EASC 464    3 Credit Hours

Environmental and Social Issues in Mining and Oil and Gas

This information is for second semester 2017/2018 academic year

Teacher responsible

Prof. Thomas Mba Akabzaa

Availability

This course is available open to all visiting students but only as a second semester course.

Course Content

This course will introduce students to the minerals and oil and gas development processes; overview of mining and the waste  generated by mining activities, including minerals processing, environmental impacts of mining with special treatment of acid mine drainage and its impact; mining environmental management and policy, institutional and legislative frameworks for the regulation and management of mineral extraction, including the use of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESCIA) as  an environmental management tool in mining. In oil and gas, the gas will provide an overview of oil and gas exploration, development and exploitation and the environmental problems it engenders; a discussion of specific classic environmental issues in the oil and gas sector, policy, institutional and legislative frameworks for management environmental impacts of oil and gas extraction, including use of ESCIA as tool for minimizing the impacts of oil and gas extraction.

Teaching

The format will consist of lectures, demonstrations, and discussions. Student participation is vital to the success of the course and may contribute to grades.

Formative Coursework

There will be Quizzes, Interim Assessment, Presentations and End of Semester Examination. Success in this course depends on reading widely on the topics to be treated, and is highly recommended.

Indicative reading

1.       Anthony Evans, Ed (1995), Introduction to Mineral Exploration, Oxford, England Blackwell Science.

2.       Anthony Evans (1997), An Introduction to Economic Geology and Its Environmental Impact, Victoria, Australia, Blackwell Science Ltd.

3.       ACQUAH, P. C., 1996.  Natural Resources Management and Sustainable Development: The Case for Gold.  In: Mining and Environment Research Network (MERN) Bulletin  No.9

4.       AKABZAA T.M., 2004 Evaluation of metal leaching and Acid Rock Drainage Risks in the Nsuta-Tarkwa-Damang-Bogoso-Prestea  Mining Axis, South Western Ghana. Unpublished PhD Thesis, University of Ghana, Legon.

5.       AKABZAA T.M., (2000) Environmental and social impacts of mining in the Wassa west district of the Western region of Ghana. Boom and Dislocation, Third World Network Publication, 90p

6.       T.M. AKABZAA, J.S. SEYIRE, K. AFRIYIE 2007. The Glittering Façade: Environmental and Health Impacts of Mining in the Obuasi Area. ISBN 9988-602-25-1. THIRD WORLD NETWORK, Accra, Ghana. 124pp.

7.       APHA, AWWA, WEF, 1998. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater.  20^th Edition, Washington, D.C., New York.

8.       BROCK C. ROBINSON, ed. 2010. Acid Mine Drainage and Related Problems. Nova Science Publishers, Inc. New York

9.       CANADIAN MINE ENVIRONMENT NEUTRAL DRAINAGE (MEND), 2001. MEND Manual Volume 2, Sampling and Analysis. MEND 5.4.2b. 111pp.

10.   CANADIAN MINE ENVIRONMENT NEUTRAL DRAINAGE (MEND), 2001. MEND Manual Volume 5. Treatment, MEND 5.4.2b. 100pp

11.   CLARIDGE, P.G.and DOWNING, B.W., 1993. Environmental  geology and geochemistry at the Windy Craggy massive sulphide deposit, northwestern British Columbia CIM bulletin 86 (966)

12.   DURKIN, T.V., AND HERRMANN, J.G., 1994. Managing Environmental Problems at Inactive and Abandoned Metals Mine Sites. EPA Seminar Publication no. EPA/625/R-95/007

13.   EVANGELOU, V.P., 1995. Pyrite oxidation and its control: Solution chemistry, Surface Chemistry, Acid Mine Drainage (AMD), Molecular Oxidation Mechanisms, Microbial Role, Kinetics, Control, Amelioration and Limitations, Microencapsulation.. CRS Press Inc. 293p

14.   FICKLIN, W.H, and MOSIER, E.L., 1999. Field methods for sampling and analysis of environmental samples for unstable and selected stable constituents. In The Environmental; Geochemistry of Mineral depsoits. Part A: Processes, Techniques and Health Issues. Plumlee S.G and Logsdon, J.M (eds) Reviews in Economic Geology Volume 6A.

15.   KING, T. V. V., (Ed.) 1995.  Environment Considerations of Active and Abandoned Mine Lands.  Lessons from Summitville, Colorado.  US Geological Survey Bulletin 2220.  United States Government Printing Office

16.   NORDSTROM D.K., and ALPERS, C.N., 1999. geochemistry of acid Mine Waters. In The Environmental; geochemistryof Mineral depsoits. Part A: Processes, Techniques and Health Issues. Plumlee S.G and Logsdon, J.M (eds) Reviews in Economic Geology Volume 6A.  Pp 133-140.

17.   NRIAGU, J. O., (Ed.) 1978.  Sulfur in the Environment.  John Wiley and Sons.pp314-325

SEYIRE J.S.,(2001). The Environmental Impact of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) from the abandoned Konongo Mine. Unpublished Masters Thesis, University of Ghana, Legon.

Assessment and Grading

Grading Scale: