Atmosphere and temperature changes within a reclaimed coal strip mine

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983 · Soil Sci.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6744018

Jaynes, D B

Oxygen, CO/SUB/2 and temperature were measured over a 2-year period, in relation to depth along a transect of an acid, reclaimed, coal strip mine. Spoil-atmosphere O/SUB/2 concentration decreased with depth, but approached zero only in a small portion of the transect. Most of the mine remained well oxygenated (O/SUB/2 > 10% vol.) down to the 12 m depth throughout the year. CO/SUB/2 concentrations ranged from near atmospheric levels to >15%. Decreases in O/SUB/2 were strongly correlated with CO/SUB/2 increases at most locations, which may be explained by carbonate neutralisation of acid produced by pyrite oxidation. At some locations, especially between 1 and 3 m from the surface, variations in O/SUB/2 and CO/SUB/2 were correlated with changes in the spoil temperature. No such correlation was observed at greater depths. Spoil temperatures in layers below 3 m remained in a range conducive to iron-oxidising bacterial activity year around. Temperatures within 60 cm of the surface showed greater seasonal extremes than a natural soil and had a mean annual temperature 1.2 to 1.7 C higher.

• OSTI ID: 6744018
• Journal Information: Soil Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: Soil Sci.; (United States) Vol. 136:3; ISSN SOSCA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010800* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Waste Management
012000 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Mining
510500 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ABANDONED SITES
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
ATMOSPHERES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
COAL MINES
DEPTH
DIMENSIONS
ELEMENTS
LAND RECLAMATION
MINES
MINING
MONITORING
NONMETALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
QUANTITY RATIO
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SURFACE MINING
TEMPERATURE MONITORING
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
VARIATIONS