Analysis of sources of geoecological risks at gold mines and the modern assessment methods

The article deals with the problem of the environmental impact of gold mines, conditioned by both permanent emission and discharging, and by potential emergency situations. The aim of the study is to analyze the sources of geoecological risks and their assessment methods. The scope of the review encompassed 85 large accidents and incidents at gold mines over the period from 1971 to 2025, and identified and classified their causes and scales of consequences. It is found that the major percent of accidents (36%) are connected with slope instability at tailings dams, and 29%–with violation of drainage and water removal. The accidents at gold mines reach 20–25% of all accidents at tailings dams in the mining industry. There is no any integrated risk-oriented approach including the branch specifics, the interaction of elements inside a natural-and-technical geosystem and the economic aspects. The safety criteria are formulated for the key types of risk. The necessity of an integrated assessment methodology for the geoecological risks, involving the quantitative, qualitative and auxiliary methods (modeling, mapping, sensitivity analysis) is substantiated. The research results shape a theoretical framework for the creation of geological safety control systems at gold mines. 

Beliakov K. V. Analysis of sources of geoecological risks at gold mines and the modern assessment methods. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2026;(11-1):85-97. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2026_111_0_85.

K.V. Beliakov, Graduate Student, University of Science and Technology MISIS, 119049, Moscow, Russia, e-mail: kirill.beliakov.000@gmail.com.

1. Glotov V. E., Chlachula J., Glotova L. P., Little E. Causes and environmental impact of the gold-tailings dam failure at Karamken, the Russian Far East. Engineering Geology. 2018, vol. 245, pp. 236—247. DOI: 10.1016/j.enggeo.2018.08.012.

2. Laker M. C. Environmental impacts of gold mining—With special reference to South Africa. Mining. 2023, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 205—220. DOI: 10.3390/mining3020012.

3. Mestanza-Ramón C., Ordoñez-Alcivar R., Arguello-Guadalupe C., Carrera-Silva K., D’Orio G., Straface S. History, socioeconomic problems and environmental impacts of gold mining in the Andean region of Ecuador. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022, vol. 19, no. 3, article 1190. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19031190.

4. Mencho B. B. Assessing the effects of gold mining on environment: A case study of Shekiso district, Guji zone, Ethiopia. Heliyon. 2022, vol. 8, no. 12, article e11882. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11882.

5. Capparelli M. V., Cabrera M., Rico A., Lucas-Solis O., Alvear-S. D., Vasco S., Galarza E., Shiguango L., Pinos-Velez V., Pérez-González A., Espinosa R., Moulatlet G. M. An integrative approach to assess the environmental impacts of gold mining contamination in the Amazon. Toxics. 2021, vol. 9, no. 7, article 149. DOI: 10.3390/toxics9070149.

6. Tampushi L. L., Onyari J. M., Muthama N. J.. A review of mining regulations and environmental sustainability of artisanal gold mining sector. Asian Journal of Environment & Ecology. 2021, vol. 16, no. 4, pp. 1—16, article AJEE.73853. DOI: 10.9734/AJEE/2021/v16i430253.

7. González-Morales M., Rodríguez-González M. Á., Fernández-Pozo L. Status of ecosystem services in abandoned mining areas in the Iberian peninsula: Management proposal. Toxics. 2023, vol. 11, article 275. DOI: 10.3390/toxics11030275.

8. Fedyanin A. S., Zoteev O. V. Procedure of geotechnical risk assessment in mines. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2024, no. 1, pp. 9—14. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.17580/gzh.2024.01.02.

9. Rybnikova L. S., Rybnikov P. A., Galin A. N. Processes of formation of waste waters and measures to minimize their impacton the hydrosphere (on the example of the Levikhinsky mine, Middle Urals). Bulletin of the Tomsk Polytechnic University. Geo Assets Engineering. 2025, vol. 336, no. 2, pp. 102—115. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.18799/24131830/2025/2/4517.

10. Kulikova E. Yu., Balovtsev S. V., Skopintseva O. V. Comprehensive assessment of geoecological risks in conducting open and underground mining. Sustainable Development of Mountain Territories. 2024, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 205—216. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.21177/1998-4502-2024-16-1-205-216.

11. Kulikova A. A., Ovchinnikova T. I. On the issue of reducing geoecological risks at mining enterprises. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2021, no. 2-1, pp. 251—262. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236-1493-2021-21-0-251-262.

12. Bowker L. N., Chambers D. M. In the dark shadow of the supercycle tailings failure risk & public liability reach all time highs. Environments. 2017, vol. 4, no. 4, article 75. DOI: 10.3390/environments4040075.

13. Cacciuttolo C., Cano D., Custodio M. Socio-environmental risks linked with mine tailings chemical composition: promoting responsible and safe mine tailings management considering copper and gold mining experiences from Chile and Peru. Toxics. 2023, vol. 11, article 462. DOI: 10.3390/toxics11050462.

14. Konstantinova A. A., Merkulova A. M., Pereladov A. I., Chavkina L. Yu. Risk-based approach to keep industrial safety in the mining of gold-bearing ores. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2021, no. 2-1, pp. 100—112. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236-1493-2021-21-0-100-112.

15. Ovchinnikova T. I., Pototskiy E. P., Firsova V. M. Risk-based approach to hazard assessment in the mining industry. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2021, no. 2-1, pp. 199—208. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236-1493-2021-21-0-199-208.

16. Leonenko A. V., Krupskaya L. T., Usikov V. I., Filatova M. Yu., Bubnova M. Geoecological assessment and environmental monitoring within the boundaries of the impact of the development of gold deposits using GIS technologies. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. 2022, vol. 1061, no. 1, article 012016. DOI: 10.1088/1755-1315/1061/1/012016.

17. Sokolov I. V. Results of geotechnological and geomechanical studies aimed at improving the safety and efficiency of mining operations. Russian Mining Industry Journal. 2025, no. 4S, pp. 127—123. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.30686/1609-9192-2025-4S-127-133.

18. Zinovieva O. M., Kolesnikova L. A., Merkulova A. M., Smirnova N. A. Environmental riskmanagement at mining enterprises. Ugol'. 2022, no. 3, pp. 76—80. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.18796/0041-5790-2022-3-76-80.

19. Kulikova E. Yu., Balovtsev S. V., Skopintseva O. V. Geoecological monitoring during mining operations. Sustainable Development of Mountain Territories. 2024, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 580—588. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.21177/1998-4502-2024-16-2-580-588.