The effects of mining on the landscape change Sarabe_Niloofer in Kermanshah

Sarabe_ Niloofer is located in North West of Kermanshah. It is one of the most important recreational and touristic attractions due to karst springs and it’s surrounding artificial park. But, in the recent years, aesthetic and touristic significance of Serab is decreasing because of exploitation of quarries from hills of nearby it. This study tries to show what kind of geomorphic and aesthetic effects may occur if mining continue with this currently rate. To achieve this, present geomorphic features were identified by field studies and amount of changes in the landforms and the time required for the total destruction of hills was estimated by measuring of dimensions of relicts and the daily operations. Based on the results, the volume of total mining hills estimated almost 41 million cubic meters that it has been extracted about 10 thousand cubic meters. It is predicted that expected life of these hills will be 782 years if this trend continue, however, the results occur gradually. On the base of this mining, rocky hills get split, the colors and other appearance are changing, and furthermore some other activities such as the accumulation of waste piles around of mines, construction of irregular communication networks on the hills and topography and slopes manipulation have caused a decrease in the visual quality of the landscape. Water infiltration and subsequent ground water recharge is reduced greatly by the destruction and disruption at karstic systems in the area. Resizing of hills may reduce discharges of Sarabe_Niloofer due to changes in the dip of geological beds and hydraulic connection between groundwater and springs feed.