Geomorphic Design and Modeling for Mine Reclamation: A Case Study of the Sangan Iron Ore Mine

جغرافیا و مخاطرات محیطی

Article 15, Volume 14, Issue 1 - Serial Number 53, March 2025, Pages 325-341   

Document Type: Research Article

DOI: 10.22067/geoeh.2025.91975.1545

Authors

Mahvash Naddaf¹; Seyed Reza Hosseinzadeh^{* 2}; Jose Francisco Martin Duque³; Mahnaz Jahadi Toroghi⁴

¹PhD in Geomorphology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

²Professor in Geomorphology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.

³Associate Professor in Geomorphology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain

⁴Assistant professor in Geomorphology, Payame Noor University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

Mining is a fundamental industrial activity that plays a crucial role in global economic development by supplying essential raw materials for various sectors, including construction, manufacturing, and energy production. However, despite its economic benefits, mining operations inevitably result in severe environmental degradation, disrupting natural ecosystems, altering hydrological cycles, and contributing to landscape instability. Large-scale excavation, removal of overburden, and waste disposal significantly modify topography, soil structure, and water resources, often leaving behind degraded and unproductive land. The extensive environmental footprint of mining necessitates the development and implementation of effective reclamation strategies to restore the ecological and geomorphological integrity of post-mining landscapes. This study demonstrates that geomorphic reclamation, particularly through the GeoFluv method, represents a scientifically robust and ecologically viable approach to post-mining landscape restoration. By leveraging principles of natural geomorphology and hydrology, this technique offers significant improvements in landform stability, erosion control, and ecological recovery compared to traditional methods. The findings contribute to the growing body of knowledge on sustainable mining reclamation, emphasizing the necessity of adopting science-based, landscape-oriented approaches in post-mining land management.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Mining is one of the most significant human activities, exerting profound impacts on geomorphological and environmental systems. Large-scale mining operations, in particular, result in substantial alterations to topography, increased slope instability, accelerated soil erosion, a reduction in vegetation cover, and disruptions to hydrological cycles. These changes often disturb the geomorphic and ecological equilibrium of the environment, making the restoration of mined areas essential for re-establishing environmental stability and mitigating adverse effects. In recent years, innovative geomorphic restoration technologies, based on the principles of applied geomorphology and landscape design, have emerged as effective approaches for rehabilitating degraded mining lands. These methods involve simulating natural topography, designing drainage systems that mimic pristine environments, and implementing geomorphic processes to achieve a stable, dynamic equilibrium in the region. Geomorphic restoration techniques not only reduce erosion and enhance slope stability but also facilitate the recovery of natural ecosystems, improve soil permeability, and restore the hydrological functionality of the land. The Sangan Iron Ore Mine, one of the largest mining sites in Iran and the Middle East, exemplifies a mining area that has undergone extensive geomorphological changes due to large-scale extraction activities. With its mountainous topography, semi-arid climate, and distinct geological characteristics, this mine presents various challenges for post-mining restoration. This study examines geomorphic restoration methods applied to the Sangan mine, analyzing their effects on slope stability, erosion control, surface runoff management, and ecological rehabilitation. The primary objective is to develop a scientific and practical approach to mining land restoration, emphasizing geomorphological principles to establish efficient and sustainable reclamation models for similar mining regions.
Material and Methods
The Sangan iron ore mines are considered one of the largest mining areas in Iran and the richest ore deposits in the Middle East, located in a rectangular area with a length of 22 kilometers and a width of 10 kilometers. The materials used in this study include remote sensing tools such as satellite imagery, geological maps, and a 30-meter resolution Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) digital elevation model, and GIS software, in addition to field surveys and GeoFluv software. GeoFluv was employed to design stable and integrated landforms. Inspired by natural fluvial and slope processes, this software facilitates the design of functional drainage networks that align with pre-mining natural hydrological patterns. The primary objective of these designs is to create topographies that not only resemble natural landforms aesthetically but also function effectively in terms of hydrological stability and efficiency.
Results and Discussion
In this study, design input parameters, including local base-level elevation, drainage density, channel lengths, and slopes, were collected from stable reference areas near the mine site. These data were integrated into GeoFluv to generate landforms tailored to the region’s topographic and hydrological conditions. The results indicated that the designs developed using this approach led to landforms with high erosion resistance and improved hydrological performance. These landforms not only blend aesthetically and ecologically with the surrounding undisturbed landscapes but also enhance land productivity and long-term stability.
Conclusion
The findings of this paper demonstrate that the geomorphic reclamation approach can serve as an effective and sustainable solution for mine restoration, particularly for open-pit mines, in Iran and beyond. This method not only mitigates the environmental impacts of mining but also contributes to the ecological and economic improvement of the region by creating stable and naturally integrated topographies. This research represents a significant step toward advancing scientific and innovative methods for mine reclamation and the reclamation of degraded lands.
 

