Soil properties of surface mined land

Journal Article · · Trans. ASAE; (United States)

OSTI ID:5292204

Silburn, D M; Crow, F R

Properties of premined and postmined soil profiles were measured on three surface mined areas in eastern Oklahoma. Two types of spoil were represented in the reclaimed profiles, clay spoil and shale spoil. Properties determined were: bulk density, moisture retention texture, percent coarse fragments, and saturated hydraulic conductivity. Coarse fragments in shale spoil significantly reduce the available moisture holding capacity and reduce infiltration. At the 60 cm root depth, the total available water of the topsoil-covered spoil profiles was about 85% of the total available water of the natural soil. Topsoiling was beneficial from the point of view of water availability as it increased both the potential rooting depth and the storage capacity per unit of root depth. Gravitational water capacity in all reclaimed profiles was less than for natural soils. Measured saturated hydraulic conductivity values indicated that the shale spoils and clay spoils were less permeable than the natural subsoils by about one and two orders of magnitude respectively. Consequently, mining runoff from the reclaimed profiles will be greater than from natural soils. 7 references, 2 figures, 6 tables.

• Research Organization: Oklahoma State Univ., Stillwater
• OSTI ID: 5292204
• Journal Information: Trans. ASAE; (United States), Journal Name: Trans. ASAE; (United States) Vol. 27:3; ISSN TAAEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FEDERAL REGION VI
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROLOGY
LAND RECLAMATION
MASS TRANSFER
MINING
MOISTURE
NORTH AMERICA
OKLAHOMA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RUNOFF
SOILS
SURFACE MINING
USA
WATER