{"id":{"repo_id":"nwu-za","oai_identifier":"oai:repository.nwu.ac.za:10394/21110"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/nwu-za/oai:repository.nwu.ac.za:10394/21110","repository":{"repo_id":"nwu-za","name":"North-West University (South Africa)","base_url":"https://repository.nwu.ac.za/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"The selection process of analogue parameters and criteria for rehabilitation design at Sishen mine","abstract":"According to the South African Mineral Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002, the holder of a mining right must, as far as is reasonably practicable, rehabilitate the environment affected by mining operations to its natural or predetermined state or to a land use that conforms to the accepted principle of sustainable development. Sishen Iron Ore Mine (SIOM) has been operating as an open cast mine since 1954 with rehabilitation trials conducted since 1985. The Mine has approximately 1500 hectares of the waste dump that requires rehabilitation. This study presents a starting point to address the conventional approach and legal requirement critically that a mine site should revert to its original state and test if this is truly a viable option. Furthermore, the process and selection of analogue sites, parameters and criteria are investigated. Using analogue sites is not a new phenomenon in rehabilitation design or assessment. The conundrum addressed in this study is how best to select the analogue sites, parameters and criteria to provide specific targets for an iron ore mine in the semi-arid savannah. The key driver for this research is to move away from the current rule- based biophysical rehabilitation designs and provide site specific targets for SIOM. Upon investigation of 40 key documents across the industry, an initial expectation of the author was that best practice guidelines can be used to select the most appropriate analogue site for SIOM. However, no procedure could be found, but some criteria could be applied. With this in mind, site-specific investigations commenced selecting the most appropriate analogue site for SIOM. SIOM is situated in four vegetation types and surrounded by six distinct habitat types. This study evaluates 30 sites in the vicinity of the mine regarding ecology using landscape function analysis; regarding substrate by comparisons of soil parent material, slope, structure and chemical characteristics; vegetatively by comparing species richness, abundance, structure, composition, cover, dominance, production, persistence and recruitment. Vegetation types are not distinct as a category for selecting analogue sites around SIOM. Habitat types are different classes in the landscape, but compared with waste rock dumps provides little correlation or guidance of which habitat type should be emulated to be most successful in the long term. Ecological functioning indicates that areas around SIOM have above average stability, relatively low infiltration capacity and relatively low nutrient cycling potential. The data does, however, provide categorisation and landscape functioning baseline parameter data for future comparisons. Soil characteristics indicate classification according to a unique habitat type, called shrubland. Shrubland sites are distinct and considered the best analogue sites for SIOM to emulate in its rehabilitation design. 13 Shrubland sites are selected as analogue sites at SIOM. Furthermore, more than 140 parameters were found to be used in industry to compare analogue and rehabilitated areas of which eight parameters are used most frequently. Three different approaches to group parameters are evaluated and ultimately 25 biotic and 15 abiotic parameters are selected for use according to site-specific criteria at SIOM. In conclusion, returning a mined area to pre-mining status is considered unpractical; the selection process for locally significant analogue sites, parameters and criteria is not straightforward. Further studies to compare the chosen analogue sites, parameters and criteria with current rehabilitation at SIOM are proposed.","abstract_html":"According to the South African Mineral Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002, the holder of a mining right must, as far as is reasonably practicable, rehabilitate the environment affected by mining operations to its natural or predetermined state or to a land use that conforms to the accepted principle of sustainable development. Sishen Iron Ore Mine (SIOM) has been operating as an open cast mine since 1954 with rehabilitation trials conducted since 1985. The Mine has approximately 1500 hectares of the waste dump that requires rehabilitation. This study presents a starting point to address the conventional approach and legal requirement critically that a mine site should revert to its original state and test if this is truly a viable option. Furthermore, the process and selection of analogue sites, parameters and criteria are investigated. Using analogue sites is not a new phenomenon in rehabilitation design or assessment. The conundrum addressed in this study is how best to select the analogue sites, parameters and criteria to provide specific targets for an iron ore mine in the semi-arid savannah. The key driver for this research is to move away from the current rule- based biophysical rehabilitation designs and provide site specific targets for SIOM. Upon investigation of 40 key documents across the industry, an initial expectation of the author was that best practice guidelines can be used to select the most appropriate analogue site for SIOM. However, no procedure could be found, but some criteria could be applied. With this in mind, site-specific investigations commenced selecting the most appropriate analogue site for SIOM. SIOM is situated in four vegetation types and surrounded by six distinct habitat types. This