Surface Mining

Reclamation / Recultivation

Prof. Dr. Carsten Drebenstedt

TU Bergakademie Freiberg
Institut für Bergbau und Spezieltiefbau
Professur Bergbau-Tagebau

1
 Contents (I)
1. The mining encroachment and its consequences
2. Influential factors on the reclamation (historical abstract)
3. Legal bases
3.1 Lawful bases
3.2 Permission legal bases
(utilization balance of interests; business plan procedure /
regional planning / brown coal planning /
land utilization planning)
3.3 Financing of the reclamation
(administrative agreement, financial reserves,
long-term tasks of mining)
4. Nature spatial bases (climate, ground, vegetation)

2
 Contents (II)

5. Deposit- and mining bases (type of deposits and mining

engineering from his point of view selective mining and dumping;
relief formation); geotechnical and public security (stability of
slope, radioactivity,...)
6. Soil as habitat factor
6.1 Culture value of the overburden
6.2 Mapping of dumps
6.3 Acid-bases-balance
6.4 Melioration of dumps
6.5 Case study ash utilization
7. Relief and appearance of the landscape after the mining

3
 Contents (III)

8. Agricultural and forest utilization of dumps

8.1 Requests and possibilities at
agricultural recultivation; case studies
8.2 Requests and possibilities at forest recultivation; case studies
8.3 Soil development
9. Water in the past mining landscape – requests and possibilities;
case studies
10. Requests and possibilities at the nature preservation in the past
mining landscape; case studies

4
 Contents (IV)

11. Requests and possibilities of utilization for recreation and leisure

time as well as art in the past mining landscape, case study
12. Further applications of the past mining landscape (infrastructure,
waste dump); case studies
13. Dust guard measure, cultivation temporary
14. Monitoring (field recordings, remote sensing, GIS)
15. International aspects; case studies brown coal in Europe,
Indonesia, China
16. Outlook

5
 References (Selection)
• Wolfram Pflug:
Braunkohlentagebau und Rekultivierung;
Springer Verlag, 1998

• Sabine Gilcher / Dietrich Bruns:

Renaturierung von Abbaustellen;
Verlag Eugen Ulmer, 1999

• Gerhard Olschowsky:
Bergbau und Landschaft
Verlag Paul Parey, 1993

6
 What is reclamation?
• Generally understanding: Create a landscape
after mining (post mining landscape); the man
made landscape can be near to the situation
before mining or changed

• The definitions and requirements determined

in national acts and regulations

• Return the abondeded mining area without

negative influences to the society (to the
nature and economic cycle), considering the
public interest and the technical and financial
possibilities of the mining company

7
1. Consequences of mining
Example of Lignite Mining in Lausitz region, Germany

Typical opencast mine

in Lausitz lignite region
with overburden conveyor
bridge for overburden
removal

8
Basics: Impact to the Environment
Openpit/Quarry, Dewatering, Rock
Outside dumps, Relocation of destructure,
Infrastructure, water bodies, Mix and Relo- Operation of
Subsidences New water cation of Rock, Equipment,
Tailings bodies Dumping Processing of Ore

Land occupation Hydrogeolo- Morphological Emmissions Waste

gical Changes Changes
Change of materials properties, geochemistry

Public and mining safety

9
Characterisation
of Lignite Mining in Germany
- 180 Mt/a; 11 Mines; Single Mine Output: 6 to 40 Mt/a
- Coal Seams Thickness: 10 to 70 m, up to 4 seam
- Stripping Ratio: 6m³/t; Overburden Removal: 1 Bm³/a,
Mine depth up to 450 m; Material: Soils (Sand, Gravel, Clays)
- Dewatering: 1 Bm³/a (6 m³/t)
- Mining Area: up to 10.000 ha/mine over 50 years and more
Land Reclamation
Land use Overall Agriculture Forest Water Others
ha ha ha ha ha ha
170,615 117,494,1 22,705,8 52,180 20,918.4 10,689.9

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Impact of Lignite Mining
Sattelite foto from Lausitz lignite mining region;
deep magenta colour: not reclaimed mines

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Damages from Mining

- Land slides
- Acid mine
water drainage
- Land degradation

12
2. Factors infuencing to mining

13
Historical development of reclamation in
Germany
1. From the beginning to the end of 19th century
(low coal demand):
First legal basis in 18th century; mainly refill and
cover with top soil for agriculture

2. First half of 20th century (increasing coal

demand): experiments with forestry; change
from top soil removal to potential arable
substrates dumping

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Historical development of reclamation in
Germany
3.1Second half of 20th century (1950 -70, large
expansion of mines): Start of scientific
investigations; monoculture of agriculture and
forestry; planning of recreation areas and for
nature preservation

3.2Second half of 20th century (1970 -90, high

production level): Realizing of recreation and
nature preservation projects; more attention to
ecology; further development of reclamation
methods

15
Historical development of reclamation in
Germany

4. End of 20th century (drastical decrease of

production): Establishment of state owned
company for land reclamation for appr. 30
closed mines and appr. 50 brownfields; change
of reclamtion strategy

