Combustion waste and fly ash disposal sites have unfavourable properties for revegetation.Owing to its phytoameliorative ability different alder species have long been used in the reclamation of degraded sites, as N-fixing species and forecrop for introducing more demanding tree species in reforestation.We present the growth parameters and effects of black alder (Alnus glutinosa), grey alder (A.incana), and green alder (A.viridis) on the physicochemical and biological properties of the technosols developed from the lignite combustion wastes disposal site in central Poland after 10 years of plant growth.The study plots were randomly arranged (72 m 2 of each plot, four replications for variant) at 3 species × 2 different soil treatments: CCW+L (combustion waste with lignite amendment in planting hole) and CCW (pure combustion waste).The obtained results indicate that soil treatment did not significantly influence the studied physicochemical soil parameters (pH, CEC, RESP, SOC, Ntot and macronutrients content) either in O horizon or in the mineral soil.The effect of species on pH, Ntot and macronutrients content was evident in the O horizon but not in the mineral soil.The better growth parameters were found for black alder than for grey alder.The mean height was 3.9 and 6.3 m for grey and black alder, respectively.Accumulation of litter layer (Ol) ranged from 2.9 to 3.6 Mg ha -1 (mega gram per hectare), and grey alder litter was characterized by the highest content of nutrients (N-P-K).Organic C content in the 0-5 cm mineral layer (A) increased to 38.06 and 47.80 g kg -1 (gram per kilogram dry soil), respectively for green and black alder.The highest N content in A layer was measured under black alder.Microbial respiration and biomass were significantly lower in the Ol layer under green alder than under two other alder species.However, in the mineral soil all three alder species stimulated microbialbiomass and activity similarly.Because of the highest growth parameters of black alder and the highest litter production under canopy and N content in the soil we recommend this species for revegetation of combustion waste disposal site.
The Journal of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation (JASMR) promotes the exchange of basic and applied solutions for the reclamation, restoration, and revitalization of landscapes impacted by the extraction of natural resources-including, but not limited to coal, minerals, gas, and oil.Contributions reporting original research, case studies, field demonstrations
Coal mining is central to economic development in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia with >100 million tonnes of black coal produced annually.Rehabilitation is mandatory following the mining process and ~20,000 ha of land is undergoing rehabilitation in the Upper Hunter Valley (UHV).The mean annual rainfall of <700 mm is significantly lower than typical for growing hardwood plantations.The traditional post-mining land use has been extensive grazing of beef cattle; however, in line with local government strategy replicated plantation forest trials were established in the late 1990s and early 2000s on buffer sites and reshaped overburden in the UHV to investigate the potential commercial viability of growing plantation forests as an alternative post-mining industryfor wood products and carbon credits.Following on from earlier establishment trials, the focus of this paper is the performance of the ~15 years old dryland plantations, with the objective of quantifying the benefits of an early non-commercial thinning and pruning regime.Seven hardwood eucalypts were trialed in this project: Corymbia maculata (Spotted gum), Eucalyptus camaldulensis, E. argophloia, E. molluccana, E. sideroxylon, E. camaldulensis x grandis and E. camaldulensis x globulus.The best all round performer to date has been Spotted gum.While it has grown well on buffer sites, most stands have performed as well or better on the reshaped overburden.Thinning at age 10-12 years has not led to an increase in overall stand volume; however, at the majority of sites it has increased the mean diameter and height of retained trees.Initial assessments indicate that thinning is likely to produce stands of better form resulting in the growth of higher value timber products.We developed an economic model to compare returns from grazing with expected returns from Spotted gum forestry and agroforestry using growth and yield projections.Net present values and internal rates of return indicate that forestry and agroforestry deliver comparable commercial returns (from carbon and wood products) to grazing but with a different investment and risk profile.
In recent years, researchers have reported a correlation between specific conductivity (SC) and total dissolved solids (TDS) and the health of aquatic organisms in receiving streams near coal mine valley-fill structures.Due to the potential for regulatory limits on SC and TDS, coal mining operations have begun to explore treatment technologies that could be used to reduce the levels of SC and TDS in receiving streams.Nanofiltration was evaluated based on its ability to reduce SC and meet a proposed limit of 500 S/cm for mine water samples with moderate and high levels of SC from southwestern VA.Three nanofilters (NF270, DK, NFX) were tested without any pretreatment in the first phase of this project.The DK and NFX nanofilters were able to meet this SC limit for both mine waters tested with an average reduction of 84 percent for both mine waters tested.The NF270 nanofilters tested provided for an average SC reduction of 69 and 59 percent for the moderate and high SC mine waters tested, respectively.Performance in terms of SC reduction declined as ion concentrations increased in the influent tested.In the second phase of this project, microfiltration and simulated-sand filtration were introduced as a pretreatment stage in order to determine if SC reduction could be enhanced.Neither of the pretreatment options improved the SC reductions accomplished by nanofiltration.
