Li, X. B., Zhou, J., Wang, S. F., & Liu, B. (2019). Some developments and new insights of environmental problems and deep mining strategy for cleaner production in mines. Journal of Cleaner Production, 210, 1562–1578.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duan, C. C., & Chen, B. (2017). Energy-water nexus of international energy trade of China. Applied Energy, 194, 725–734.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao, L., Bryan, B. A., Liu, J., Li, W. G., Chen, Y., Liu, R., et al. (2017). Managing too little and too much water: Robust mine–water management strategies under variable climate and mine conditions. Journal of Cleaner Production, 162, 1009–1102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ge, R. F., Xe, K. P., Chi, Y. Y., Wang, J. J., Zhang, L. X., Zhang, X., et al. (2017). Eco-environmental impact of mineral resources exploitation in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region. Chinese Journal of Environmental Management, 9(03), 46–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gleick, P. H. (1994). Water and energy. Annual Review of Energy and the Environment, 19(1), 267–299.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gorman, M. R., & Dzombak, D. A. (2018). A review of sustainable mining and resource management: Transitioning from the life cycle of the mine to the life cycle of the mineral. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 137, 281–291.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grecu, E., Aceleanu, M. L., & Albulescu, C. T. (2018). The economic, social and environmental impact of shale gas exploitation in Romania: A cost-benefit analysis. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 93, 691–700.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gu, D. Z. (2014). Water resource protection and utilization engineering technology of coal mining in “Energy Golden Triangle” region. Coal Engineering, 46(10), 34–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hao, Y. H., Zhu, Y. E., Zhao, Y., Wang, W., Du, X., & Yeh, T.-C. J. (2009). The role of climate and human influences in the dry-up of the jinci springs, China. Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 45(5), 1228–1237.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herrera, P., Uchiyama, H., Igarashi, T., Asakura, K., Ochi, Y., Iyatomi, N., et al. (2007). Treatment of acid mine drainage through a ferrite formation process in central Hokkaido, Japan: Evaluation of dissolved silica and aluminium interference in ferrite formation. Minerals Engineering, 20(13), 1255–1260.

    Google Scholar 

  • IEA. (2018). World energy outlook 2018.

  • Kinnaman, T. C. (2011). The economic impact of shale gas extraction: A review of existing studies. Ecological Economics, 70(7), 1243–1249.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kunz, N. C., Moran, C. J., & Kastelle, T. (2013). Implementing an integrated approach to water management by matching problem complexity with management responses: A case study of a mine site water committee. Journal of Cleaner Production, 52, 362–373.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leppänen, J. J., Weckström, J., & Korhola, A. (2017). Multiple mining impacts induce widespread changes in ecosystem dynamics in a boreal lake. Scientific Reports, 7(1), 10581.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, C. M., & Nie, R. (2017). An evaluating system for scientific mining of China’s coal resources. Resources Policy, 53, 317–327.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lim, H.-S., Lee, J.-S., Chon, H.-T., & Sager, M. (2008). Heavy metal contamination and health risk assessment in the vicinity of the abandoned Songcheon Au–Ag mine in Korea. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 96(2–3), 223–230.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, J. (2014). Lectures on whole network approach: A practical guide to UCINET (2nd ed.). Shanghai: Gezhi Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, Y. L., Gong, B., & Liu, X. G. (2017). An appraise of wastewater treatment efficiency in China mineral industries based on DEA models with undesirable outputs. Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering, 11(04), 2073–2078.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, Y. B., Li, R. D., & Song, X. F. (2005). Analysis of coupling degrees of urbanization ecological environment in China. Jounal of Natural Resource, 20(01), 105–112.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, E. J., Zhang, X. P., Zhang, J. J., Lei, Y. N., & Xie, M. L. (2013). Variation of annual streamflow and the effect of human activity in the Kuye river during 1956 to 2005. Journal of Natural Resources, 28(07), 1159–1168.

    Google Scholar 

  • LPSDP. (2008). Water management. Leading practice sustainable development program (LPSDP) for the mining industry (p. 112). Canberra: Australian Government.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luo, J. D. (2005). Social network analysis. Beijing: Social Sciences Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lv, X., Wang, S. M., Yang, Z. Y., Bian, H. Y., & Liu, Y. (2014). Influence of coal mining on water resources: A case study in Kuye river basin. Coal Geology & Exploration, 42(02), 54–57, 61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma, H., Cao, X., & Yu, L. X. (2019). Synergy degree of innovation network of emerging technology industry in central China. Economic Geography, 39(9), 164–173.

    Google Scholar 

  • Northey, S. A., Mudd, G. M., Elina, S., Helena, W.-J., & Haque, N. (2016). Water footprinting and mining: Where are the limitations and opportunities? Journal of Cleaner Production, 135, 1098–1116.

    Google Scholar 

  • Olias, M., Canovas, C. R., Basallote, M. D., Macias, F., Perez-Lopez, R., Gonzalez, R. M., et al. (2019). Causes and impacts of a mine water spill from an acidic pit lake (Iberian Pyrite Belt). Environmental Pollution, 250, 127–136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ouyang, H., & Yang, G. (2019). Measurement method of regional synergetic development based on haken model. Statistics & Decision. https://doi.org/10.13546/j.cnki.tjyjc.2019.12.002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pi, Q., Cheng, J. H., Wang, X. L., & Wang, R. (2015). Assessment and measurement of water resources carrying capacity in key mining economic zone. Resource Development & Market, 31(11), 1338–1342.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ren, J. X. (2008). Development situation and strategy design in coalmining-based cities a case study in Shuozhou city. Resources Science, 30(02), 169–176.

