TARU PUBLICATIONS
 Journal of Statistics and Management Systems cover
Open Access ·Peer-reviewed·ISSN (Online): 2169-0014·ISSN (Print): 0972-0510

Monthly Journal: Publishes peer-reviewed aticles on theoretical and applied statistics and management systems, expoloring industrial statistics, actuarial and decision sciences.

Issues up to 2022 co-published with and available at:Taylor & Francis Online
submissions@tarupublications.com
Open Access Research Article

Impact of illegal mining and pollution on the ecosystem : A mathematical model

* , , ,

* Corresponding author · click or hover a name for details

pp. 803–821Vol. 29Issue 7 & 8 July & AugustAugust 2026DOI: 10.47974/JSMS-1598XML
Received:
01 Aug 2025
Published Online:
11 May 2026
Article type:
Research Article
Language:
EN
Article no.:
JSMS-1598
Pages:
803–821

Abstract

A deterministic mathematical model is put out to investigate how pollution and mining operations affect valuable plant and animal resources. The level of pollutants in the environment increases steadily and is further exacerbated by rampant mining activities occurring in the area. The formulation of the model employs differential equations, which are subsequently analyzed through the principles of stability theory and numerical simulation techniques. The findings indicate that both plant and animal life are negatively impacted, either directly or indirectly, as a result of excessive mining operations and environmental contamination. Our analysis indicates that maintaining ecological balance is crucial for the preservation of flora and fauna. This balance involves the interplay between plant resources, animal populations that depend on them, mining activities, and environmental pollution. It is essential for government involvement in regulatory measures. Controlling the parameters that govern excessive mining activities significantly mitigates other forms of pollution, leading to substantial improvements in the health of flora and fauna.

Keywords

Subject Classifications

34D2049K15

References

[1] A. Mensah, I. O. Mahiri, O. Owusu, O. D. Mireku, I. Wireko, and E. A. Kiss, “Environmental impacts of mining: A study activities in Ghana,” Appl. Ecol. Environ. Sci., vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 81-94 (2015). 
[2] A. S. Aliyu and A. T. Ramli, “The world’s high background natural radiation areas (HBNRAs) revisited: A broad overview of the dosimetric, epidemiology and radiobiological issues,” Radiat. Meas., vol. 73, pp. 51-59 (2015). 
[3] X. Wu and Z. Hu, “Investment timing and capacity choice in duopolistic competition under a jump-diffusion model,” Mathematics and Financial Economics, vol. 15, pp. 611-635 (2021), doi: 10.1007/s11579-021-00303-3. 
[4] A. H. O. Abu and O. O. Ifatimehin, “Environmental impacts of iron ore mining on quality of surface water and its health implication on the inhabitants of Itakpe,” International Journal of Current Multidisciplinary Studies, vol. 3, no. 6, pp. 318-321 (2016). 
[5] A. Leuenberger, M. Ramseyer, E. B. Kumah, P. Osei-Kyei, and J. U. Schlüter, “Health impacts of industrial mining on surrounding communities: Local perspectives from three sub-Saharan African countries,”  PLoS ONE, vol. 116, no. 6, p. e0252433 (2021), doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252433 
[6] A. O. Omotehinse and B. D. Ako, “The environmental implications of the exploration and exploitation of solid minerals in Nigeria with a special focus on Tin in Jos and Coal in Enugu,”  Journal of Sustainable Mining, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 18-24 (2019). 
[7] M. Uchenna, O. Akachukwu, and E. Kafayat, “Control model on transmission dynamics of conjunctivitis during harmattan in public schools,” Appl. Comput. Math., vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 29-36 (2019), doi: 10.11648/j.acm.20190802.11. 
[8] A. Tandon, K. Jyotsna, and S. Dey, “A mathematical model to investigate the impact of overgrowing population-induced mining on forest resources,” Environ. Dev. Sustain., vol. 20, pp. 1499–1516 (2018), doi: 10.1007/s10668-017-9950-8. 
[9] Worldbank.org/en/results/2013/04/14/mining - results - profile. 
[10] R. Juniah, R. Dalimi, and M. Suparmoko, “Mathematical model of benefits and costs of coal mining environmental,”  Journal of Sustainable Development, vol. 11, no. 6, pp. 246-256 (2018), doi: 10.5539/jsd.v11n6p246. 
[11] E. V. Sergeeva and N. A. Ustselemova, “Mathematical modeling in the training of future mining engineers,”  in IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci., vol. 666, no. 5, p. 052057 (Mar. 2021). 
[12] M. U. E. Michael and M. O. Oyesanya, “Relating the effect of HPA axis to the emotional state of bipolar II disorder patient,” Asian Research Journal of Mathematics, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 1-19 (2018). 
[13] C. K. Odoh, U. K. Akpi, and F. Anyah, “Environmental impacts of mineral exploration in Nigeria and their phytoremediation strategies for sustainable ecosystem,” Global Journal of Science Frontier Research, vol. 17, no. 3, pp. 19–28, 2017.
[14] USEPA. Air quality criteria for Lead. (Final report, 2006), Washington, DC, EPA/600/R - 05/144AF - BF. 
[15] A. B. Dutt, A. G. Noble, J. C. Frank, S. K. Thakur, R. R. Thakur, and H. S. Sharma, Spatial diversity and dynamics in resources and urban development, regional resources, vol. 1. Berlin: Springer (2015). 
[16] J. Githiria, “Review of mathematical models applied in open-pit mining,”  in Proc. Int. Symp. Mine Planning Equipment Selection, Cham, Switzerland, pp. 92-102 (2019). 
[17] J. Kumari and A. Tandon, “A mathematical model to study the impact of mining activities and pollution on forest resources and wildlife population,”  J. Biol. Syst., vol. 25, no. 2, pp. 1-24 (2017). 
[18] B. Dubey, S. Sharma, P. Sinha, and J. B. Shukla, “Modeling the depletion of forestry resources by population and population pressure augmented industrialization,”  Appl. Math. Modeling, vol. 33, no. 7, pp. 3002-3014 (2009). 
[19] A. K. Misra and K. Lata, “Depletion and conservation of forestry resources: A mathematical model,”  Differ. Equations Dyn. Syst., vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 25-41 (2015). 
[20] K. Velten, D. M. Schmidt, and K. Kahlen, Mathematical Modeling and Simulation: Introduction for Scientists and Engineers. John Wiley & Sons (2024). 
[21] G. McMahon and S. Moreira, “The contribution of the mining sector to socioeconomic and human development,”  Extractive Industries for Development Series, no. 30. Washington, DC, USA: World Bank (2014). [Online]. Available: https://openknowledge.org/handle/10986/18660. License: CC BY 3.0 IGO. 
[22] M. Agarwal and R. Pathak, “Conservation of forestry biomass with the use of alternate resource,”  Open J. Ecol., vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 87-109 (2015). 
[23] Ecowatch.com/air - pollution - deaths - study - 2648424420.html. 
[24] Chatham House, “The impact of mining on forests: Information needs for effective policy responses, energy, environment and resources meeting summary,” Chatham House, London, UK (2015). 
[25] A. D. Smirnova, S. Chen, and T. V. Mikhaylova, “Geological Mathematical Block Modelling in Kuzbass Mining Industry,” 2022 IEEE International Multi - Conference on Engineering, Computer and Information Sciences (SIBIRCON), pp. 1970-1973 (Nov. 2022).

Views: 120Downloads: 122Citations: 0