Dynamic Assessment of the Eco-Environmental Effects of Open-Pit Mining: A Case Study in a Coal Mining Area (Inner Mongolia, Western China)

Yi Zhou, Chaozhu Li () and Weilong Yang
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Yi Zhou: Survey Center of Comprehensive Natural Resources, China Geological Survey, Beijing 100055, China
Chaozhu Li: Survey Center of Comprehensive Natural Resources, China Geological Survey, Beijing 100055, China
Weilong Yang: Survey Center of Comprehensive Natural Resources, China Geological Survey, Beijing 100055, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 11, 1-21

Abstract: Scientific and rational monitoring of eco-environmental effects induced by mining activities is a prerequisite for optimizing mining planning and contributes to the advancement of ecological civilization. Remote sensing and multi-source data provide advanced methods for long-term dynamic evaluation of mining-induced eco-environmental effects. This study systematically constructs eco-environmental effect indicators tailored to mining characteristics and establishes quantitative extraction methods based on Landsat data and spectral indices. The Mine Eco-environmental Effect Index (MEEI) was developed using kernel principal component analysis (KPCA). The Heidaigou Open-pit Coal Mine in Jungar Banner was selected as the study area to validate the MEEI’s performance and analyze ecological dynamics across five key temporal phases. Results indicate the following: (1) the KPCA-based MEEI effectively integrates multi-indicator features, offering an objective representation of comprehensive eco-environmental impacts; (2) from 1990 to 2020, the ecological trajectory of the coal mine followed a pattern of “sharp deterioration → gradual slowdown → relative stabilization”, with post-mining restoration and management measures significantly mitigating negative impacts and improving regional ecological quality. This study provides a methodological framework for dynamic evaluation of mining-related eco-environmental effects, supporting sustainable mining practices and ecological governance.

Keywords: open-pit mining; remote sensing; eco-environmental effect; dynamic assessment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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