    Google Scholar 

  • Romer, R. (2014). Can integrated water resource management be of value to business, specifically the oil and gas sector? International Journal of Water Resources Development, 30(3), 423–432.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saharan, M. R., Gupta, K. K., Jamal, A., & Sheoran, A. S. (1995). Management of acidic effluents from tailing dams in metalliferous mines. Mine Water and the Environment, 14(7), 85–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schoenberger, E. (2016). Environmentally sustainable mining: The case of tailings storage facilities. Resources Policy, 49, 119–128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott, J. (2013). Social network analysis: A handbook. London: Sage Publication.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shang, Y. Z., Hei, P. F., Lu, S. B., Shang, L., Li, X. F., Wei, Y. P., et al. (2018). China’s energy-water nexus: Assessing water conservation synergies of the total coal consumption cap strategy until 2050. Applied Energy, 210, 643–660.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skierszkan, E. K., Mayer, K. U., Weis, D., & Beckie, R. D. (2016). Molybdenum and zinc stable isotope variation in mining waste rock drainage and waste rock at the Antamina mine, Peru. Science of the Total Environment, 550, 103–113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sophie, T., Nicolas, M., & Tehtena, M. T. (2018). A comparative overview of legal frameworks governing water use and waste water discharge in the mining sector. Resources Policy, 55, 143–151.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tomiyama, S., Igarashi, T., Tabelin, C. B., Tangviroon, P., & Ii, H. (2019). Acid mine drainage sources and hydrogeochemistry at the Yatani mine, Yamagata, Japan: A geochemical and isotopic study. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 225, 103502.

    Google Scholar 

  • TSM. (2016). Towards sustainable mining (TSM). Ottawa: The Mining Association of Canada.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, C., Harbottle, D., Liu, Q. X., & Xu, Z. H. (2014). Current state of fine mineral tailings treatment: A critical review on theory and practice. Minerals Engineering, 58, 113–131.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, S. R., Meng, W., Jin, X. C., Zheng, B. H., Zhang, L., & Xi, H. Y. (2015). Ecological security problems of the major key lakes in China. Environmental Earth Sciences, 74(5), 3825–3837.

    Google Scholar 

  • Werner, T. T., Bebbington, A., & Gregory, G. (2019). Assessing impacts of mining: Recent contributions from GIS and remote sensing. The Extractive Industries and Society, 6(3), 993–1012.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wessman, H., Salmi, O., Kohl, J., Kinnunen, P., Saarivuori, E., & Mroueh, U.-M. (2014). Water and society: Mutual challenges for eco-efficient and socially acceptable mining in Finland. Journal of Cleaner Production, 84, 289–298.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu, X. H., & Cao, J. (2012). Risk evaluation for complex ecological environment of large-scale hydropower engineering. Systems Engineering-Theory & Practice, 32(10), 2237–2246.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang, Y. G., Guo, T. T., & Jiao, W. T. (2018). Destruction processes of mining on water environment in the mining area combining isotopic and hydrochemical tracer. Environmental Pollution, 237, 356–365.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yu, Y. D., Chen, D. J., Zhu, B., & Hu, S. Y. (2013). Eco-efficiency trends in China, 1978–2010: Decoupling environmental pressure from economic growth. Ecological Indicators, 24, 177–184.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yu, F., Guo, X. M., & Zhang, Q. (2004). Wastewater pollution situation and countermeasures for Chinese mineral industry. Resources Science, 26(02), 46–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yu, J., Zhang, Z. J., & Zhou, Y. F. (2008). The sustainability of China’s major mining cities. Resources Policy, 33(1), 12–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeng, L. J., Wang, B. C., Fan, L., & Wu, J. G. (2016). Analyzing sustainability of Chinese mining cities using an association rule mining approach. Resources Policy, 49, 394–404.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeng, G., Wang, F. L., Teng, T. W., & Hu, D. (2018). Report on index of urban coordinated development capability in the Yangze river economic belt. Shanghai: China Social Sciences Publishing House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, C., & Anadon, L. D. (2013). Life cycle water use of energy production and its environmental impacts in China. Environmental Science and Technology, 47(24), 14459–14467.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, S., Wang, H., He, X. W., Guo, S. Q., Xia, Y., Zhou, Y. X., et al. (2019). Research progress, problems and prospects of mine water treatment technology and resource utilization in China. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology. https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2019.1629798.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, Q., Guo, F., Zhang, Y., Ma, S., Jia, X., & Meng, W. (2017). How sulfate-rich mine drainage affected aquatic ecosystem degradation in northeastern China, and potential ecological risk. Science of the Total Environment, 609, 1093–1102.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the anonymous referees for their helpful comments and suggestions on the earlier draft of our paper. The research work was financially supported by the National Social Science Foundation of China (17BJY063); Project supported by the Major Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (71991482).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Economics and Management, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China

    Han Sun, Hai Wang & Xueyuan Hu

  2. Key Laboratory of Strategic Research in the Ministry of Natural Resources, Wuhan, 430074, China

    Han Sun

Authors
  1. Han Sun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hai Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Xueyuan Hu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Han Sun.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sun, H., Wang, H. & Hu, X. Synergetic Network Evolution of Mineral Exploitation on the Water Environment in the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Nat Resour Res 29, 3581–3598 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11053-020-09666-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11053-020-09666-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation