Spatiotemporal Patterns and Ecological Trade-offs of Open-pit Mining in Northwest China: A Remote Sensing Perspective on Environmentally Sustainable Development

The rapid expansion of open-pit mining in Northwest China, driven by growing demands for energy and strategic minerals, poses significant challenges to environmental sustainability in arid and semiarid ecosystems. Leveraging high-resolution remote sensing data (e.g., Gaofen-2/6, ZY-3), this study systematically analyzed the spatiotemporal patterns of 12,680 mining polygons across 3,253 approved open-pit mines in four northwestern provinces (Xinjiang, Qinghai, Gansu, and Ningxia) from 2021 to 2022. Results revealed a pronounced spatial clustering of mining activities, with 92% of the total mining area concentrated in Xinjiang and Qinghai. Non-metallic mineral extraction (potash, lithium, coal) dominated, accounting for 71.8% of the total footprint, while metallic mining showed localized impacts. Global Moran’s I (0.156, p