Strip Mine Reclamation Using Dredged Material

by John W. Simmers, US Army Engineer Waterways, Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS, USA,
Gerould S. Wilhelm, US Army Engineer Waterways, Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS, USA,
Richard G. Rhett, US Army Engineer Waterways, Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS, USA,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Dredging and Dredged Material Disposal

Abstract:

This alternative was investigated through the creation of a field study to demonstrate the feasibility of using a cover of dewatered dredged material to reclaim surface mine deposits. Through the demonstration, dredged material was used successfully to correct acid drainage from an abandoned coal mine site in Ottawa, Illinois. A 1-meter cover of dredged material was placed on top of acid pyritic mine spoil with a pH of 3. 0. The dredged material, with a pH of 7. 5, came from the Calumet River disposal site near Chicago, Illinois. Vigorous vegetation was established on the dredged material cover, and the acid runoff was eliminated. In order to evaluate the mobilization of heavy metal contaminants known to be present in this specific dredged material, monitoring of the site included chemical analysis of the dominant plant species on the site and the use of upland plant and animal bioassays.

Subject Headings: Dredged materials | Land reclamation | Field tests | Acids | pH | Site investigation | Feasibility studies | Illinois | United States | Chicago

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