Land utilization and reclamation in the mining industry, 1930--1971

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1974

OSTI ID:5373705

Paone, J; Morning, J L; Giorgetti, L

Land utilized by the mining industry from 1930 through 1971 amounted to 3.65 million acres, or 0.16% of the land mass in the United States. Land reclaimed during the same period was 1.46 million acres, or 40% of the land utilized. This report includes data on land use for wastes from underground and surface mining, for wastes from mill operations, and on subsidence. Data on land use and reclamation were obtained from operating companies, mining organizations, appropriate State agencies, and others concerned with such activities. The 10 leading States in land used for mining in 1971 were, in decreasing order, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Ohio, California, Florida, West Virginia, Illinois, Minnesota, and Indiana. Mineral commodities accounting for a major portion of land use are, in decreasing order, bituminous coal, sand and gravel, stone, copper, phosphate rock, iron ore, and clay; for coal, these commodities are produced principally by surface mining operations. Reclamation over the 42-year period was largely on lands utilized for surface mining of bituminous coal. New surface mining methods, particularly for coal, incorporate some form of land restoration.

• Research Organization: Bureau of Mines, Washington, D.C. (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5373705
• Report Number(s): BM-IC-8642
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
510500* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BITUMINOUS COAL
BUILDING MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COAL
COAL MINING
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GROUND SUBSIDENCE
LAND RECLAMATION
LAND USE
MATERIALS
MINERAL WASTES
MINES
MINING
NORTH AMERICA
SOLID WASTES
SURFACE MINING
UNDERGROUND MINING
USA
WASTES