Ririn Hanri Esta BR Matondang, Dedi Hermon, Iswandi Umar, Nurhasan Syah, Eri Barlian
The environmental impacts of gold mining have driven a global shift towards sustainable post-mining land reclamation. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of sustainable reclamation research on gold mining sites from 2000 to 2024, using literature indexed in Scopus. Through systematic data extraction and visualization using VOSviewer, the study revealed trends in publication productivity, thematic evolution, and global collaboration networks. A total of 400 peer-reviewed documents were analyzed, and the findings showed a significant increase in research intensity after 2010, with a marked peak in 2023. The analysis showed a dominance of environmental sciences (31.4%), with critical sub-themes such as acid mine drainage management, heavy metal contamination, revegetation, and ecological restoration. The United States, China, and the Russian Federation emerged as major contributors, while institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Russian Academy of Sciences led in productivity. Keyword co-occurrence mapping identified three main clusters: contamination research, water management strategies, and ecological bioremediation approaches. Influential authors such as Dias, L.E. & Krupsakaya, L.T. were at the center of the methodological evolution from a technocratic framework to a holistic approach that integrates ecological, social, and technological dimensions. The analysis also revealed research gaps and uneven global participation, emphasizing the need for inclusive international collaboration and site-specific adaptive strategies. The study provides a strategic roadmap for future research by highlighting niche opportunities, strengthening knowledge transfer, and supporting policy design aligned with sustainable mining practices. Overall, these bibliometric findings illustrated the evolution of research in post-gold mining reclamation, with an emphasis on developing more integrated and ecosystem-based approaches to achieve long-term sustainability in environmental rehabilitation. © 2026, Malque Publishing. All rights reserved.
Doctoral Program in Environmental Science, Graduate School, Universitas Negeri Padang, West Sumatra, Padang, Indonesia; Department of Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences, Universitas Negeri Padang, West Sumatra, Padang, Indonesia; Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Padang, West Sumatra, Padang, Indonesia; Department of Coaching, Faculty of Sport Science, Universitas Negeri Padang, West Sumatra, Padang, Indonesia
