CASE STUDY FILE

BASELINE STUDY REPORT (BSR) OF IACOBDEAL QUARRY Activity 3.1 (Environmentally Friendly Practices)

Final Version October 2010

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DISCLAIMER FOR CASE STUDY REPORTS

The present report was prepared in the framework of the project SARMa – Sustainable Aggregates Resource Management, which is co-financed by the EU within the South East Europe Transnational Cooperation Programme.

The information reported is accurate according to the best knowledge of the authors and is the sole responsibility of the authors of this report.

The publication reflects the views only of the authors; and therefore the rest of project partnership and the South East Europe Programme Managing Authority cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

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DELIVERABLE SUMMARY PROJECT INFORMATION Project acronym: SARMa Project title: Sustainable Aggregates Resource Management Contract number: Starting date: 1. 5. 2009 Ending date: 31. 10. 2011 Project website address: www.sarmaproject.eu Lead partner organisation: Geological Survey of Slovenia Address: Dimičeva ulica 14, SI-1000 Ljubljana Project manager: Slavko V. Šolar E-mail: Slavko-Vekoslav.Solar@geo-zs.si DELIVERABLE INFORMATION Title of the deliverable: Activity 3.1 Baseline study report of Iacobdeal Quarry WP/activity related to the deliverable:

WP3 / Activity 3.1 Environmentally friendly extraction practices

Type (internal or restricted or public):

Public

Location (if relevant): - WP leader: Institute of Geology & Mineral Exploration, Greece

Activity leader: Department of Mineral Resources Engineering, Technical University of Grete, Greece

Participating partner(s): FGG Author(s): Mihai Marinescu E-mail: DELIVERY DEADLINES Contractual date of delivery to the JTS:

Actual date of delivery to the JTS:

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BASELINE STUDY REPORTS (BSR) OF IACOBDEAL QUARRY

1. Description of location Geographical data/coordinates

The area of the Iacobdeal deposit is a south-western branch of the Macin Mountains, which are part of the higher unit of North Dobrogea, limited by the Danube and the Peceneaga – Camena fault. The Iacobdeal quarry carries out their activity on the right bank of Macin channel, east from the Turcoaia village, Tulcea County.

Administrative and legal framework (e.g. permit process for extraction) The perimeter of the Turcoaia - Iacobdeal quarry is located on the territory of the Turcoaia village, Tulcea County. The Iacobdeal quarry represents the perimeter for exploitation of the mineral resources (granite) created under Exploitation License no. (no data), issued by the National Agency for Mineral Resources (N.A.M.R.). Exploitation license no. (no data) was obtained under article 46 from Mines Law no.61/1998 by the SC TARMAC ROMANIA SRL Bucharest. The availability of the exploitation license is (no data) years starting with signing date (no data).

Demographic issues The population is aging and declining. Young people go to cities in search of jobs.

Infrastructure The access to the area is by using the Macin – Tulcea – Constanta National Road and the Danube, on the Turcoaia – Macin – Braila route.

Land use planning (e.g. spatial relation to protected areas) The quarry area lies within ROSPA0073 Macin-Niculitel site and is limited to west by ROSCI0012 Bratul Macin.

Presence of integrated land-planning framework seeking to balance competing interests between national and local levels, and between quarrying and conservation. No

Biodiversity features The Iacobdeal quarry is in the ROSPA0073 site which is important for monitoring the breeding population of the species:

Falco cherrug Coracias garrulus Ciconia ciconia Accipiter brevipes Burhinus oedicnemus Oenanţe pleschanka Circaetus gallicus Buteo rufinus Emberiza hortulana Caprimulgus europaeus Hieraaetus pennatus Lullula arborea