Keywords

Geomorphic Reclamation; Sangan Iron Ore Mine; GeoFluv; Landform Design; Ecological Restoration

References

Bloom, A. L. (1978). Geomorphology, a systematic analysis of late Cenozoic landforms. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. https://doi.org/10.1029/98EO00163

Bradshaw, A. (1997). Restoration of mined lands—using natural processes. Ecological Engineering, 8(4), 255-269. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0925-8574(97)00022-0

Bugosh, N., & Epp, E. (2019). Evaluating sediment production from native and fluvial geomorphic-reclamation watersheds at La Plata Mine. Catena, 174, 383-398. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2018.10.048

Duque, J. M., Zapico, I., Oyarzun, R., García, J. L., & Cubas, P. (2015). A descriptive and quantitative approach regarding erosion and development of landforms on abandoned mine tailings: New insights and environmental implications from SE Spain. Geomorphology, 239, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2015.02.035

Haigh, M. J. )1978(. The Evolution of Slopes on Artificial Landforms, Blaenavon, UK. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

IAG. (2014). Web site of the International Association of Geomorphologists, IAG. http://www.geomorph.org/Accessed April 19, 2014.

Kelder, I., Waygood, C. G., & Willis, T. (2016). Integrating the use of natural analogues and erosion modelling in landform design for closure. In Mine Closure 2016: Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Mine Closure . Australian Centre for Geomechanics. https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_rep/1608_04_Kelder

Martín-Moreno, C., Tejedor, M., Martín Duque, J. F., Nicolau, J. M., Bladé, E., Nyssen, S., ... & Gómez, J. M. (2018). Natural drainage basins as fundamental units for mine closure planning: Aurora and Pastor I quarries. In Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Planning for Closure of Mining Operations, Gecamin, Santiago , 1-8. https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_rep/1915_12_Duque

McIntyre, N., Bulovic, N., Cane, I., & McKenna, P. (2016). A multi-disciplinary approach to understanding the impacts of mines on traditional uses of water in Northern Mongolia. Science of the Total Environment, 557, 404-414. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.03.092

Mossa, J., & James, L. A. (2013). Impacts of mining on geomorphic systems. In Shroder, J. F. (Ed.), Treatise on Geomorphology 13. Academic Press, San Diego, pp. 74–95. DOI:10.1016/B978-0-12-374739-6.00344-4

Nicolau, J. M. (2003). Trends in relief design and construction in opencast mining reclamation. Land Degradation & Development, 14(2), 215-226. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.548

Sawatsky, L., & Beersing, A. (2014). Configuring mine disturbed landforms for long-term sustainability. Proceedings of Mine Closure Solutions, 26-30. https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/852_5

Tarolli, P., & Sofia, G. (2016). Human topographic signatures and derived geomorphic processes across landscapes. Geomorphology, 255, 140-161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2015.12.007

Toy, T. J., & Chuse, W. R. (2005). Topographic reconstruction: a geomorphic approach. Ecological Engineering, 24(1-2), 29-35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2004.12.014

Whisenant, S. G. (2005). First steps in erosion control. In Mansourian, S., Vallauri, D., Dudley, N. (Eds.), Forest Restoration in Landscapes: Beyond Planting Trees. Springer (in cooperation with WWF), New York, 350–355. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/0-387-29112-1

Williams, G. P. (1986). River meanders and channel size. Journal of Hydrology, 88(1-2), 147-164. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-1694(86)90202-7

Zapico, I., Laronne, J. B., Martín‐Moreno, C., Martín‐Duque, J. F., Ortega, A., & Sánchez‐Castillo, L. (2017). Baseline to evaluate off‐site suspended sediment‐related mining effects in the Alto Tajo Natural Park, Spain. Land Degradation & Development, 28(1), 232-242. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-1694(86)90202-7

Zapico, I., Molina, A., Laronne, J. B., Castillo, L. S., & Duque, J. F. M. (2020). Stabilization by geomorphic reclamation of a rotational landslide in an abandoned mine next to the Alto Tajo Natural Park. Engineering Geology, 264, 105321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2019.105321