ERE - 2006
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://192.248.9.226/handle/123/18286
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- item: Conference-Full-textProceedings of the 1st Annual Conference on Mining for Sustainable Development - A Multidisciplinary Approach [Pre Text](Department of Earth Resources Engineering, 2006-10) Karunaratne, S; Dissanayake, DMDOK; Ratnayake, N; Chaminda, SP
- item: Conference-Full-textProspecting geothermal energy from hot water springs at Padiyathalawa(Department of Earth Resources Engineering, 2006-10) Anitha, SSS; Chanaka, HGDD; Dassanayake, ABN; Wanni Arachchi, WADSR; Suthakar, AA; Abeysinghe, AMKB; Premasiri, HMR; Rathnayake, NP; Dissanayake, DMDOK; Karunaratne, S; Dissanayake, DMDOK; Ratnayake, N; Chaminda, SPBeing a country with an increasing population, the demand for power is also increased in Sri Lanka As a result there will be a power crisis in the country near future. In this scenario we can not totally depend on the conventional power sources. It is timely to find out alternative cleaner energy sources. Geothermal is a prominent energy source which can produce uninterrupted power supply. Thermal springs of Sri Lanka are a manifestation of the earth's internal heat, and this tremendous potential of geothermal energy is not yet fully investigated for vast range of applications mainly for power generation. This research project mainly focused on assessing the feasibility ofPadiyathalawa hot springs to produced geothermal energy. Mainly geophysical and geochemical explorations were carried out along the target area to locate the fracture pattern and the sources of hot springs. As a conclusion, feasibility study indicates that the all hot water springs are originates at a single source and zone having high fracture density has been identified which is suitable for further investigations. Also two locations have been identified for produce energy combining with another technology using the water having out flow temperature of 44°C.
- item: Conference-Full-textProblems of ground water in connection with abandoned open pit mines(Department of Earth Resources Engineering, 2006-10) Amarasooriya, AMSB; De Silva, MR; Suraweera, PSTK; Wedage, WN; Karunarathne, S; Disanayake, DMDOK; Karunaratne, S; Dissanayake, DMDOK; Ratnayake, N.; Chaminda, SPMining is an essential activity upon which many other industries rely on immensely. The magnitude of the problem caused by abandoned mines in the time to come can be understood from the topographic maps prepared using remote sensing applications and field studies in Athurugiriya, Gonapola and Kaduwela areas of the Colombo district. Mahara harbour quarry and the Ragama prison quarry, two abandoned metal quarries were studied with reference to the prevailing conditions of the water quality and the ground water regime. Geological investigations were conducted at the site to identify possible linkages of the pit with the surrounding ground water regime. By analysing the water samples for physical, chemical and biological parameters, the quality of the water was studied .Results show severe pollution in pit water as well as in surrounding round water. The harbour quarry has maintained it's purity due to the efforts and care taken by its stakeholders and neighbours, The continuously degrading quality of the environment at the prison quarry site makes its neighbours affected as well as accused for the problem. The study further shows that in addition to the water quality studies, socio environmental factors should be further studied in order to provide a sustainable solution to the prevailing environmental pollution problems related to abandoned open pit mines in and around Colombo district.
- item: Conference-Full-textDesigning suitable mining method and processing plant for Kukurampola magnetite ore body(Department of Earth Resources Engineering, 2006-10) Amarasekera, HM; Sajirupan, S; Senanayake, IP; Sirisoma, RHANC; Chaminda, SP; Rohitha, LPS; Welideniya, HS; Karunaratne, S; Dissanayake, DMDOK; Ratnayake, N; Chaminda, SPEvaluation of mining methods for the exploitation of Kukurampola ore body is considered in this report. Minerals take millions of years to form, but exploitation takes only few decades. Therefore, mineral deposit is a wealth which must be used for the maximum benefit of the country. Iron is one of the most important metals in the world for many industries. Therefore, exploitation of iron ore is essential for the industrial development of a country. The Magnetite deposit in Kukurampola contains high purity Magnetite; hence it is a valuable resource need rational exploitation. Mining methods evaluated include open pit and underground, and based on geological, engineering, environmental and economical factors combination of both open pit and underground mining are considered as the most suitable mining method. Consequent to open pit mining underground mining will commence for future ore body development and exploitation. A processing method is designed to produce feed material for palletizing those will include crushing, grinding and magnetic separation. If ample deposits are found in the future, there's a possibility of constructing a palletizing plant which need ore reserves for more than 25 years. Also, occurrences of magnetite in the neighborhoods are identified for further expansion of mining operations Special consideration is given to minimize environmental impacts. Remedial methods are proposed in this report to minimize adverse environmental impacts.
