Transforming open mining pits into fish farms: Moving towards sustainability

The legacy of mining activities has typically been land 'returned to wildlife', or, at some sites, degraded to such an extent that it is unsuitable for any alternate use. Progress towards sustainability is made when value is added in terms of the ecological, social and economic well-being of the community. In keeping with the principles of sustainable development, the innovative use of flooded open pits and tailings impoundments as commercial, recreational or ornamental fish farms should be considered in some locations, as it could make a significant contribution to the social equity, economic vitality and environmental integrity of mining communities. This article highlights the growing significance of aquaculture and explores the benefits and barriers to transforming flooded pits and impoundments into aquaculture operations. Among other benefits, aquaculture may provide a much-needed source of revenue, employment and, in some cases, food to communities impacted by mine closure. Further, aquaculture in a controlled closed environment may be more acceptable to critics of fish farming who are concerned about fish escapes and viral transmissions to wild populations. Despite the potential benefits, aquaculture in flooded pits and impoundments is not without its complications - it requires a site-specific design approach that must consider issues ranging from metals uptake by fish, to the long-term viability of the aquatic system as fish habitat, to the overall contribution of aquaculture to sustainability. © 2004 United Nations. Published by Blackwell Publishing.

Growth parameters and nutrient content in four multipurpose tree species with potential characteristics for agroforestry systems in a Cerrado region in Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil

In order to evaluate growth characteristics, adaptability, biomass production, nutrient recycling, nutrient distribution and the ability to regenerate degraded land, a trial using four multipurpose tree species (Leucaena leucocephala, Leucaena diversifolia, Acacia melanoxylon and Mimosa scabrella) was undertaken over two years in a distrophic red yellow latosol (oxisol) following a randomized block experimental design with four replications. At the age of two years, A. melanoxylon and L. diversifolia were the tallest species (5.25 and 4.97 m, respectively) and A. melanoxylon and M. scabrella had the largest diameters at 20 cm from tree base. Mimosa scabrella and A. melanoxylon had the highest dry matter production and quantity of nutrients in the above ground biomass. In all species, the highest nutrient contents were found in the leaves, followed by branches and stems. From all species, the highest Nutrient Utilization Efficiency Indexes were obtained for sulphur, phosphorous, and magnesium; L. diversifolia was the most efficient for nitrogen, potassium, calcium, sulphur, and manganese, while A. melanoxylon was the most efficient for phosphorus, magnesium, boron, iron, and zinc. Litter production levels over a three month period were as follows: M. scabrella > A. melanoxylon > L. diversifolia > L. leucocephala. Litter nutrient content was higher in M. scabrella than in the other species.

Studies on thermal-oxidative degradation behaviours of raw natural rubber: PRI and thermogravimetry analysis

Thermal-oxidative degradation behaviours of raw natural rubber (NR) have been investigated by using thermogravimetry analysis in inert and oxidative atmospheres and the plasticity retention index (PRI). The activation energy E a, was calculated using Horowitz-Metzger and Coats-Redfern methods and compared with PRI. The E a values obtained by each method were in good agreement with each other. The June samples are the least stable rubbers among the studied ones, whereas February samples exhibited the highest values of activation energy, therefore in agreement with the PRI behaviour, which indicates that the thermo-oxidative stability of the June samples are the poorest during the thermo-oxidative degradation reaction. Natural rubber is a product of biological origin, and thus these variations in the values of thermal behaviour and PRI might be related to the genetic differences and alterations of climatic conditions that act directly on the synthesis of non-rubber constituents, which are generally reflected in latex and rubber properties. © 2013 Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.

