Luận văn rehabilitation potential of coarse rejects from iron ore mining amended by different levels

THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY

UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY

Study Mode: Full-time

Major: Environmental Science and Management

Faculty: International Programs Office

Batch: K45-AEP

Thai Nguyen, 20/11/2017

MISHEL VALERY VALIÑA RAÑADA

TOPIC TITLE:

“REHABILITATION POTENTIAL OF COARSE REJECTS FROM

IRON ORE MINING AMENDED BY DIFFERENT LEVELS OF

FERTILISER AS A SUBSTRATE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT

AND GROWTH OF THE NATIVE PLANT SPECIES IN PILBARA

REGION, WESTERN AUSTRALIA”

BACHELOR THESIS

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Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry

Degree Program Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management

Student Name Mishel Valery Valiña Rañada

Student ID DTN1454290046

Research Title “Rehabilitation potential of Coarse Rejects from Iron Ore Mining

amended by Different Levels of Fertiliser as a Substrate for the

Establishment and Growth of the Native Plant Species in Pilbara

Region, Western Australia”

Supervisors Dr. Eddie van Etten and MSc. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong

As the degraded land expands along with the developments of

mining industry, rehabilitation becomes a global priority. As a top

producer of iron ore in Australia, the Pilbara region of Western

Australia is now facing major problems such as the accumulation

of mine wastes including coarse rejects and the limiting source of

topsoil which is crucial in mine rehabilitation. There are studies

and rehabilitation strategies that utilized several mine wastes

including tailings, overburden and waste rocks. However, the

potential of iron ore mining “coarse rejects” on the rehabilitation

of mine sites and revegetation of native plant species has rarely

been investigated. The insufficient studies regarding this

potential, constrained the mining companies to reuse the

increasing piles of coarse rejects as a substitute to the declining

source of topsoil. Consequently, this study aims to compare the

seed germination, growth performances and survivorship of the

three native plant species of Pilbara region in Western Australia

namely, Eucalyptus leucophloia, Triodia pungens and Acacia

tumida. Coarse rejects were confirmed to have the potential to act

as a substrate for the revegetation of Pilbara plants. Coarse rejects

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substrates promoted the greatest seed germination for all the

species. However, the study revealed that a sufficient amount of

5g fertiliser was essential to sustain the nutrients needed by the

growing plants. This maximized the growth performances of all

the native plant species in terms of leaf number, plant height and

plant dry weight (biomass). Conversely, medium (15g) and high

(45g) levels of fertiliser amendment caused detrimental effects to

the plants. The height and dry weight responses of E. leucophloia

and T. pungens species were statistically proven to be

significantly affected by different levels of fertiliser. On the other

hand, there was no significant evidence that the growth

performance of T. pungens was affected by different levels of

fertiliser.

Keywords: coarse reject, rehabilitation, revegetation, mine waste, iron ore

mining, waste rock

Number of pages 63 pages

Date of

Submission

November 20, 2017

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ACKNOWLEGEMENT

“I’ve been there with God, I’ve done that through God”

- MVVR

I owe my deepest gratitude to my ever-supportive parents, “Mama” Valery and

“Dadi” Misael, and loving sisters, Marize and Mabeth. I wouldn’t be able to achieve this

success without your love and guidance. Thank you for always believing that “I can”

especially in times that I doubt myself.

This study wouldn’t be successful without the supervision of Dr. Eddie van Etten

who guided me all throughout the research study. Your efforts to help me obtain a

successful research outcome are undeniably priceless. Likewise, I’m truly grateful to Ms.

Nguyen Thi Thu Huong who undoubtedly helped and supported me all the way through

this research study despite of her busy schedule. Your words of encouragement never

failed to inspire me during the stressful days of my research study.

I would also like to extend my sincere appreciation to Edith Cowan University for

welcoming us warmly, especially to Dr. Blake who even allotted his time to introduce

some of the breathtaking places of Western Australia. It is also a pleasure to thank the

mining company who financially supported the expenses of this research experiment.

My stay in Australia was made extra special because of the wonderful people who

I’ve met and become my second family. Words can’t express how thankful I am and my

whole family to Wong’s family (Chee, Mum Natalie, Hui Lee, Isabel, Joshua and

Caitlyn), Saints family, Catherine, Sendy and Bestie Sheila not just for literally “walking”

with me around Perth but also for “walking” with me in God’s path. Thanks for the

memorable journey that I’ll surely treasure for a lifetime.

To Tito Jomar, Tita Janet, Ate Jen, Kuya Jean Marc, Ate Jona, Ate Noemi, Kuya

John and Sammy, thank you very much for allowing me to experience what it’s like to be

in the “most livable city in the world”. I enjoyed every single hour of stay with you, guys!

You all made my stay in Australia even special.

A very special thanks to Ninang Isca, Tita Beth, Tito Mike and other relatives who

had provided things for the success of my internship and had encouraged me on pursuing

my dreams. I’m more than blessed to have you all as a family. I’m also indebted to my

twin sister “by heart”, An-ne, who’ve been my “partner-in-crime” for 3 years now; 3

countries down, 192 to go!