5. Since 2000 (consolidation of coal industry):

More attention to nature preservation and
landscape development; forest-ecological and
agro-ecological measurements; planning in
scale of regions

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3.1 Legal basis for reclamation

17
Legislation:
Federal Mining Act (BBergG)
Resources

Federal Mining Act outside

BBergG BBergG

- if immissions: permission according to

free for mining Surface rights the Federal Immission Protection Act
- if impact to water: permission by state
water balance act
- if impact to nature: permission by state
Operation Plan nature preservation act

In accordance with state development plan (lignite - lignite plan)

and regional planning

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 Legislation:
Federal Mining Act (BBergG, 1865)
- Target: protect and use of strategic important raw materials
- Raw material cat.: free, land owned (no construction materials)
- Subject: Exploration, Exploitation and Reclamation
- Main Instrument: Operation Plan offered by Mining Company
- Frame Plan (long term): shows measures how to keep public
safety, avoid negative impacts, final plan of reclamation, …
- Main Operation Plan (2 years): current care for reclamation
- Final Operation Plan (Mine closure): guarantee reclamation, …
- Permission process concentrates other relevant interests
- Single land owner can't opposite mining project
- Requirements to mining company, e.g. financial potential

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Legislation: Federal Mining Act
Content of Frame Operation Plan

- Geotechnical Safety (mining and post mining)

- Relief Formation (Erosion, Post Mining Land Use)
- Shares of terrestrial, sub aquatic and aquatic systems in post
mining landscapes
- Substrates on the Dump Surface (Reclamation, Soils)
- Use of accompanying raw materials
- Man made deposits of potential raw materials
- Formation of Surface- and Groundwater System
- Water quality (long term chemical stability)

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3.2 German Planning law

construction and land planning act

(principles of land planning)
Federation
land development plan
Federal state (purposes and grounds, incl. raw material plan,
(lands) precedence and reservation areas)

lignite or mine closure plan

in lignite areas
regional plan
Region
development plan
Municipality green area plan

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 Legislation:
Permission Procedere Lignite Mine
- Mining Company (MC) prepare Frame Operation Plan (FOP)
- FOP submitted to Federal State Planning Department (FSPD)
and Mining Authority (MA)
- FSDP starts information to authorities responsible for protected
subjects, like water, soil, atmosphere, nature, …
- FSDP starts public information (plan offers in communities)
- after discussion process FSDP takes the decision on level of
ministries and issue a law (part of the law is the reclamation plan)
- MA permit the FOP with requirements; control
- MC get permission from different authorities with requirements;
own and controls from third parties
- Time (up to > 10 years) and cost intensive!
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Legislation: Planning Law
Lignite Plan: Lignite Committee

Voting members:
- Representatives of
infuenced districts
- Representatives of public
organisations

Mining company is a
consulting member

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Legislation: Permission Process

Is the impact (Mining) nessecary? Alternatives

Yes
No impacts allowed No Mining

No
Avoid/Minimize impacts Measures

Compensation of impacts Costs

In Place Outside Money

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Legislation:
Environmental Management (EM)
- System of activities to avoid negative influences
to the elements of the environment

- Activities (Plan-Do-Control-Act):
- Mapping of situation before mining
- Valuation of influences to the environment
- Plan for measures to avoid/reduce the impacts,
e.g. reclamation
- Control/ Monitoring

- Integrated part of all mining activities (technical,

financial and organizational)
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Planning:
General Plan of Reclamation

26
Planning:
Detail of Post Mining Landscape

27
Planning: Visualisation
of Post Mining Landscape

28
Planning: Vision
Meuro Lake

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Planning: Vision
Bergheider Lake

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 Objects of the Reclamations
• active mining – during and after the working
• rehabilitation mining – as a rule after the shut-down
• abandoned mines – after damage events in the closed mining of last
centuries
Where takes place reclamation?

... everywhere, where land use has taken place:

• surfaces of exploration and prospecting
• surface mine
• dumps / tailings
• industrial plants of mining on lawn sole (pit bank / border region ...)
• faulted area above underground mining

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 Tasks of the Residual Spatial Design
(Part of the Reclamations)

• sustainability of the drainage and mine water cleaning to the

geotechnical security during the residual works in the surface mine;
residual coal mining
• removal equipment from the surface mine => scrapping in the
surface mining or driving out to the
scrapping/disassembly/displacement
• preparation of a sure slope system => flattening according to the
use, if necessary compactions
• flooding of the residual space => inlet structure or outlet buildings,
feeds and discharger
• restoring / past mining use of the pit banks and infrastructure
(approach, supply and disposal pipe)

32
 Major Tasks of the Brown Coal Mine
Rehabilitation
• continuation of the drainage / mine water cleaning for stabilization of
soil water content / geotechnical security during the rehabilitation
• mass movement for the geotechnical backup / water – land –
distribution (continuation of excavator slices, stripping of the dump
area with large scale equipment)
• melioration and “Inkulturnahme” (take in culture) of dump area
• slope stabilization
• flooding of the future residual seas after amount and quality
• monitoring / quality assurance
• area marketing