Soil conservation and replacement can be key factors in the sustainable use of land following mineral extraction.The earth-moving equipment and the methodology used can determine the character and functioning of the rehabilitated soil ecosystem.Practical guidance for the handling of soils by different earthmoving machines was published by the UK's Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in 2000.It was in a form which could be understood and used by professionals and machine operators alike and has been widely used across the minerals industry for almost twenty years.Since its publication, there have been significant changes in the availability of machines, health and safety considerations, and alternative practice.As a prelude to the updating of the Guidance, to be published in early 2019, this paper considers the influence that current safe operation practice, equipment capability and planning policy might have on the choice of earth-moving equipment and methodology.
The central Appalachian landscape is being heavily altered by surface coal mining.The practice of Mountaintop Removal/Valley Fill (MTRVF) mining has transformed large areas of mature forest to non-forest and created much forest edge, affecting habitat quality for mature forest wildlife.The Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative is working to restore mined areas to native hardwood forest conditions, and strategies are needed to prioritize restoration efforts for wildlife.We present mineland reforestation guidelines for the imperiled Cerulean Warbler, considered a useful umbrella species, in its breeding range.In 2009, we surveyed forest predicted to have Cerulean Warblers near mined areas in the MTRVF region of West Virginia and Kentucky.We visited 36 transect routes and completed songbird surveys on 151 points along these routes.Cerulean Warblers were present at points with fewer large-scale canopy disturbances and more mature oak-hickory forest.We tested the accuracy of a predictive map for this species and demonstrated that it can be useful to guide reforestation efforts.We then developed a map of hot spot locations that can be used to determine potential habitat suitability.Restoration efforts would have greatest benefit for Cerulean Warblers and other mature forest birds if concentrated near a relativeabundance hot spot, on north-and east-facing ridgetops surrounded by mature deciduous forest, and prioritized to reduce edges and connect isolated forest patches.Our multi-scale approach for prioritizing restoration efforts using an umbrella species may be applied to restore habitat impacted by a variety of landscape disturbances.
The Ereen Coal Mine operated as a Peabody joint venture project in Mongolia, suspended operations in early 2009. Peabody developed a reclamation and environmental stewardship plan for the site which was initiated in spring 2009. The project would also fulfill the spirit and intent of the 2006 Mongolian Minerals Law. Project development included analysis of environmental baseline conditions and application of best reclamation practices necessary to create a non- erosive and sustainable landform, establish perennial vegetation and restore traditional land use. Mongolian scientists and engineers from Ulaanbaatar teamed with U.S. Peabody engineering and environmental staff to develop and implement a plan to meet Mongolian regulatory requirements and restore pre-mine land capability. The mine area, out of pit dumps and adjacent undisturbed lands were surveyed to develop a post-mining landscape design to establish through drainage and return a stable landform. Backfill material was sampled to identify any spoil that could be unsuitable for plant growth or acid forming. Backhoes, trucks and dozers accomplished the backfilling, final grading and replacing a 20 centimeter topsoil depth. Analysis of adjacent native vegetation was used to develop a seed mix of four native species. Ground water encountered was traced to an alluvial system allowing development of a well and pond for domestic and livestock use. The project was partially completed in 2009, with final topsoiling and seeding in summer 2010. The Mongolian work force spearheaded on-site management and field implementation, including use of a new type of seeder. A management and monitoring plan was implemented. Monitoring results show excellent perennial vegetation establishment, 4X the biomass production of the native reference site and more than 20 native species established, all indicative of successful outcomes for the objectives. The project successfully reclaimed the 18 ha site to pre-mine conditions and accomplished the first complete coal mine reclamation project in the history of Mongolia.
Several measurements of acidity concentrations from 40 above- drainage underground mines over 38 years were plotted against a range of acidity decay curves. The objective of this study was to determine the average amount of acidity lost over time. Ideal acidity decay curves of 2, 5, and 10% were used for this comparison. The 40 sites were split into two main groups by coal seam (Upper Freeport and Pittsburgh). Acidity values from the 34 Upper Freeport sites were split further into four different groups (by 1968 acidity) and an exponential trend line was drawn through the data to determine how well the groups matched the ideal decay curves. Both the Pittsburgh and Upper Freeport groups most closely matched the 5% decay curve. Acidity values from the T&T #2 mine, which was closed 12 years ago, were also plotted against the same three decay curves. T&T most closely matched the 10% decay curve during its first 12 years after closure. This is likely due to the relatively short time since mine closure of T&T compared to the 50-70 years since mine closure for the 40 sites. In addition, T&T is likely still going through its initial flushing phase, which includes the flushing of accumulated metal salts from the mine.