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To the Advanced Education Program of Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture

and Forestry and the University of California, Davis, thank you for giving me an

opportunity to develop myself and enhance my knowledge and skills through this

exchange student program.

I will forever cherish the memories and friendship built within the 4-year

University experience here in Vietnam, which are made unforgettable by the awesome

people who surrounded me with positive thoughts; shoutout to Jean, Katleen, Erika,

Carlo, Mommy Shelah, 302 Ates, pinoy k45 and k45 class!

Like any other success story, I also encountered tons of trials along the way. I

wouldn’t be able to face it with courage without the “slapping words of wisdom” of my

best friend, Kate. Thank you for always enlightening my blurry mind. I love you to the

moon and back.

And to the person who brought up uncountable challenges to my life that made me

even stronger to face the everyday reality, thank you, Kenneth, for being my partner,

brother, best friend, P.A. and #3 fan (next to God and my family) who keeps on pushing

me to my limits, so I can always show the best version of me.

Above all, I dedicate these achievements to God, my Almighty Father. All of these

wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for His unconditional love, amazing grace and

overwhelming blessings.

The Researcher,

Mishel Valery V. Rañada

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TABLE OF CONTENT

List of Figures...........................................................................................................................................1

List of Tables.............................................................................................................................................2

PART I. INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................................3

1.1 Research Rationale................................................................................................. 3

1.2 Research Objectives............................................................................................... 7

1.2 Hypothesis.............................................................................................................. 8

1.3.1 Null Hypothesis ................................................................................................... 8

1.3.2 Alternative Hypothesis ........................................................................................ 8

1.3 Limitations............................................................................................................. 8

1.4 Definitions.............................................................................................................. 9

PART II. LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................................................11

2.1 Iron Ore Mining Industry in Pilbara, Western Australia ......................................... 11

2.2 Mining Rehabilitation in Pilbara, Western Australia............................................... 13

2.3 Rehabilitation Potential of Coarse Rejects............................................................... 16

2.4 Fertiliser Amendments on Mine Wastes.................................................................. 18

2.5 Revegetation of Native Plant Species...................................................................... 22

PART III. METHODS..........................................................................................................................25

3.1 Materials................................................................................................................... 25

3.1.1 Pre- treatment and preparation of seeds: ........................................................... 25

3.1.2 Substrates and fertiliser preparation: ................................................................. 25

3.1.3 Soil analysis....................................................................................................... 26

3.1.4 Data recording and experimental pot labelling.................................................. 26

3.2 Methods.................................................................................................................... 27

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3.2.1 Time and Place of Study.................................................................................... 27

3.2.2 Research Approach ........................................................................................... 28

3.2.3 Experimental Layout ......................................................................................... 31

3.2.4 Experimental Methods....................................................................................... 32

3.2.5 Data gathering.................................................................................................... 34

3.2.6 Statistical Analysis............................................................................................. 36

PART IV. RESULTS............................................................................................................................37

4.1 Seed Germination Rate ............................................................................................ 37

4.2 Number of Leaves.................................................................................................... 38

4.3 Height of Plant ......................................................................................................... 40

4.4 Dry weight (Biomass) .............................................................................................. 43

4.5 Survivorship ............................................................................................................. 45

4.6 Chemical Analysis of Substrates.............................................................................. 45

PART V. DISCUSSION ................................................................................................... 48

PART VI. CONCLUSION................................................................................................ 54

PART VII. RECOMMENDATION................................................................................ 546

REFERENCES .................................................................................................................. 57

APPENDICES................................................................................................................... 64

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List of Figures

Figure 1. Research approach ............................................................................................. 28

Figure 2. Actual Experimental Layout .............................................................................. 31

Figure 3. The graph of seed germination rate of Eucalyptus leucophloia (Species 1),

Triodia pungens (Species 2) and Acacia tumida (Species 3) ............................................ 38

Figure 4. Weekly data for Eucalyptus leucophloia species' number of leaves ................. 39

Figure 5. Weekly data for Triodia pungens species' number of leaves............................. 39

Figure 6. Weekly data for Acacia tumida species' number of leaves................................ 40

Figure 7. The graph of the mean height of Eucalyptus leucophloia (Species 1), Triodia

pungens (Species 2) and Acacia tumida (Species 3)......................................................... 41

Figure 8. Weekly data of Eucapyltus leucophloia species' mean plant height.................. 42

Figure 9. Weekly data of Triodia pungens species' mean plant height ............................. 42

Figure 10. Weekly data of Acacia tumida species' mean plant height.............................. 43

Figure 11. The graph of mean dry weight of Eucalyptus leucophloia (Species 1), Triodia

pungens (Species 2) and Acacia tumida (Species 3)......................................................... 44

Figure 12. Survivorship (%) of Eucalyptus leucophloia, Triodia pungens and Acacia

tumida on different levels of fertiliser treatments (T1, T2, T3 and T4)............................ 45

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