Environmental Assessment
Volume B-3.1
Mine
Topography and Geomorphology
Ambatovy Project
16
January 2006
Based on a qualitative analysis of the landscape, two relatively unusual features
are located in the LSA:
•
the ore bodies of Ambatovy and Analamay, capped by a thick ferricrete
crust on the plateaus; and
•
the Torotorofotsy Wetlands, which constitute the largest and most intact
marsh in eastern Madagascar (BirdLife International Website: 2003).
Additional details concerning baseline conditions are provided in Volume I,
Section 1.1.
3.1.4
Issue Scoping
The main potential issues relating to topography and geomorphology are:
•
initial removal and disturbance of unique or important topographic
features important for social or biological reasons; and
•
changes in the landscape and underlying geomorphology slope which
may represent important issues over the long term to people or the
environment.
Depending on the amount of terrain recontouring at the time of reclamation, local
changes in topography may have implications for hydrology, hydrogeology,
visual effects, growing conditions for flora, habitat for fauna, aquatic habitat and
closure planning.
The key question for topography and geomorphology is:
Key Question TG-1
What Effect Will the Mine Have on Topography
and Geomorphology?
The impact pathways associated with impacts on topography and geomorphology
are presented in Volume H, Appendix 9. During construction and operation
phases, topographic and geomorphologic features of the landscape will be
disturbed. Slopes and topography will be altered during the construction,
operation and closure phases.
