Abstract
Mining is always associated with deforestation and destruction of forest and agricultural land. Though it offers employment and governments’ income, it still causes detrimental effects to the environment. The re-opening of open-pit mining corporation in 2011, in the small village of Bato-Bato, Narra, Palawan Philippines aggravated deforestation, floods, and decreased in rice yield of rice farmers. This study determined the Cobalt content in topsoil in mine-tailing sites within the rice farms. Field data collection and laboratory analysis methods were used in this study. This study utilized three sampling sites and three replications per site and 2 kg of topsoil from each replication per sampling site were collected following the quadrant method. The soil samples were sent to the laboratory for analysis. Cobalt content in topsoil was analyzed using Xray Flourescence (XRF) method. Normality of data was determined by Pearson Coefficient of Skewness (PCS) Test. Significant difference on the Cobalt content in topsoil was analyzed using F- Test and appropriate post hoc test. The Cobalt content in topsoil in three sampling sites is high (from 146.7 mg/kg to 306.7 mg/kg) in comparison with the average Cobalt content a topsoil should contain (41 mg/kg). High Cobalt content affects rice productivity. Mining operator should prioritize projects that prevent leaching of mining sediments during flood.