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The ROSPA0073 Macin-Niculitel site is important for the following species migration period: Ciconia ciconia Accipiter brevipes Circaetus gallicus Buteo rufinus Hieraaetus pennatus Lanius collurio Gyps fulvus Ficedula parva Galerida cristata Lullula arborea Falco vespertinus Neophron percnopterus Pandion haliaetus Nycticorax nycticorax Ciconia nigra Himantopus himantopus Haliaeetus albicilla Recurvirostra avosetta Tringa glareola Pelecanus onocrotalus Pelecanus crispus Ardea purpurea Plegadis falcinellus Platalea leucorodia Chlidonias hybridus Pernis apivorus Anţus campestris Aquila pomarina Aquila heliaca Aquila chrysaetos Aquila clanga Circus macrourus Circus aeruginosus Falco peregrinus Milvus migrans Phalacrocorax pygmaeus Egretta alba The ROSCI0012 Bratul Macin site is characterized by: Habitat types: 3130 - Oligotrophic to mesotrophic standing waters with vegetation of Littorelletea uniflorae and/or Isoëto-Nanojuncetea; 3140 - Strong oligo-mesotrophic waters with benthic vegetation species of Chara;

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3270 - Rivers with muddy banks with vegetation of Chenopodion rubri and Bidention; 62C0* - Pontosarmatian steppe; 6430 - Communities skirt with tall higrofile grasses from the plains level to the mountain and alpine; 6440 - Alluvial grasslands with Cnidion dubi; 6510 - Low-altitude grasslands (Alopecurus pratensis Sanguisorba officinalis); 92A0 – Forests with Salix alba and Populus alba Species of amphibians and reptiles: 1188 - Bombina bombina; 1220 - Emys orbicularis; 1993 - Triturus dobrogicus Fish species: 1130 - Aspius aspius; 1149 - Cobitis taenia; 2511 - Gobio kessleri; 1145 - Misgurnus fossilis; 2522 - Pelecus cultratus; 1134 - Rhodeus sericeus amarus Plant species: 1428 - Marsilea quadrifolia

Operational status (e.g. active or abandoned, legal or illegal) Active and legal

2. Geological setting and resources Type of aggregates (e.g. crushed rock or sand or gravel composition)

According to the physical and mechanical features, the Iacobdeal granite is classified, pursuant to the regulations in force, into: - heavy rocks (density ranging from 2.65 to 2.78 g/cm3) - very little porous rocks (porosity ranging from 1.19 to 4.50 %) - very little absorbing rocks (water absorption at normal pressure and

temperature ranges from 0.07 to 0.61 %) - high mechanical strength rocks (143 to 255 N/mm2) - rocks resistant to mechanical shocks (4.4 to 10.9 N/m2) - low wear rocks (0.028 to 0.056 g/cm2) Type of aggregates: crushed rock. From the analysis of the quality parameters the fields of use for the resources/reserves in the Turcoaia – Iacobdeal deposit result: - rubble stone - crushed stone - chipping and other varieties needed for wearing courses, road repair works,

foundations and reinforcement. Structural geology conditions

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The granite deposit is located on the top of the Iacobdeal hill and it extends in the east-west direction for approximately 3.3 km, and in the nord-south direction respectively for approximately 1.1 km. The Macin Mountains in the western area of North Dobrogea consist of Paleozoic formations, partly metamorphosed, displaying volcanic granite structures that appear as hillocks and ridges, both covered by Quaternary deposits composed of a loess layer approximately 40 m thick. The Paleozoic is made up of:

1. the series of Mesozoic and Cambrian crystalline schists, represented by amphibolic schists, mica schists with muscovite, biotite and quartzite;

2. the series of quartzitic phyllite, represented by alternating weakly sericitic phyllite and quartzite, chloritic and sericitic phyllite, assumed to belong to the Ordovician.

3. the series of the Lower Devonian, composed of quartzitic sandstone, limestone, and clay and slate schists.

4. the Carapelit formation, belonging to the Permo-Carboniferous period, made of a conglomerate horizon and a phyllite and gauwache horizon, is inconsistently placed over various horizons of the Paleozoic.