- item: Conference-Full-textCharacterization of tsunami wave using texture & structure of sediments from South Western coast of Sri Lanka(Department of Earth Resources Engineering, 2006-10) De Silva, RHSI; Jeyram, P; Perera, RSL; Thananchayan, A; Wickramanayake, NU; Rathnayake, NP; Premasiri, HMR; Abesinghe, AMKB; Puswewala, UGA; Karunaratne, S; Dissanayake, DMDOK; Ratnayake, N; Chaminda, SPThis research focuses on characterization of Tsunami waves by using tsunami sediments, as the only reliable source of information which a Tsunami leaves after strike are sediments. The sediments contain information about Tsunami waves which can be extracted by analyzing. The study focuses on evaluating wave height, flow velocity and wave energy by examining of the thickness, grain size distribution, sediment structures and texture of tsunami deposits. These findings can be used for the prediction of Tsunami threats and in the formulation of precautionary measurements.
- item: Conference-Full-textGeneration of a user friendly spatial information system for the rehabilitation and restoration of small scale irrigation schemes in selected 5 divisional secretariat divisions in Hambantota District(Department of Earth Resources Engineering, 2006-11) Chinthaka, LWN; De Silva, WHC; Dhanushka, PDL; Edirisinghe, PR; Rahubadda, HI; Puswewala, UGA; Dissanayake, DMDOK; Gunawardena, GMWL; Karunaratne, S; Dissanayake, DMDOK; Ratnayake, N; Chaminda, SPThis paper attempts at identifying, collection, and analyzing of small-scale irrigation systems and introduction of a spatial information system for small scale irrigation systems as an attempt to fulfill the requirement of many government and non governmental organizations. For the first stage of SIS (spatial information system), 5 DS divisions were selected from Hambantota district namely Ambalanthota, Weeraketiya, Beliatta, Angunukolapelessa and Tangalle representing highly dense, highly cultivated and lower population dense areas. The selected area consisted with a good network of small scale irrigation schemes. However at present most of these tanks and irrigation systems are isolated while some have partly incorporated into major irrigation schemes like Lunugamvehera, Veheragala, and Walawe Left bank Development project. Remote sensing and GIS were used for the extraction of command area, water surface area of the tanks and the cascades from the satellite image IRS LISS 3captured on 2002.02.02. Different kinds of methods such as field visits, GPS survey, Publications of Divisional Secretariat's offices, Site visiting to local sub offices of different government bodies were used for data collection. The research was guided to understand water resources, cascades and their physical environments, socio economic and institutional environment. A requirement was raised to identify what are the functioning and non functioning irrigation schemes in the area when newly rehabilitation projects are being introducing to the area. Thus using GIS technique as the main tool with the help of other software such as MySQL, PHP, and Dream Weaver, a complete MIlS (Minor Irrigation Information System) was created for the area. GIS helps in giving data with the spatial locations of irrigation systems while other soft wares used for creating the interface for the MIlS. The final out put gives information about irrigation schemes as well as important data of each DS division in GN division level with update facilities. The introducing MIlS is very user friendly thus, users without high computer literacy also will be able to access the system. In the next stage complete database will be created covering almost all small scale irrigation systems in Sri Lanka.
- item: Conference-Full-textQuartzite mining and sand manufacturing(Department of Earth Resources Engineering, 2006-10) Kalubowila, KDLSSP; Gomes, DGNM; Arundathie, KWDD; Dharmarathne, WGAD; Kumara, WAP; Welideniya, HS; Fernando, WLW; Karunaratne, S; Dissanayake, DMDOK; Ratnayake, N; Chaminda, SPManufactured sand is considered as an alternative to match the rising demand of river sand in the construction industry. The basic concept is to crush Quartzite, the source rock to produce sand. This report focuses on sand manufacturing from a quartzite deposit at Dampellessa in Kurunegala district in Sri Lanka. The deposit has to be mined in multiple benches of 10m height and 80° of maximum working angle. Blasting for rock loosening and subsequent ripping with dozers, excavators and hydraulic hammers is recommended as a mining method. The manufacturing process involves crushing of the aggregates after. which grinding and milling is simultaneously done by a specially designed perforated ball mill. Product is made on for customer specifications and suitable for concerting, plastering and as mortar.
