USING COAL ASH FOR LIMESTONE QUARRY RECLAMATION

For the past several years the Office of Surface Mining has encouraged the use of Coal Combustion ByProducts under appropriate conditions for the reclamation of coal strip mines. Other types of surface mining reclamation are possible using CCBs(coal combustion byproducts) with appropriate guidelines and considerations. Limestone Quarries and other types of surface mines can be reclaimed using CCBs in non-karst loacations under alkaline conditions. Coal ash products from various supply sources need to be tested for possible concentrations of heavy metals which might exeed the groundwater standards however consideration must be given to the groundwater chemistry and the alkaline conditions of the limestone quarry along with the possible alkaline characteristics of the CCBs used in the reclamation process. Heavy metals are unlikely to undergo dissolution in alkaline environments and when coal ash is mixed with other calcined materials the result is a highly cementitous material which further binds the very low concentration of metallic ions in the reclamation materials. The end result is a minimal or non migration of metallic ions and the ash can successfully be used as a material for mine reclamation.