The Quaternary is represented by loess deposits placed on a pre-existing relief and it covers large areas. Volcanic rocks: Both the Devonian, as well as the “Carapelit Strata” are crossed by granite intrusive rocks, sometimes accompanies by porphyry separations; the petrographical diversity is assumed to be due to the magmatic differentiation. The magmatic rocks in the Macin Mountains include the carapelit varieties as the following are deemed to be:

1. the ones before the deposition of the carapelit formation, as the following are deemed to be: - the biotite gneissic granite in Gavaran, Vacareni, Pricopan, Mircea Voda,

Hamcearca and Balabancea; - the massive granite in Luncavita, Gilmele and Coslungea;

2. the ones after this formation, as the following are deemed to be: - the Greci granite with leucocrate minerals, quartziferous diorite, gabbro,

granodiorite, granite and porphyry; - the Turcoaia-type alkaline granite, developed in south-west of North

Dobrogea into alkaline porphyry, exemplified by the laccolithic massive in Turcoaia – Iacobdeal – Iglicioara, on the Piatra Rosie Hill, on the Cerna Valley, on the Sacar Bair and Ciucurova Hills.

Porphyry formations are developed on the Iglicioara Gill, Manole’s Hill and in Cirjelari, flanking the alkaline granite structures. According to their colour, the porphyry formations are classified into two types:

black, found in the Iacobdeal massive. red, found on the Iglita Hill, Manole’s Hill and in Cirjelari.

The Macin Mountains have an anticlinal structure, with tight faulted folds, crossed by intrusive formations; here a western anticline structure is distinguished, the Mengina anticline line followed from Macin to Mircea Voda, with the Macin borders

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as axis and an eastern anticline structure, noticing also the Taita synclinal line, between Bugeac and Balabancea. Between the two anticline structures a synclinal faulted structure is developed, with filling material from the Carapelit formation. Along the Peceneaga – Camena fault, the Paleozoic and Mesozoic deposits are over thrust by greenschists, and on a parallel line the alkaline granite massive of Turcoaia, Sacar Bair, Ciucurova are developed and the porphyry formations of Cirjelari – Camena and Manole’s Hill. The current structure is the result of several stages, the oldest of which taking place before the deposition of the Carapaelit formations and after the deposition thereof the Hercynian movements of the Sudetic phase took place.

Estimated rock reserves and resource potential Following the geological survey performed with respect to the deposit and based on the documentation drawn up for the purpose of obtaining the Exploitation Licence, the following balance geological reserves listed according the reserve category were reapproved on 01 January 1999 by means of the judgment number 30 of 1999: 111 (B category reserves) – 74,244 thousand tons 121+122 (C1 category reserves) – 70,508 thousand tons 333 (C2 category reserves) – 5,161 thousand tons

3. Operational and market characteristics Quarry infrastructure (e.g. road network, transportation facilities)

Transportation from quarry to port is on an inclined plane and from there conveyors to transport the material to the barges. Also transportation by road is possible .

Extraction methods and processing techniques (e.g. energy aspects) The mining method used in the Iacobdeal quarry is basically downward bench mining by blasting. Explosives are placed in drilled boreholes, and the procedure is with fully mechanized. The geometrical elements of the active fronts are in compliance with the provisions of the Development Plan of the documentation on the basis of which the Exploitation Licence is granted, namely:

height of bench – 15 m angle of working slope – 70° final angle of slope - 60° width of safety berm – minimum of 7 m

The processing of the granite is carried out in the current crushing – screening installation, which includes equipment necessary to obtain the fractions requested by the beneficiary and which are stipulated in the exploitation licence. The processing losses amount to 10% and belong to the 0 – 25 mm fraction, which is not sold and is evacuated in the waste rock dump. The water used for industrial purposes is pumped from the Danube and it reaches the screening – washing station. Moreover, the tanks used for wetting the roads and platforms in the crushing stations are supplied using water from the Danube. Electric power supply: At the Turcoaia quarry there are 6 substations and the monthly registered consumption amounts to approximately 170 MWh.

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Existence of codes of practice to achieve technical excellence No code of practice for technical excellence.

Providing an overview of production figures (e.g. volume of extracted rock) In the 1880-2010 period, some quarries from the Iacobdeal area extracted granite in the order of hundreds mil. Tons For 2010 the exploitation of approximately 1,748,000 tons of mining products is expected.

