Changes in land use due to mining in the north-western mountains of Spain during the previous 50Â years

- Changes in land use resulting from slate, gravel and coal mining were analysed.
- The mining has produced irreversible changes in land use.
- Slate mining generates larger waste material than coal and gravel mining.
- Agriculture was greater in areas occupied by gravel quarries than in the other types.
- Mining affect natural protected spaces or valuable geoheritage features.

Changes in land use related to mining in the north-western mountains of Spain are analysed. We studied 15 representative types of mining activity in the Sil River basin (León province), including three types of mineral resources: gravel, roofing slate and coal. We use colour orthopothos of 2014 to calculate areas occupied by dumps, lagoons, open pits, auxiliary construction and access roads in mines. Also areal photographs of 1956-1957 were used to measure land uses in these years. In all cases the extraction of mineral resources by surface mining has caused the destruction of the former topography, and these alterations are irreversible. The new post-mining topography represents a drastic change in the landscape and land use in these areas. Areas occupied by coal and slate mining (around 1500 ha.) are significantly greater than gravel quarries (74 ha.). Waste material is greater in slate mining (69%) and coal mining (44%) than in gravel mining (8%). Former agricultural areas now occupied by mining were more extensive in gravel quarries (44%) than in slate quarries (10%) and coal mines (6%) because of the gentler topography in the areas where the gravel quarries are located. In six cases mining are located in natural protected areas and in other cases alter and/or eliminate valuable geological heritage.