RAMR2D network scholarship holders
Affiliated CEAs :
- Center d'Excellence Africain-Mines et Environnement Minier (CEA-MEM), Yamoussoukro/Côte d'Ivoire.
- CEA EM EMIG Centre Emergent émergent Environnement minier École des Mines, de l'Industrie et de la Géologie, Niger
Supervision:
AHOUSSI Kouassi Ernest, Université Félix HOUPHOUËT-BOIGNY (UFHB ) Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, akouassiernest@gmail.com
Co-supervision:
YAO Kouakou Alphonse, Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouet Boigny (INPHB), Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire , alphonse.yao@inphb.ci
Other supervisors and contributors:
BARATOUX David, IRD/Géosciences Environnement Toulouse (GET), France, david.baratoux@ird.fr
Scientific publications:
Abass Saley, A., Baratoux, D., Baratoux, L., Ahoussi, K. E., Yao, K. A., & Kouamé, K. J. (2021). Evolution of the Koma Bangou gold panning site (Niger) from 1984 to 2020 using Landsat imagery. Earth and Space Science, 8, e2021EA001879.https://doi. org/10.1029/2021EA001879 CEA-MEM, CEA-EM LMI MINERWA
ABASS SALEY Abdoulatif
Affiliated CEAs :
- Center d'Excellence Africain-Mines et Environnement Minier (CEA-MEM), Yamoussoukro/Côte d'Ivoire.
- CEA EM EMIG Centre Emergent émergent Environnement minier École des Mines, de l'Industrie et de la Géologie, Niger
Supervision:
AHOUSSI Kouassi Ernest, Université Félix HOUPHOUËT-BOIGNY (UFHB ) Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, akouassiernest@gmail.com
Co-supervision:
YAO Kouakou Alphonse, Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouet Boigny (INPHB), Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire , alphonse.yao@inphb.ci
Other supervisors and contributors:
BARATOUX David, IRD/Géosciences Environnement Toulouse (GET), France, david.baratoux@ird.fr
Scientific publications:
Abass Saley, A., Baratoux, D., Baratoux, L., Ahoussi, K. E., Yao, K. A., & Kouamé, K. J. (2021). Evolution of the Koma Bangou gold panning site (Niger) from 1984 to 2020 using Landsat imagery. Earth and Space Science, 8, e2021EA001879.https://doi. org/10.1029/2021EA001879 CEA-MEM, CEA-EM LMI MINERWA
Start date : 01/11/2020
Expected date of thesis defense: May-June 2024
ORCID profile : https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6259-7234
Project title:
Apport des données de télédétection et de géochimie à l'évaluation de l'impact environnemental de l'exploitation minière artisanale de l'or sur le périmètre de Koma Bangou (Liptako, Niger).
Summary of scientific project:
The aim of this study is to set up tools adapted to the current economic context in developing countries, where gold panning is increasingly widespread. These tools, based on fast-acquisition, low-cost data, will make it possible to monitor the evolution of gold panning activities and assess the state of metal pollution on sites. Now that the potential of remote sensing and XRFp geochemistry data to assess the environmental impact of artisanal mining is recognized, the fundamental question that arose was: how can these data be applied to the artisanal gold mining perimeter of Koma Bangou in Niger? The main objective of this work is to assess the environmental impact of artisanal gold mining on the Koma Bangou perimeter, using satellite imagery and low-cost geochemical data.
Summary of results:
Low-cost geochemical and remote sensing data were used to monitor the evolution of mine waste, assess pollution levels and identify pollutant sources. Landsat imagery was used to map the spatial evolution of mining waste from 1984 to 2023. The surface area of gold ore mine waste increased from 9.43 ha in 1984 to 344 ha in 2023. The surface area of cyanidation waste increased from 5.56 ha in 2009 to 161.62 ha in 2023. Pollution indices revealed As, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn pollution generated by ore processing operations on the cyanidation areas, and showed that the perimeter soils are not polluted. Multivariate statistical analyses showed that the elements S, Zn, Hg, Cu and Cr strongly associated with acid waste, and the elements As and Pb strongly associated with cyanidation (leaching) waste, are of anthropogenic origin; the elements Al, Ti, Fe and Mn, associated with perimeter soils, are of geogenic origin (lithology); the association of the elements As, Pb, S, Zn, Hg, Cu and Cr, weakly associated with soils and waste, is of geogenic origin (mineralization).
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Integration of the thesis project into the local, regional and international scientific community :
In the local scientific community, this thesis will be the very first in Mining Environment in Niger concerning the characterization and management of waste from mining operations.
The work resulting from this thesis will support the smooth running of the EMIG Centre's Bachelor's and Master's courses in Mining Environment, as well as higher education and research institutions in this field.
In the regional and international scientific community, the methodologies developed during this thesis will be extrapolated to different sites in West Africa and elsewhere, in collaboration with researchers working in these areas. This work will provide more information and scientific output for use by the research community.
Prospects for the end of the thesis :
The thesis has been completed. The document is being submitted for examination.
Prospects after completion of thesis:
We plan to set up a platform for monitoring artisanal gold panning activity using satellite images. The combination of Landsat and Sentinel 2 images, for example, will enable us to regularly monitor the evolution of artisanal gold panning activities in a given area, to within a few days. Mining sites can be easily detected on satellite imagery, without the need for mining or environmental officers to go into the field. As a result, governments can regularly and effectively monitor all mining activities in the field, with few tools and few human or financial resources.