Uses and present market destinations According to the physical and mechanical features, the Iacobdeal granite is classified, pursuant to the regulations in force, into:

- heavy rocks (density ranging from 2.65 to 2.78 g/cm3) - very little porous rocks (porosity ranging from 1.19 to 4.50 %) - very little absorbing rocks (water absorption at normal pressure and

temperature ranges from 0.07 to 0.61 %) - high mechanical strength rocks (143 to 255 N/mm2) - rocks resistant to mechanical shocks (4.4 to 10.9 N/m2) - low wear rocks (0.028 to 0.056 g/cm2)

From the analysis of the quality parameters the fields of use for the resources/reserves in the Iacobdeal deposit result uses:

- rubble stone - crushed stone - chipping and other types needed for wearing courses, road repair works,

foundations and reinforcement.

Operating system for remote monitoring of illegal quarrying No operating system for remote monitoring of illegal quarrying.

4. Waste and post-closure management Disposal and handling of quarry waste

The hydrographical regime is advantageous for the Turcoaia – Iacobdeal quarry, no special measures for the deposit protection are needed. On the other hand, for the waste rock dump, stabilisation and confinement works are needed because due to the torrential summer rains, which are quite rare, the waste rocks are carried and deposited along the surrounding valleys. For this purpose a project for the stabilisation of the waste rock dumps was ordered and drawn up by S.C. IPTANA. Quantification, characterization, feasibility and potential applications of recycled wastes (e.g. by-products from natural stone quarrying)).. In the Turcoaia-Iacobdeal area there exist many quarry wastes. They can be recycled to obtain by-products from natural stone quarrying.

Fit-to-purpose re-use opportunities of wastes/by-products ( e.g. waste rock from ornamental stone quarries can substitute other aggregate production) No data

Remediation practices The impact on the environment shall be considerably reduced by the constructive measures taken during the design and execution phases of the mining works and

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subsequently by the environmental restoration measures scheduled on an annual basis and upon completing the activity. The soil that shall be removed off the quarry area shall be deposited separately and used for the ecological reconstruction of lands affected by the mining works through slope and quarry berm covering. The influences of the activity concerned on the environment are mainly in the form of dust emissions produced by the operating machines and by the slime resulted from the washing of the aggregates obtained. In order to decrease such influences, case enclosing measures are taken for the places where the permissible limits of dust emissions are exceeded, as well as permanent maintenance measures of slime pits.

Restoration, post-closure planning and immediate aftercare works No data

Presence of quarry closure, rehabilitation and after-use plans No access at these plans

5. Environmental impact assessment Geomorphologic exposure and visibility aspects (e.g. landscape change)

The Iacobdeal quarry is placed at the top Iacobdeal Hill. Others old quarries there are at big height (100-250 m), on the hill slopes. As for landscaping, the perimeter in discussion is represented by an anthropic steppe, consisting of degraded pasture land and small patches of vegetation. Perimeter vegetation is characteristic of steppe habitats. Iacobdeal and others old and smaller quarries changed strong the landscape. These modified are visibly at big distance.

Protected areas status The quarry area lies within ROSPA0073 Macin-Niculitel site.

Water (surface and groundwater), soil and air quality conditions At approximately 1.5 km west of the Iacobdeal quarry the right arm of the Danube, called Macin can be found. The hydrographic regime is advantageous for the Iacobdeal quarry because there are no rivers. Since the Iacobdeal deposit is mined at a high altitude in the region, there are no hydrogeological problems. Meteoric water infiltrations along the fissures and fractures of granite rocks may become an issue when exploitation works reach a level lower than the minimum levels of the area. The soil is barren and has a small thickness. He is removed off the quarry area shall be deposited separately and will used for the ecological reconstruction of lands affected by the mining works. The possible sources of air pollution are as follows:

- toxic gases discharged into the atmosphere due to the operation of internal combustion engines of equipment and machines corresponding to the quarry-specific process;

- SiO2 powder resulting from the borehole drilling process (in small quantities due to the dust collecting system);

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- SiO2 powder resulting from the useful rock boring process using light and

heavy boring machines (also in small quantities due to the permanent dust wetting system);

Iacobdeal Hill

- SiO2 powder and dust resulting from the loading of rock into motorized transport;

- SiO2 powder and dust resulting from the processing of the useful rock in the crushing and screening station, also reduced due to the use of technological water sprayers for dust wetting in all processing steps;

- SiO2 powder and dust and toxic gases following the blasting of explosives in the quarry.

