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Environment and development in coastal regions and in small islands |
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Environment and development in coastal regions and in small islands |
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CSI papers 1
Sand Mining in Puerto Rico: an Overview
Andrea Handler Ruiz,
Bureau of Geology, Department of Natural and Environmental
Resources, Puerto Rico
Abstract
Due to economic and industrial policies, there was a surge in the development of concrete based construction in the 1960s and 1970s. Peak exploitation from beaches, dunes and rivers in the coastal zone of Puerto Rico occurred during this time. Mining processes, site restoration practices and the environmental impact of the mining are discussed. Alternative sources, which include manufactured sand, weathered granitic deposits and offshore sand deposits, are outlined. Extraction of the submarine deposits is likely to be the next step, although several environmental factors have yet to be addressed.
