Investigation of the Turkish gold mine highlights for future surveillance

A new analysis of a deadly landslide, which took place on February 13, 2024 in the Çöter -Goldmine in Turkey, shows that the location of the landslide slowly moved for at least four years.

“In addition, our analyzes have found deformation anomalies in other mining farm sectors, which could possibly lead to similar disasters” The seismic recording With her colleagues.

The Çöter -Goldmine is one of the largest gold producers in the country and accounts for 20% of total gold production in Turkey. The massive landslide buries nine miners.

The study uses Seismic and remote sensing data together with location examinations to analyze the catastrophe. The processing of room -bound radar data by the inar technology (interferometric -synthetic -synthetic aperture radar) has shown a continuous slow deformation at the location with an average rate of 60 millimeters per year in the past four years.

Although it has not failed so far, a cyanid -teach -pond on the site also has an average deformation of 85 millimeters a year. “This requires urgent measures because our observations indicate an increasing risk that the pond could fail and possibly fill poisonous waste into the nearby Euphrates,” said Büyükakpınar.

“Our results underline the need for seismic identification systems that go beyond earthquakes to contain secondary dangers like landslide,” she said. “Long -term monitoring and quick recognition of such events are crucial for the disaster reaction and reduction.”

The mine sits in a tectonically active area near the faults of North and East Anatolian, said Büyükakpınar. “Because of its seismic history, this region has a robust seismic surveillance network that enabled high -resolution recording of the landslide.”

The researchers analyzed data from seismic stations in the amount of up to 400 kilometers from the location and found two different impulses apart 48 seconds, which shows the source effect that corresponds to two mass sources. Her analysis shows that the landslide comprised a detachment of ruins on a steep slope and north -northeast on a gentler slope. Büyükakpınar and colleagues confirmed this pattern with photos and visit the website.

The data offered an excellent opportunity to test real-time-prone recognition algorithms that were “developed for landslides in Alaska in a completely different tectonic environment,” said Büyükakpınar.

“Thanks to the dense seismic network in the eastern part of the country, the algorithm successfully found the event,” she said. “In the future, it will be interesting to test whether the approach can be expanded and applied to recognize U -boot slide because they are of great relevance and have the potential to induce tsunamis.”

The study also described a combination of diseases that could lead to landslide in mining regions, including the long -term slow deformation caused by mining itself, an increased por pressure in the rock due to precipitation or melting and steep.

“The conditions are even stronger in tectonically active areas, which further reinforces the probability of failure, for example by triggering dynamic.

“Our results suggest that the integration of infrastructure management with continuous surveillance, fast reaction mechanisms and cooperation between regulatory authorities and mine operators can avoid future disasters,” she added.