The transportation equipment used in the exploitation and transport process of useful rocks and of finished products shall also contribute to the pollution of the air through the gases and powders resulted following the burning of the liquid fuel (Diesel oil).

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Existence of codes of practice to achieve environmental excellence There are no codes of practice to achieve environmental excellence.

Systematic operation of environmental monitoring and control program SC TARMAC SRL complies with all provisions of Romanian legislation on the environment, monitor quarterly and annually the air quality, soil, water, noise and vibration from the operating process to ensure that maximum values of these parameters are not exceeded and to take all measures to reduce the operating machine gases emissions.

Engineering geology issues (e.g. landslides risk assessment) The landslides risk in and out of quarry is low.

Noise, visual impacts, dust and emissions Visual impact is very low, due to positioning versatile quarry on the northern hill. Noise blasting activity is assessed annually and the noise is assessed every semester - values falling within the legislated maximum values. Dust emissions are also evaluated yearly, their values were lower than the maximum permissible limits. SC TARMAC SRL in order to reduce dust emissions of the installation have hooded the conveyor crushing / screening and moisten permanently the area of the industrial processing.

Aggregates extraction vs. environmental management and pre-, sin -, and post-quarrying land use The land on which the Iacobdeal quarry is located, before opening the mine, was used only as pasture without livestock industry in the area to be developed. Because high power regeneration of damaged vegetation cover mining operation, after completing exploitation, the area will be reintegrated into the natural environment as a pasture or anthropic meadow as it was before the opening of the operations.

6. Socioeconomic impacts assessment Local/regional employment situation

In the Turcoaia village residents deal with land cultivation, animal husbandry and, in a lesser extent, fishing. The only industrial activity takes place in connection with the Iacobdeal quarry.

Workforce directly and indirectly related to local aggregates extraction Much of the work force used in extraction activities, processing, transportation and loading of aggregates derive from the Turcoaia village.

Health and safety aspects (on- and off-site) The Iacobdeal quarry is found in the hilltop Iacobdeal. The Turcoaia area is situated at the hill bottom, at a sufficient distance, in order not to influence safety and health of inhabitants. Inside quarry, measures to ensure the safety and health of the workers are very strict and problems are minor.

Capacity building (e.g. training courses and quarry visits) SC TARMAC SRL conducts training courses for the workers and allows quarry visits.

Relevant vulnerability issues (e.g. human health risk assessment)

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No data

Local communities engagement and involvement in decision making Exists, but relatively low, through village mayor.

Benefits of improving the knowledge base at a local level should be mentioned and highlighted No data.

Presence of effective and regular dissemination of information to particular stakeholder groups No data.

Available mechanisms to increase communication and discussion between stakeholders. No data

7. Sustainable development options Early stage evaluation with respect to the seven questions framework to

sustainability No data

Way forward e.g. LCA study approaches (maximise the benefits and minimise the impacts) No data

8. Best practices approach Possibilities for new technology applications

Yes.

Sought operational improvements No data

Expected impacts towards sustainability Not evaluated

Optimising the efficiency of primary aggregates production e.g. water & energy consumption, transport No data access.

Targeting better practises that can help achieve a better relationship between protected areas and other land uses, such as how to incorporate areas of known aggregates potential into decision-making about new protected areas No data

Collect information on best practices and failures for aggregates extraction, e.g. environmental management In time, when there were not any legal reglementation for environmental rehabilitation, post Iacobdeal career activities, in cities and near areas and of activity of other old quarries, landscape has been severely changed. Presently there are concerns for improving the environment during operation and post exploitation file about Iacobdeal quarry.

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Develop guidelines for post quarrying restoration Are provided in the environmental remediation plans.

Determine impediments to best practice, e.g. lack of knowledge, regulatory blocks Money, lack of knowledge.

Prepare recommendations for industry and government actions to encourage best practice New legislation and application directive.