Opportunities for improved surface mine reclamation in the central Appalachian coal region
The purpose of this research was to estimate the costs of coal surface mine reclamation methods designed to prepare mined lands for improved use in areas of steeply sloping topography. During the course of this research, a computer-based mining and reclamation cost estimating system was developed. COSTSUM is a set of seven programs designed to analyze data from active surface mining sites to determine spoil handling and reclamation costs. OPSIM is a surface mining simulator designed to estimate the differences in spoil handling costs among reclamation and postmining landform alternatives. This cost-estimating system was utilized during an intensive study of mining and reclamation cost at a surface mining site in Wise County, Virginia, where a number of improved reclamation practices were implemented. At this site, a steeply sloping premining topography was transformed to a postmining landform containing an extensive near-level area covered with deep, uncompacted, potentially productive mine soils. Analysis of daily records of operations revealed that the cost of mining and reclaiming this site was comparable to industry average costs in the area in spite of departure from conventional methods. The results of simulation procedures indicated that the cost of mining so as to produce this landscape was less than the estimated cost of conventional mining methods.
- Research Organization:
- Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ., Blacksburg (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6963920
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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010900* -- Coal
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29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
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294001 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Coal
APPALACHIA
COAL MINES
COMPUTER CODES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
COST ESTIMATION
LAND RECLAMATION
MINES
MINING
NORTH AMERICA
SIMULATION
SLOPE STABILITY
STABILITY
SURFACE MINING
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
USA