Mined land reclamation using polluted urban navigable waterway sediments. III. Experience at a demonstration site

Journal Article · · J. Environ. Qual.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6081620

Van Luik, A; Harrison, W

Eroding ridges of acidic coal-mine spoil near Ottawa, IL were leveled to form a gently sloped raised plateau. Four test plots were constructed: a control plot and three treatment plots that received a 0.9-m thick cover of dredged material. Two of the treatment plots received lime applications, and all plots were seeded with a mixture of grasses. Porous ceramic cup soil water samplers were installed, in duplicate, at two levels in the control plot and at three levels in each treatment plot. The three levels in the treatment plots coincided with dredged material, the dredge material/mine spoil interface, and the underlying mine spoil. Nineteen water-quality parameters were monitored during the 4 years of the study. Results showed that the near-surface soil-water in the control plot deteriorated with respect to pH during the first 2 years and stabilized thereafter. The deeper control-plot samples showed no significant change in soil-water quality. The dredged material soil-water pH decreased slightly after placement, with the onset of lush vegetative growth. The solutions collected from the dredged material/mine spoil interface were neutralized during the first 2 years of the study, and dissolved trace metal levels dropped significantly during the first and succeeding years. The applied dredged material has significantly ameliorated the acidity and trace-metal levels of water in the underlying mine spoil, and appears to be an effective and safe reclamation medium, under proper use and management.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL
• OSTI ID: 6081620
• Journal Information: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States) Vol. 13:3; ISSN JEVQA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
510200 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
510500 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
520200 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
COAL MINES
DATA
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS
DREDGE SPOIL
DREDGING
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GRASS
INFORMATION
INLAND WATERWAYS
LAND RECLAMATION
LIMING
METALS
MINES
MINING
MONITORING
NUMERICAL DATA
PH VALUE
PLANTS
REVEGETATION
SEDIMENTS
SOILS
SURFACE MINING
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
USES
WATER QUALITY