- item: Conference-Full-textSword ferns for phytoremediation of chromium contaminated waters(Department of Earth Resources Engineering, 2006-10) Hettiarachchi, M; Karunarathne, S; Dissanayake, K; Karunaratne, SChromium is a highly soluble transition metal of vital industrial importance. It occurs in both trivalent and hexavalent forms. Due to many well identified adverse impacts of chromium to human health and natural ecosystems, treatment of chromium contaminated waters has become a major concern and challenge for environmental engineers. The currently practiced conventional mechano-chemical treatment systems for remediation of chromium contaminated waters have high operational costs, especially when the concentrations are low. Therefore alternative natural attenuation systems are becoming the focus of modem research. This paper presents a research to asses the applicability of Common Sword Ferns in phytoremediation of water contaminated with low or medium concentration of bot trivalent and hexavalent chromium. Saword ferns (N. Exaltata) showed very high removal rates (about 99%) in a Hydroponic medium upto 50 ppmcontamination of T-Cr. The mass balance shows that most of the Cr taken up by the plant is retained in the roots (about 75 % or 3500 mg/kg). Little is translocated to above-ground tissues (4% or 120 mg/kg). Therefore the mechanism of removal is mainly Rizofiltration. The mechanism of uptake may be Biosorption or Active uptake by root cells. N. Exaltata hardly shows any symptoms ofPhyto-toxic affects upto 50 ppm of Cr +3, and 15 ppm ofCr+6• But in a Soil water system mass balances show that most of water soluble Cr+3 is sorbed to soil (about 90%). N. exaltata is poor in de-mineralizing, mobilizing and uptake of soil bound Cr +3. Sand has a remarkable capacity to immobilize Cr+3 in water.
- item: Conference-Full-textPrediction of the variation of aggregate properties in quarry mining, based on exploratory core samples(Department of Earth Resources Engineering, 2006-10) Kumaratunga, WDKS; Mendis, BMSW; Rishanthan, Y; Sandanayake, DSS; Puswewala, UGA; Samaradivakara, GVI; Karunaratne, SQuarry industry is a growing industry because of the need of aggregates for the construction industry. One of the most widely used construction material is aggregate which is mined in quarry mines. Most frequently asked parameters for the quality of quarry aggregates are Loss Angeles Abrasion Value and Aggregate Impact Value, which are unpredictable at the initial stages of quarrying for the rock underneath the surface. Hence, the risk of running the quarry is always there. Therefore this article examines the variation of aggregate properties in quarry mining, based on exploratory core samples. The study is carried out by using core samples from a selected quarry in the western province, Srilanka. This research indicates the relationship between Uniaxial Compressive Strength (U.C.S) and Los Angels Abrasion Value (L.A.A.V), between U.C.S and Aggregate Impact Value (A.LV), and between L.A.A.V and A.LV. correlation between the parameters are indicated, and a relatively strong correlation is found between L.A.A.V and A.LV. these will assist to initially predict some test results based on other test results, and thus save initial expenditure on testing for quality of aggregates.
- item: Conference-Full-textExploration of ilmenite potential in and around Kalu and Benthara river mouths with special reference to the variation of TiO2 content along a selected strech of Kalu Ganga(Department of Earth Resources Engineering, 2006-10) Kumara, HANHM; Medagoda, CJ; Sivakala, S; Sugaraj, K; Wickrama, MADMG; Vijitha, AVP; Dissanayake, DMDOK; Rathnayake, NP; Karunaratne, S; Dissanayake, DMDOK; Ratnayake, N; Chaminda, SPAlthough Ilmanite, Rutil, Zircon and Monazite occurs in beach sand of Sri Lanka, the sufficiently concentrated deposits for economic exploitation have been only identified yet in and around Pulmoddai, Baruwala and Kudremalai beaches. Of these, Pulmoddai is the largest beach sand deposit ever found in Sri Lanka, which is estimated to contain nearly, 4,000,000 tons of raw sand. However it has been noticed that beach mineral sand occurrence in many other parts of the country and detail investigation has not been carried out yet in those areas. Exploitation has been carried out only in Pulmoddai which is located near the rebels control areas. Since 1998 with production coming to a stand still, the Pulmoddai plant which a government own company is confined to selling its existing stockpile with Zircon and Rutile being bagged and transported to Colombo and exported. Therefore finding an alternative source to supply the demand of the export market to earn foreign exchange is a prior necessity of the country. Therefore this study was carried out to identify ilmenite potential in and around Kalu and Benthara river mouths and investigation has been carried out to identify the variation of Ti02 content in ilmenite along the Kalu Ganga track by sand sediment analysis. Gravity and the magnetic separation processes were employed for the processing of the sand samples. Results show that the particle size of Ilmenite in both river mouths deposits were reported in the range of+ l25J.lIl1to +250~tm sizeand this may mainly depend on grain size, flow velocity of the river, distance travel as well as energy of the sea waves. Variation of the titanium content in ilmenite along the Kalu Ganga can be concluded may due to the replacement of Fe in Ilmenite with another foreign element available in the river.