Spoil to Soil: Mine Site Rehabilitation and Revegetation presents both fundamental and practical aspects of remediation and revegetation of mine sites. Through three major themes, it examines characterization of mine site spoils; remediation of chemical, physical and biological constraints of mine site spoils, including post mine-site land-use practices; and revegetation of remediated mine site spoils. Each theme includes chapters featuring case studies involving mine sites around the world. The final section focuses specifically on case studies with successful mine site rehabilitation. The book provides a narrative of how inert spoil can be converted to live soil. Instructive illustrations show mine sites before and after rehabilitation. The purpose of this book is to provide students, scientists, and professional personnel in the mining industry sensible, science-based information needed to rehabilitate sustainably areas disturbed by mining activities. This book is suitable for undergraduate and graduate students majoring in environmental, earth, and soil sciences; environmental and soil scientists; and mine site environmental engineers and regulators.

Bio-Geotechnologies for Mine Site Rehabilitation deals with the biological, physical, chemical, and engineering approaches necessary for the reclamation of mine waste. As mining has negative effects on natural resources and deteriorates the quality of the surrounding environment, this book provides coverage across different types of mining industries, which are currently creating industrial deserts overloaded with technogenic waste. The book offers cost-effective strategies and approaches for contaminated sites, along with remediation and rehabilitation methods for contaminated soils and waste dumps. It is an essential resource for students and academics, but is also ideal for applied professionals in environmental geology, mineral geologists, biotechnologists and policymakers. - Deals with global and holistic approaches of abandoned mine land rehabilitation - Includes mine waste rehabilitation case studies from around the world - Covers integrated technologies, such as bioremediation of metalliferous soil - Provide strategies for sustainable ecosystems on mine spoil dumps - Offers novel methods for the remediation of acid mine drainage

Methods for restoring native plant communities on acidic mine spoils at high elevations were evaluated in a gbsdemonstration area gcs in the New World Mining District of southern Montana. Research plots installed in 1976 were assessed for 22 years and compared with adjacent native reference plant communities. A 1.5-acre (0.61-ha) area of mine spoils was shaped and treated with hydrated lime, organic matter, and fertilizer. The area was then seeded heavily with five native grasses collected from adjacent native plant communities. Natural seed rain, transplanting, refertilization, and use of introduced species were also studied. During periods of fertilization, biomass and cover were twofold greater than in adjacent native reference communities in some years, but then rapidly declined to levels observed in native reference communities. Natural succession was accelerating within the demonstration area toward formation of a native community with characteristics similar to adjacent reference areas. Soil genesis was progressing and a soil gbsA gcs horizon was developing. Use of native seral species appears necessary for long-term formation of a self-sustaining natural community. Both transplanting and natural seed rain on treated spoils resulted in significantly lower biomass and cover levels than on the seeded area. Our data demonstrate that acidic mine spoils, such as in the New World area, can be treated successfully in-place with lime, organic matter, and fertilizer, and then seeded with a mixture of native seral grasses, followed by surface mulching with erosion blanket. Capping with native soils is unnecessary. Reclamation principles and procedures are summarized.