IMPACTS OF FLUORSPAR MINING ON THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT: A CASE STUDY OF KIMWARER AREA KERIO VALLEY, ELGEYO MARAKWET COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

The research is based on the Impacts of mining fluorspar on the physical environment at Kimwarer Area, Kerio Valley Elgeyo-Marakwet County, Kenya. Therefore this study has been carried out to establish environmental impacts of fluorite mining industry on topography and land cover. The objectives of the study were to; determine the trend and extent of fluorite mining on topography; assess the rate of change on the land cover in the fluorite mining environment and establish the amount of materials generated over a given period of time. The scope of the study area was approximately 7000 acres covering the mining lease area and some areas outside the lease. The target factors of the physical environment that were considered were the topography and land cover. Data was collected by the use of geological field methods, land survey, photography, observation and remote sensing. The salient data displayed a significant change in topography where the mining area increased from 37 acres in 1984 to 461 acres in 2010. The change is evidenced by the presence of open pits, dam tailings and waste dumps within the mining area. The data also displayed the change in land cover especially the forest land decreasing from 2717 acres in 1984 to 1835 acres in 2010. The change is evidenced by the bare land, areas of settlement and also areas that have been cleared for mining. In conclusion, fluorite mining has had major impacts on the physical environment with change in topography and vegetation cover. These changes are more on the negative than on the positive. This study recommends adopting various methods of rehabilitation of mined out areas and reforesting the areas that had been cleared and are not under mining anymore and government implementation on rehabilitation processes in the mining sector.