When appropriately designed and maintained, passive systems can provide long-term, efficient, effective treatment for many acid mine drainage (AMD) sources. Passive AMD relies on natural processes to neutralize acidity oxidize or reduce precipitate metal contaminants. is most suitable small moderate discharges of appropriate chemistry, but periodic inspection maintenance plus eventual renovation are generally required. technologies be separated into biological geochemical types. Biological...

Many forested landscapes around the world are severely altered during mining for their rich mineral and energy reserves. Herein we provide an overview of challenges inherent in efforts to restore mined functioning forest ecosystems present a synthesis recent progress using examples from North America, Europe Australia. We end with recommendations further elaboration Forestry Reclamation Approach emphasizing: (1) Landform reconstruction modelled on natural systems creation topographic...

Surface coal mines prior to 1950 in the USA were generally left without any reclamation. As government regulations advanced since then, mine operators required backfill area and plant grasses or trees. After federal Mining Control Reclamation Act (SMCRA) was passed 1977 USA, conduct pre-mining analyses of site designate a land use that could be achieved after mining. Successful reclamation, as needed satisfy today's societal demands, requires engineering, design, purposeful reconstruction...

Coal remains a very important source of energy for the global economy. Surface and underground coal mining are two major methods extraction, both have benefits drawbacks. can variety environmental impacts including ecosystem losses, landscape alteration, soil destruction, changes to surface groundwater quality quantity. In addition, toxic compounds such as heavy metals, radioactive elements, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), other organic contaminants released in environment,...

Much attention has been devoted to developing inexpensive, limestone-based systems for treating acid mine drainage (AMD) with little or no maintenance. Treatment of AMD limestone results in a surface coating metal hydroxides, process known as armoring. Once armored, is assumed cease dissolution and neutralization. Laboratory field experiments determined acidity changes when contacted by armored unarmored investigated the implications armoring on construction open channels AMD. Results...

Abstract Fifteen AML sites ranging in age from 13 to 35 yr northern West Virginia were selected three surface‐mined coal beds (Pittsburgh, Freeport, and Kittanning) evaluate plant invasion establishment on disturbed sites. Three 10 m by plots randomly located each site, cover, density, stem diameter of all woody species measured. Herbaceous litter cover also estimated square‐meter quadrats within 10‐m 2 plot. Total tree was significantly different among Pittsburgh Kittanning mined sites, but...

The eastern U.S. Appalachian region supports the world's most extensive temperate forests, but surface mining for coal has caused forest loss. New reclamation methods are being employed with intent of restoring native on mined lands. Mine soil construction is essential to reforestation process. Here, we review scientific literature concerning selection materials mine where ecosystem restoration goal. Successful establishment and productive growth trees been documented soils coarse fragment...

Abstract Studies on molecular characterization of soil organic carbon (SOC), although critical to understanding SOC dynamics, are relatively scarce for reclaimed minesoils. The aim this study was assess the effects time since reclamation properties in a minesoil chronosequence using different spectroscopic indices. consisted four minesoils, with similar soil‐forming conditions, pasture ecosystem, and distinguished only by varying from 1 22 years. Results indicated that molecules older...

ABSTRACT Acid–base accounting (ABA) is an analytical procedure that provides values to help assess the acid‐producing and acid‐neutralizing potential of overburden rocks prior coal mining other large‐scale excavations. This was developed by West Virginia University scientists during 1960s. After passage laws requiring assessment surface on water quality, ABA became a preferred method predict post‐mining permitting decisions for mines are largely based determined ABA. To amount rock compared...

Surface mining in West Virginia removes the eastern deciduous forest and reclaiming mined land to a productive must consider soil depth, physical chemical properties, compaction, ground cover competition, tree species selection. Our objective was evaluate survival growth weathered brown sandstone unweathered gray sandstone. Brown are often substituted when insufficient native topsoil is available for replacement. Three 2.8-ha plots were constructed with either 1.5 or 1.2 m of sandstone, at...

Worldwide, about 500 million tonnes of coal combustion by-products (CCPs) are produced annually. Fly ash constitutes 70% the generated, and these ashes vary in their composition properties based on boiler type gas emission control system. used as fill material, alkaline amendments, cement, grout material. Because high-soluble salt content leachable macro micronutrients, they can be a soil amendment to replace fertilizer lime. Alkaline fly added large quantities neutralize acidity raise pH...

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and giant miscanthus (Miscanthus x giganteus Greef & Deuter ex Hodkinson Renvoize) are productive on marginal lands in the eastern USA, but their productivity composition have not been compared mine lands. Our objectives were to compare biomass production, composition, theoretical ethanol yield (TEY) production (TEP) of these grasses a reclaimed mined site. Following 25 years herbaceous cover, vegetation was killed plots switchgrass cultivars Kanlow BoMaster...

Acid-base accounting (ABA) is a common procedure to predict the alkaline or acid-producing potential of overburdens. Neutralization (NP) as currently written in ABA overestimates alkalinity when siderite (FeCO3) present overburden. Siderite initially yields upon digestion, but with time neutralized by acidity from ferric iron (Fe3+) hydrolysis and precipitation. Thirty-one overburden samples containing varying amounts siderite, calcite, pyrite, quartz were analyzed four NP digestion methods...