In 2010 an evaluation was conducted to determine if aerial photography could be used to accurately estimate canopy cover. Canopy cover data were estimated from 12 randomly selected sites. The sites were located in the Goat Hill subsidence area, at the Chevron Mining Inc. molybdenum mine in northern New Mexico. With aerial photography (NAIP, 2009), the 12 selected sites were separated into three canopy groups (A, B, C) based on the homogeneity of the associated canopy cover density. Each group had at least three study sites with three 20m parallel transects located 5m up slope from center, on center, and 5m down slope from center. A densiometer was used to read canopy cover every two meters along each transect (10 readings per transect, 30 per study site). A total of 360 canopy cover readings were created for the 12 sites. Data for each group were collected in 2007 and 2010. A mean canopy cover was calculated for each canopy group by combining the study site data for the two years. Polygons were digitized for each group using the aerial photo as the land area base. The data within the polygons were combined into two separate classes using the Natural Breaks (Jenks) method of classification. Both values were tallied and the sums were compared. The percentage canopy cover data were derived by dividing the sum of each value by the total value for each class. This resulted in an estimated canopy cover percentage for each class. The field data canopy cover percentage and the aerial photography estimated percentage were compared. The percentages derived from group A, B and C were 50%, 13%, 60% respectively. Estimated aerial photography canopy cover percentages for class A, B, and C were 51%, 13% and 56% respectively. A regression analysis was conducted between both data sets, yielding a correlation (R 2 ) of .99. The correlation suggests that aerial photography can be used to estimate canopy cover within the subsidence area and potentially elsewhere on the mine. This technique has potential application for areas that may be difficult to access on foot, but are accessible with aerial photography.
Confined poultry production results in large quantities of phosphorus (P)-containing manure. The repeated application of manure to soils based on the nitrogen content of this material results in soil P buildup; a process that has been linked to eutrophication of surface waters. Active treatment of acid mine drainage produces an iron-based waste product, acid mine drainage treatment residuals (AMD-TR) that are known to bind inorganic and organic P. Our overall goal was to evaluate the feasibility of using AMD-TRs to reduce plant available P in poultry litter. The objective was to quantify the reduction and the variability of reduction in plant available P in poultry litter when AMD-TRs were incorporated. Inorganic P isotherms were constructed using six Ca(OH)2-based AMD-TRs collected from northern West Virginia. Two of these were used in a wetting and drying incubation experiment with five poultry litters. Litter extractable P decreased by 190 to 680 mg P for every % (w/w) increase in AMD-TR, but was dependent on AMD-TR source and litter type. In a separate experiment, application of 20% AMD-TR to litter reduced extractable P by a factor of three, with a first order decay constant of 0.056 (% AMD-TR) -1 . The potential for AMD-TRs to adsorb P from animal manures could convert what is now a liability (AMD-TR disposal) into an opportunity (P-management technology).
This study characterizes mine-drainage derived iron oxides as a precursor for the determination of potential reuses in sustainable water treatment processes. Pure iron oxides have been established as an effective sorptive media or coating for water treatment, yet iron oxides from mine drainages have largely been ignored as a source for this raw material. In addition to passive mine drainage treatment systems, environmental discharges of mine water and associated iron deposits were also examined. In total 13 sources of iron oxides were collected, these sources include 12 coal mining related discharges and one hard rock mining discharge. Water quality and dissolved metals data for the mine water were analyzed to aid in correlating site specific mine water conditions and dominant form of iron oxide present at each location. The iron characterization consisted of X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis to determine the dominant form of iron, Munsell color classification, particle density, loss on ignition (LOI) to estimate organic matter, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis to determine individual particle size, dry sieve particle size distribution (PSD) to attain ASTM particle size classifications, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis of surface area, acid oxalate digestions (AOD) to determine the percent of crystalline and non-crystalline material, and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) analysis for metal concentrations in each iron oxide sample. Observed ranges of selected parameters are: Munsell color (5YR - 10YR); particle density (1.97 - 3.04 g/cm 3 ); LOI (0.59 - 1.41%); SEM of smallest individual particles (5 - 20 nm); BET surface area (63.75 - 497.02 m 2 /g); AOD (13.52 - 96.31% non-crystalline material); and the iron content obtained from ICE-OES analysis ranged from (47 to 94% as goethite). The information gained through this detailed characterization of mine-drainage derived iron oxides may eventually aid in the future selection of appropriate iron oxides for sustainable reuse in water treatment processes.