Petrologia aplicada da formação Corumbataí (região de Rio Claro - SP) e produtos cerâmicos

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The fortaleza de minas nickel, copper and platinoids deposit: ore types, tectonics and volcanological aspects

Pós-graduação em Geologia Regional - IGCE

Estudo do desempenho de barreiras de geotêxtil para contenção de sedimentos carreados pelo escoamento superficial

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Civil e Ambiental - FEB

A review of complete albinism in bats with five new cases from Brazil

Complete albinism is a rare phenomenon that occurs in all vertebrate groups. In bats, albinism has been recorded in several species but this information has not previously been reviewed in detail nor has there been an analysis of its importance. In this study, cases of albinism from the literature are checked and new cases are presented. Complete albinism in bats is documented in eight families, 38 species, and at least 64 individuals (47.4% female female and 52.6% males; n = 38). of these, 39 individuals were observed and/or captured in sheltered roosts, such as caves (51.3%), mines and galleries (20.5%), buildings (17.9%), and hollow-trees and bird boxes (7.7%). Only one albino bat (2.6%) was captured in an external roost (foliage). This individual is the fruit bat, Artibeus planirostris, which is recorded here for the first time. Information on four additional cases of albino individuals of the common vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus, is also presented. It is suggested that sheltered roosts favour survival of albino bars, offering protection against sunlight, water loss, and visually hunting predators.

Atmospheric pollution effects on childhood health: an environmental study in the Paraíba Valley

OBJETIVOS: estimar as correlações entre os níveis de poluentes atmosféricos e o número de internações por doença respiratória em crianças, em hospital universitário. MÉTODOS: trata-se de um estudo ecológico de série temporal. Os dados sobre poluentes atmosféricos foram obtidos junto à CETESB e os dados sobre internação hospitalar, junto ao SAME do Hospital Universitário de Taubaté, Brasil. O estudo se refere a dados e internação do ano de 2001. Para estudar as correlações dos valores dos poluentes entre si e entre as internações, utilizou-se da técnica de correlação de Pearson. Foram estimados os riscos relativos para internação por doença respiratória comparando os quartis dos agentes poluentes com os valores do primeiro quartil. A significância estatística adotada foi alfa = 5%. RESULTADOS: foram internadas 158 crianças com doença respiratória no ano de 2001 (30% do total de internações no ano). Os poluentes estiveram correlacionados entre si e houve correlação positiva, entre o número de internação e dióxido de enxofre e material particulado; houve aumento de 25% no risco de internação comparando o quarto quartil e o primeiro quartil. CONCLUSÕES: houve correlação positiva entre número de internações por doenças respiratórias e poluentes atmosféricos.

Alterações hidrogeomorfológicas devido à dinâmica de uso da terra na Bacia Hidrográfica do Ribeirão Santa Gertrudes (SP)

Agricultural and mining activities are directly related to changes in natural landscapes. From the perspective of anthropogenic geomorphology supported by general systems theory, this research has developed, in order to identify and analyze changes in the land use, mainly from agriculture and the exploitation of clay, and its implications in the hydro-geomorphological characteristics in the Santa Gertrudes Stream watershed (SP). This area is within the context of the Ceramic Pole Santa Gertrudes (SP), which besides its importance as a supplier of raw material, is characterized as the largest center of international reference in ceramic tiles on the American continent. For this purpose, we made land use and geomorphology maps of two scenarios, corresponding to the years 1962 and 2006, which allowed the identification of changes caused by human activities on the landforms of the area, such as the increase in area of parcels intended for mining activity, which went from 3.1% to occupy 19% of the catchment area of the respective period and that, among other changes, gave rise to new forms of relief as, for example, in levels of pit mining abrupt and smooth. The results indicate that the main features of representative of human changes in relief are represented for opening of large clay mining pits and agricultural activities, which intensified the denudation and sedimentation processes in the Santa Gertrudes Stream watershed.

Revisitação de Bromeliaceae na APA Santuário ecológico da Pedra Branca Caldas, MG

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Avaliação da chuva e banco de sementes em áreas de restinga, morfoecologia e potencial biótico de espécies ocorrentes nestes locais

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Garimpo do Araras/RO depois do Eldorado

Pós-graduação em Geociências e Meio Ambiente - IGCE

Geologia da formação Rio Claro na Folha Rio Claro (SP)

Pós-graduação em Geologia Regional - IGCE

Prospecção e monitoramento informacional no contexto da inteligência competitiva em microempresas do ramo óptico da região de Marília - SP

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Influência dos elementos de liga no encruamento proveniente do processo de aplainamento nos aços hadfield

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)