USING COAL ASH AS MINE RECLAMATION MATERIAL

For the last several years, the Office of Surface Mining has encouraged the use of Coal Combustion By Products under appropriate conditions for the reclamation of coal strip mines. Other types of surface mine reclamation are possible using Coal Combustion By Products with appropriate guidelines and considerations. Quarries and other types of surface mines can be reclaimed using CCBs in non karst locations. Coal ash products from various supply sources need to be tested for possible concentrations of heavy metals which might exceed the groundwater standard however consideration must be given to the groundwater chemistry where dissolution might occur. Coal ash mixed with calcined materials produces a highly alkaline mixture which when brought to a reclamation site and mixed with water produces a highly cementitious material which further binds the metallic ions to the resulting reclamation product. Given that groundwater in limestone quarries for example is highly alkaline, the end result is minimal or non migration of metallic ions and the ash can successfully be used for reclamation.