To facilitate large scale surface coal mining in southern Illinois during the late 1970's -1980's, temporary diversion and eventually relocation (restoration) of perennial streams was required.Illinois' first stream restorations incorporated geomorphologic and ecological principles in their designs and construction to enhance their function and value as lotic and riparian habitats.IDNR's Office of Mines and Minerals (OMM) -Land Reclamation Division required (Federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977) predisturbance stream restoration designs as well as post-disturbance monitoring of physical, chemical, and biological components of the stream community.The OMM interdisciplinary Stream Restoration Committee reviewed plans and provided technical input to ensure compliance with regulations and maximization of habitat enhancement opportunities.The Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory of Southern Illinois University Carbondale (CWRL) initiated stream restoration research in the early 1980's to evaluate restoration practices.CWRL, IDNR, and private biologists assessed ~ 7 miles of diversions and 16 miles of restorations associated with a 40-square mile surface mining complex in Perry County during ~ 1981-1994.These early pre-and post-construction investigations of stream relocations and restorations provide an extremely valuable benchmark to evaluate the long-term geomorphologic and biotic recovery processes in previously restored stream habitats, despite their relatively short 5-year post construction monitoring period.This presentation will highlight the extent and distribution, and establishment practices of these stream restorations initiated more than 25 years ago.A reassessment of these Illinois stream reconstructions that have undergone 10-20+ years of geomorphological adjustment and biological recovery is being planned to provide valuable guidance for future stream restoration practices.
Soudan State Park contains an underground iron mine which has an average discharge of 60 gallons per minute.Annual average concentrations of copper ranged from 83 to 500 µg/l and 6 to 26 µg/l for cobalt, both in excess of current permit standards of 17 µg/l copper and 4 µg/l cobalt.A sulfate reducing bioreactor and an aerobic polishing pond was initially proposed to treat the discharge water.High levels of mercury in the mine discharge (40 -60 ng/l) caused concerns about the potential for the bioreactor to produce methyl mercury.The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency asked the park to develop an alternate treatment process that would reduce copper and cobalt without increasing methyl mercury.Chemical treatment with a rotating cylinder (RCTS TM ) was chosen for additional field evaluation, after bench testing showed that treatment with magnesium hydroxide could reduce copper and cobalt concentrations to permit levels.Additional pilot tests were done using lime and increasing pH to about 9.5 was successful in reducing filtered copper and cobalt to below permit levels.Although the RCTS was successful in raising pH and removing filtered metals, solids removal, without a large settling pond, was extremely difficult.The system of settling tanks and bag and cartridge filters generally reduced TSS to around 30 mg/l, but suspended metals exceeded permit levels.Suspended copper was particularly difficult to remove, and even after 48 hours of settling, suspended copper still exceeded permit levels.Given the problems with suspended metals removal and an approaching enforcement deadline, a decision was made to install mobile modular ion exchange units to treat the entire mine discharge.The system began operating on July 31 2009 and has been successful in treating the discharge water.The system includes filtration to a nominal 1 micron size followed by two 60 ft 3 tanks containing a commercial cation resin.After treatment, cobalt has generally been less than the detection limit of 2 µg/l and dissolved copper has averaged 4.3 µg/l.Unfiltered copper has been difficult to remove.The average unfiltered copper was 16 µg/l.Filtered copper was about 30% of the unfiltered values.
Abstract. Recent experience suggests that native Appalachian hardwood trees can be successfully established on coal surface mining sites if appropriate reclamation techniques are used. The Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA) is a set of mine reclamation techniques developed for that purpose. Questions remain regarding how soil surface grading and choice of herbaceous vegetation affect tree survival, soil erosion and plant succession. An experiment was begun in the spring of 2008 with the goal of evaluating effects of grading and hydroseeding treatments prescribed by the FRA on reforestation success. Three steep (approximately 60% slopes) reclaimed mine sites were prepared in the coalfield of southwest Virginia. Half of each site was graded using conventional pre-FRA grading practices that cause compaction of the surface soil. The other half was loose-graded as per FRA recommendations. Within each grading treatment at each site, one third of the area was seeded with a conventional herbaceous vegetation mix that included competitive grasses and legumes; one third with a tree-compatible herbaceous mix comprised of less competitive grasses and legumes; and one third with 100% annual ryegrass. All experimental areas were planted with the same mix of native hardwood trees. Tree survival over one growing season was similar on the loose (71%) and compacted (70%) grading treatments, as well as on the conventional (65%), tree-compatible (71%), and annual ryegrass (75%) revegetation treatments. Recruitment diversity of nonplanted species was greatest on the annual ryegrass treatment (12 volunteer species), suggesting this re-vegetation practice creates the most favorable conditions for natural succession. Soil erosion rates were significantly higher on the compacted treatment (-8mm soil soil surface change) than on the loose-graded treatment (+10mm soil soil surface change) over the course of two years. The annual ryegrass treatment produced significantly less ground cover (55% total) after two years than the conventional ground cover treatment (83% total), but this did not result in greater soil erosion.
