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dc.contributor.advisorMaier, Raina M.
dc.contributor.advisorNeilson, Julia W.
dc.contributor.authorJennings, Lydia Luisa
dc.creatorJennings, Lydia Luisa
dc.date.accessioned2021-02-20T02:34:01Z
dc.date.available2021-02-20T02:34:01Z
dc.date.issued2020
dc.identifier.citationJennings, Lydia Luisa. (2020). Reclaiming Mining Lands in Southern Arizona: A Scientific and Policy Inquiry towards Resiliency (Doctoral dissertation, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA).
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10150/656849
dc.description.abstractCopper is critical to the sustainability of the modern lifestyle; however, mining creates massive land disturbance and generates large quantities of unstable waste materials that need to be managed for the long-term environmental and public health of neighboring communities (Lima et al., 2016). One waste challenge associated with modern mining is managing mine tailings. Mine tailing reclamation is site specific but often has a long-term goal towards ecological restoration and is impacted by stakeholder and rights holder associations (i.e. private, government or tribal) (Keller et al, 2011). Mine waste reclamation aims to stabilize waste to support self-sustaining plant communities. A critical limitation to vegetation success in mining waste is that these “soils” are deficient of the microbial communities and nutrients necessary to support plant establishment. The costs associated with these restoration activities can also be substantial, and vary with mine size, regulatory regimes, technology, presence of legacy reclamation costs, or cultural resources within the area (Mudd, 2009). Long-term ecological management of mine waste is an essential and problematic component of efficient mine site reclamation throughout the Southwest. Soil health properties essential to successful phytostabilization of reclaimed mine sites are poorly understood. This study found that total nitrogen and DNA biomass show promise as potential indicators of soil fertility that correlate with revegetation improvement. Our studies suggest that capping material source significantly influences the rate of plant establishment. Quantitative metrics must be further investigated to improve methods for screening potential capping material sources for mine tailings reclamation. Longer term studies are needed, particularly for mine recovery in the Southwest, where plants grow slower. Future work should consider how below ground fertility metrics reflect ecosystem stability and plant structure, and how the quality and application method of soil capping may impact future plant community structure.
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherThe University of Arizona.
dc.rightsCopyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction, presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.
dc.subjectBelow ground fertility
dc.subjectMining reclamation
dc.subjectSemi-arid
dc.subjectSoil health indicators
dc.subjectTribal consultation
dc.titleReclaiming Mining Lands in Southern Arizona: A Scientific and Policy Inquiry towards Resiliency
dc.typetext
dc.typeElectronic Dissertation
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Arizona
thesis.degree.leveldoctoral
dc.contributor.committeememberGornish, Elise
dc.contributor.committeememberRasmussen, Craig
dc.contributor.committeememberColombi, Benedict J.
thesis.degree.disciplineGraduate College
thesis.degree.disciplineSoil, Water & Environmental Science
thesis.degree.namePh.D.
refterms.dateFOA2021-02-20T02:34:01Z


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