Work

A Study on the Prioritization of Reuse Models for Abandoned Quarries Based on Residents’ Demands: A Case Study of Jiawang District, Xuzhou City

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Globally, more than 60,000 abandoned open-pit mines have been identified. Most of these sites lack effective management or ecological restoration measures. As a result, they pose substantial environmental and socioeconomic challenges. Against this backdrop, the reuse of quarry wastelands has emerged as a critical strategy for improving resource efficiency and promoting sustainable development in mining regions. Current domestic research mainly concentrates on ecological restoration techniques for abandoned quarry sites. However, systematic methods for prioritizing and ranking alternative reuse models remain limited. This study investigated four quarry reuse models: agricultural production, ecological protection, recreation-based education, and new energy development. The analysis integrated site suitability (U1) with residents’ demands (U2). Four representative quarry sites in Jiawang District, Xuzhou City, were selected as case studies. Based on coupled matching analysis, a priority identification method for quarry site reuse models was developed. Results indicated divergent prioritization between site suitability and resident demand. Site suitability composite values ranged from 3.9548 to 6.3094. Qishan and Kanshan sites demonstrated high suitability for recreation-based education and agricultural production, while the Dongshan site showed the highest ecological protection suitability. Suitability for emerging energy applications was generally low across all sites. Resident demand composite values showed significant variation across the four models. Recreation-based education demand (U2 ranging from 0.3273 to 0.3778) substantially exceeded the other three land use types, with residents generally harbouring a degree of reluctance towards new energy development models. After coupling these factors, the original site suitability rankings were restructured: Qishan and Dongshan were selected for the recreation-based education model; Kanshan for agricultural production; and Changshan for ecological protection. This study offers insights for the diversified utilization of abandoned quarries in rural areas and provides a reference for ecological restoration and transformative development in mining regions.

Source: Land

DOI: 10.3390/land15010157

Authors: Shanshan Feng, Lu Hua, Ting Tian, Yi Zhang, Yuzheng Yao

Institution: China University of Mining and Technology

Language: English

Topic: Geology and Environmental Impact Studies

Subfield: Law

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137