study evaluates 30 sites in the vicinity of the mine regarding ecology using landscape function analysis; regarding substrate by comparisons of soil parent material, slope, structure and chemical characteristics; vegetatively by comparing species richness, abundance, structure, composition, cover, dominance, production, persistence and recruitment. Vegetation types are not distinct as a category for selecting analogue sites around SIOM. Habitat types are different classes in the landscape, but compared with waste rock dumps provides little correlation or guidance of which habitat type should be emulated to be most successful in the long term. Ecological functioning indicates that areas around SIOM have above average stability, relatively low infiltration capacity and relatively low nutrient cycling potential. The data does, however, provide categorisation and landscape functioning baseline parameter data for future comparisons. Soil characteristics indicate classification according to a unique habitat type, called shrubland. Shrubland sites are distinct and considered the best analogue sites for SIOM to emulate in its rehabilitation design. 13 Shrubland sites are selected as analogue sites at SIOM. Furthermore, more than 140 parameters were found to be used in industry to compare analogue and rehabilitated areas of which eight parameters are used most frequently. Three different approaches to group parameters are evaluated and ultimately 25 biotic and 15 abiotic parameters are selected for use according to site-specific criteria at SIOM. In conclusion, returning a mined area to pre-mining status is considered unpractical; the selection process for locally significant analogue sites, parameters and criteria is not straightforward. Further studies to compare the chosen analogue sites, parameters and criteria with current rehabilitation at SIOM are proposed.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Neethling, Chrizette Deona"],"institution":"North-West University (South Africa)","degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Van Deventer, P.W.","Bezuidenhout, J.J."],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2016,"date_issued":"2016","date_published":"2016","updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:33:47Z","subjects":["Rehabilitation","Analogue","Parameters","Criteria","Vegetation","Soil","Landscape function","Analytic hierarchy process"],"languages":["en"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/10394/21110","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Van Deventer, P.W.","Bezuidenhout, J.J."]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Neethling, Chrizette Deona"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2017-04-05T13:31:03Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2017-04-05T13:31:03Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2016"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["North-West University (South Africa)"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Rehabilitation","Analogue","Parameters","Criteria","Vegetation","Soil","Landscape function","Analytic hierarchy process"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["http://hdl.handle.net/10394/21110"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["MSc (Environmental Sciences), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2016"]},{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["According to the South African Mineral Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002, the holder of a mining right must, as far as is reasonably practicable, rehabilitate the environment affected by mining operations to its natural or predetermined state or to a land use that conforms to the accepted principle of sustainable development. Sishen Iron Ore Mine (SIOM) has been operating as an open cast mine since 1954 with rehabilitation trials conducted since 1985. The Mine has approximately 1500 hectares of the waste dump that requires rehabilitation. This study presents a starting point to address the conventional approach and legal requirement critically that a mine site should revert to its original state and test if this is truly a viable option. Furthermore, the process and selection of analogue sites, parameters and criteria are investigated. Using analogue sites is not a new phenomenon in rehabilitation design or assessment. The conundrum addressed in this study is how best to select the analogue sites, parameters and criteria to provide specific targets for an iron ore mine in the semi-arid savannah. The key driver for this research is to move away from the current rule- based biophysical rehabilitation designs and provide site specific targets for SIOM. Upon investigation of 40 key documents across the industry, an initial expectation of the author was that best practice guidelines can be used to select the most appropriate analogue site for SIOM. However, no procedure could be found, but some criteria could be applied. With this in mind, site-specific investigations commenced selecting the most appropriate analogue site for SIOM. SIOM is situated in four vegetation types and surrounded by six distinct habitat types. This study evaluates 30 sites in the vicinity of the mine regarding ecology using landscape function analysis; regarding substrate by comparisons of soil parent material, slope, structure and chemical characteristics; vegetatively by comparing species richness, abundance, structure, composition, cover, dominance, production, persistence and recruitment. Vegetation types are not distinct as a category for selecting analogue sites around SIOM. Habitat types are different classes in the landscape, but compared with waste rock dumps provides little correlation or guidance of which habitat type should be emulated to be most successful in the long term. Ecological functioning indicates that areas around SIOM have above average stability, relatively low infiltration capacity and relatively low nutrient cycling potential. The data does, however, provide categorisation and landscape functioning baseline parameter data for future comparisons. Soil characteristics indicate classification according to a unique habitat type, called shrubland. Shrubland sites are distinct and considered the best analogue sites for SIOM to emulate in its rehabilitation design. 