Postmine soils - a legacy of surface mining reclamation

Conference · Wed Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:613871

DeMent, J A ^[1]; Stroud, F S; Bearden, E D ^[2]

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1. DeMent & Associates, Haughton, LA (United States)
2. TU Services, Dallas, TX (United States)

Long after surface mining operations have ceased within a given area, the postmine soils will remain as a legacy of reclamation planning and implementation. Many of the native soils in east Texas are highly weathered and have excessive sands within surface horizons or excessive clays within subsoil horizons. The paper discusses limitations of such soils and how studies have shown that the use of selected overburden to replace these layers has resulted in long time favorable impacts due to improved soil quality. Examples are given where such improvements have taken place. The use of computers has enhanced the characterization of overburden strata and evaluation of these materials as a substitute for native soils. A brief discussion is given on postmine soil adaptability to economically-enhanced cropping systems within areas of East Texas. Suggestions are made for quantifying methods of monitoring postmine soil quality to better predict the longtime impacts of the postmine soils. Soil reconstruction standards should not be based on individual geochemical parameters taken in isolation, but on the interaction of all significant properties including vegetative response.

• OSTI ID: 613871
• Report Number(s): CONF-9705128--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
LAND RECLAMATION
MONITORING
REMEDIAL ACTION
SOILS
SURFACE MINING
TEXAS