SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF ABANDONED MINING SITES IN PART OF JOS NORTH AND JOS SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS, PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

Mining activities in parts of Jos North and Jos South Metropolis have led to the abandonment of several sites, posing environmental and socio-economic challenges. This study aims to provide the geometric characteristics necessary for the reclamation of abandoned mining sites in parts of Jos North and Jos South Metropolis by identifying their locations, mapping their geometric attributes, analyzing these characteristics, and examining their proximity to built-up areas. A comprehensive geospatial approach was employed in the study. The locations of abandoned mining sites were determined using handheld GPS devices, and the spatial coordinates were georeferenced in ArcGIS 10.8. Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) were processed to generate elevation, slope, depth, and orientation maps. The geometric characteristics were analyzed using Excel and ArcGIS, while the Normalized Difference Building Index (NDBI) from Landsat 8 data was utilized to assess the proximity of mining sites to built-up areas. Results showed that abandoned mining sites were predominantly located in the southern region of the study area, with elevations ranging from 1,158 m to 1,277 m. The computed depths of the mines varied significantly, with some exceeding 100 m. The slope analysis revealed that 47% of the mining sites were located in areas with moderate slopes (6–16 degrees), while 18% were in steep terrain (above 17 degrees). The proximity analysis using NDBI indicated that 35% of the identified sites were within 500 meters of built-up areas, posing potential hazards to nearby communities. The study concludes that abandoned mining sites in parts of Jos North and Jos South Metropolis exhibit significant geometric variations, which must be considered in land reclamation efforts. It is recommended that policymakers integrate geospatial data into reclamation planning, prioritize high-risk sites for immediate intervention, and promote sustainable post-mining land use to mitigate environmental degradation.