Water footprint in gold extraction: A case-study in Suárez, Cauca, Colombia
This research deepens the analysis of the mineral water footprint, especially that of gold, in regions that are understudied and where mining has been an intensified extractive activity since the colonial era, as is the case in the northern part of department of Cauca in Colombia. Thus, the purpose...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Heliyon |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844021020521 |
| _version_ | 1818676892634447872 |
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| author | Christian E. Alvarez-Pugliese Fiderman Machuca-Martínez Mario Pérez-Rincón |
| author_facet | Christian E. Alvarez-Pugliese Fiderman Machuca-Martínez Mario Pérez-Rincón |
| author_sort | Christian E. Alvarez-Pugliese |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This research deepens the analysis of the mineral water footprint, especially that of gold, in regions that are understudied and where mining has been an intensified extractive activity since the colonial era, as is the case in the northern part of department of Cauca in Colombia. Thus, the purpose was to estimate the water footprint indicators in gold mining in Suárez (Cauca, Colombia), to quantify the impacts generated by the non-returned water in the production process and the levels of pollutants in the wastewater, aimed to strength public policies, control strategies and mitigation that generates reductions in the impacts from mining activities on the environment. The blue water footprint was estimated in 79.91 m3 per kg of gold extracted and the gray water footprint was found to be in the range of 272,125.39 to 404,825.11 m3 per kg of gold extracted. The water footprint values obtained were compared with other mines with similar operations. These results generate a baseline for decision making, providing elements for environmental strategic planning, regulations and showing the great environmental pressure that gold activity exerts on water resources and the territories. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T08:50:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-854ad76644054273adc776e8997afbdf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T08:50:42Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj.art-854ad76644054273adc776e8997afbdf2022-12-21T21:56:05ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402021-09-0179e07949Water footprint in gold extraction: A case-study in Suárez, Cauca, ColombiaChristian E. Alvarez-Pugliese0Fiderman Machuca-Martínez1Mario Pérez-Rincón2Escuela de Ingeniería Química, Universidad del Valle, Cali, ColombiaEscuela de Ingeniería Química, Universidad del Valle, Cali, ColombiaInstituto Cinara, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia; Corresponding author.This research deepens the analysis of the mineral water footprint, especially that of gold, in regions that are understudied and where mining has been an intensified extractive activity since the colonial era, as is the case in the northern part of department of Cauca in Colombia. Thus, the purpose was to estimate the water footprint indicators in gold mining in Suárez (Cauca, Colombia), to quantify the impacts generated by the non-returned water in the production process and the levels of pollutants in the wastewater, aimed to strength public policies, control strategies and mitigation that generates reductions in the impacts from mining activities on the environment. The blue water footprint was estimated in 79.91 m3 per kg of gold extracted and the gray water footprint was found to be in the range of 272,125.39 to 404,825.11 m3 per kg of gold extracted. The water footprint values obtained were compared with other mines with similar operations. These results generate a baseline for decision making, providing elements for environmental strategic planning, regulations and showing the great environmental pressure that gold activity exerts on water resources and the territories.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844021020521CyanideMercuryGold MiningWater useWater footprint |
| spellingShingle | Christian E. Alvarez-Pugliese Fiderman Machuca-Martínez Mario Pérez-Rincón Water footprint in gold extraction: A case-study in Suárez, Cauca, Colombia Heliyon Cyanide Mercury Gold Mining Water use Water footprint |
| title | Water footprint in gold extraction: A case-study in Suárez, Cauca, Colombia |
| title_full | Water footprint in gold extraction: A case-study in Suárez, Cauca, Colombia |
| title_fullStr | Water footprint in gold extraction: A case-study in Suárez, Cauca, Colombia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Water footprint in gold extraction: A case-study in Suárez, Cauca, Colombia |
| title_short | Water footprint in gold extraction: A case-study in Suárez, Cauca, Colombia |
| title_sort | water footprint in gold extraction a case study in suarez cauca colombia |
| topic | Cyanide Mercury Gold Mining Water use Water footprint |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844021020521 |
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