13 Shrubland sites are selected as analogue sites at SIOM. Furthermore, more than 140 parameters were found to be used in industry to compare analogue and rehabilitated areas of which eight parameters are used most frequently. Three different approaches to group parameters are evaluated and ultimately 25 biotic and 15 abiotic parameters are selected for use according to site-specific criteria at SIOM. In conclusion, returning a mined area to pre-mining status is considered unpractical; the selection process for locally significant analogue sites, parameters and criteria is not straightforward. Further studies to compare the chosen analogue sites, parameters and criteria with current rehabilitation at SIOM are proposed."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The selection process of analogue parameters and criteria for rehabilitation design at Sishen mine"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Van Deventer, P.W.","Bezuidenhout, J.J."],"dc:creator":["Neethling, Chrizette Deona"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2017-04-05T13:31:03Z"],"dc:date.available":["2017-04-05T13:31:03Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2016"],"dc:description":["MSc (Environmental Sciences), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2016"],"dc:description.abstract":["According to the South African Mineral Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002, the holder of a mining right must, as far as is reasonably practicable, rehabilitate the environment affected by mining operations to its natural or predetermined state or to a land use that conforms to the accepted principle of sustainable development. Sishen Iron Ore Mine (SIOM) has been operating as an open cast mine since 1954 with rehabilitation trials conducted since 1985. The Mine has approximately 1500 hectares of the waste dump that requires rehabilitation. This study presents a starting point to address the conventional approach and legal requirement critically that a mine site should revert to its original state and test if this is truly a viable option. Furthermore, the process and selection of analogue sites, parameters and criteria are investigated. Using analogue sites is not a new phenomenon in rehabilitation design or assessment. The conundrum addressed in this study is how best to select the analogue sites, parameters and criteria to provide specific targets for an iron ore mine in the semi-arid savannah. The key driver for this research is to move away from the current rule- based biophysical rehabilitation designs and provide site specific targets for SIOM. Upon investigation of 40 key documents across the industry, an initial expectation of the author was that best practice guidelines can be used to select the most appropriate analogue site for SIOM. However, no procedure could be found, but some criteria could be applied. With this in mind, site-specific investigations commenced selecting the most appropriate analogue site for SIOM. SIOM is situated in four vegetation types and surrounded by six distinct habitat types. This study evaluates 30 sites in the vicinity of the mine regarding ecology using landscape function analysis; regarding substrate by comparisons of soil parent material, slope, structure and chemical characteristics; vegetatively by comparing species richness, abundance, structure, composition, cover, dominance, production, persistence and recruitment. Vegetation types are not distinct as a category for selecting analogue sites around SIOM. Habitat types are different classes in the landscape, but compared with waste rock dumps provides little correlation or guidance of which habitat type should be emulated to be most successful in the long term. Ecological functioning indicates that areas around SIOM have above average stability, relatively low infiltration capacity and relatively low nutrient cycling potential. The data does, however, provide categorisation and landscape functioning baseline parameter data for future comparisons. Soil characteristics indicate classification according to a unique habitat type, called shrubland. Shrubland sites are distinct and considered the best analogue sites for SIOM to emulate in its rehabilitation design. 13 Shrubland sites are selected as analogue sites at SIOM. Furthermore, more than 140 parameters were found to be used in industry to compare analogue and rehabilitated areas of which eight parameters are used most frequently. Three different approaches to group parameters are evaluated and ultimately 25 biotic and 15 abiotic parameters are selected for use according to site-specific criteria at SIOM. In conclusion, returning a mined area to pre-mining status is considered unpractical; the selection process for locally significant analogue sites, parameters and criteria is not straightforward. Further studies to compare the chosen analogue sites, parameters and criteria with current rehabilitation at SIOM are proposed."],"dc:identifier.uri":["http://hdl.handle.net/10394/21110"],"dc:language.iso":["en"],"dc:publisher":["North-West University (South Africa)"],"dc:subject":["Rehabilitation","Analogue","Parameters","Criteria","Vegetation","Soil","Landscape function","Analytic hierarchy process"],"dc:title":["The selection process of analogue parameters and criteria for rehabilitation design at Sishen mine"],"dc:type":["Thesis"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:33:47Z"}