33
Major Tasks of the WISMUT-Rehabilitation
• Safe closure of surface mine nearly surface
openings
• backfilling of shafts / mine protection
• rehabilitation of dumps / recultivation of dumps
• rehabilitation von Tailings
• mine flooding and mine water cleaning
• demolition of surface plants

example large-scale project surface mine Lichtenberg:

backfilling of the surface mine (100 Mio.m³) with own as well as foreign
external dump material taking into account the goodness of the dump
material (potential of acidification) and under addition of lime
concentration of the problem potentials on a controllable point
(e.g., Radonexhalation)

34
 3.3 Financing of the Reclamation

principally: causer or owner

1. active mining companies:
– reserves by fond formation (e.g. surface balance) or
proportional accumulation (e.g. about coal content)
In the year of the causing reserves are formed from the
result for obligations in later periods (tax-free, before profit)
– safety services: is collected by smaller enterprises per t of raw
material (e.g., at companies standing under mining law) and
kept safe by the bureau of mines (for the case of the
insolvency)

35
 3.3 Financing of the Reclamation

2. rehabilitation mining:
– financing chiefly by the Federation and the state (ca. 75/25)
as „legacy“ of the political economy of the GDR
rehabilitation of LMBV - brown coal rehabilitation, ca. 9 Bn €
WISMUT - uranium ore mining, ca. 6.3 Bn €
GVV - non-ferrous metal, spar and salt mining,
ca. 2 Bn €
3. mining without legal succession (abandoned mines)
financing by the state (ensuring of the public safety)

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Funding:
Mine Closure Lignite Mining
appr. 9 B€ financed 1991 to 2009 for closure of
30 surface mines and 50 industrial areas (brownfields):

- Destructure of Infrastucture: 11.9 Mm³

- Overburden Removal: 1.7 Bm³
- Compaction of Soil: 1.1 Bm³
- Reclamation: 23.700 ha (70%, medium term)
- Decontamination: 29.5 Mm³ (61%, long term)
- Water supply: 12.7 Bm³ (long term, water quality?!)

Example for active mines!

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 Financial Reserves
- Calculation Example Fond Formation -
• land demands in the reporting year 100 ha
• reclamation in the reporting year: 50 ha
• difference (obligation for future): 50 ha
• calculation 1 ha reclamation: 20 T€
• supply to financial reserves: 1.000 T€

Calculation example proportionate accumulation:

• calculation, e.g. residual spatial design: 300 Mio. €

• coal supply in the mining field: 1.000 Mio.t
• specific financial reserves approach: 0,30 €/t
• haulage in the reporting year: 50 Mio.t
• amount of the financial reserves: 15 Mio.€

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 Calculation
- Expenditure for the Reclamation (I) -

starting period:

• effort for planning

• effort for preliminary field mapping
• effort for selective mining / dumping

39
 Calculation
- Expenditure for the Reclamation (II) -
realization:
• dump geological expert opinion
• land amelioration
– material use (lime, fertilizer)
– machine use for introduce =f (soil type, depth)
• development (roads, drainage trench)
– material
– machine use
• test seed / preliminary culture (seed corn, sowing)
• sowing (LN) / plantation (FN) main culture
– material (seed, plants)
– machine use (sowing, plantation)

40
 Calculation
- Expenditure for the Reclamation (III) -
period soon thereafter:
• cultivation / land use
– arrangement with ecological elements
– seed rotation according to corp rotation (LN)
resp. repeat plantation by failures (FN)
• material use
• machine use
• land documentation / GIS
• marketing (admeasure, advertising,...)

41
4. Natural factors for reclamation

human being

Climate
(temperature, rain fall, wind..)

Interaction between
human Soil Morphology human the abiotic locational factors
being being and human being

human Water Flora/ human

being Fauna being
nature sphere

civilisation sphere

42
5. Geology and mining factors
influence to reclamation
Formation Types of the Lignite deposits in Germany

epirogene type salt dynamic type

subrosions type tectonic type 43

 Influence of the Deposit to the Reclamation
- Mine and Dump -
1. Horizontal deposit External dump

mining direction mining direction Internal dump

- internal dump possible

- external dump for
development
- portion of the residual
spatial relatively lowly
2. Inklined deposit External dump

mining direction minig direction Internal dump

- internal dump caused

possible Residual spatial

- large dump necessary

- large residual spatial

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 Influence of the Deposit to the Reclamation
- Mine and Dump -
3. steep inclined deposit
outside dump
mining direction mining direction

- internal dump not possible residual spatial

- large external dump
necessary
- large residual spatial

4. Massiv body of raw material, few overburden

mining direction

- alternative internal dump

residual spatial
- small external dump
- large residual spatial

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 Influence of the Deposit to the Reclamation
- Mine and Dump -
• mining of hillside
and mountain

mining direction

• underground mining refuse dump

filling of the extraction chambers

46
 Influence of the Deposit to the Reclamation
- Dump -

features internal spoil tip external spoil tip

transport distance less larger

transport high less higher

land demands less larger

costs less higher

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Equipment Selection

Feasible Technologies Geology, Equipment

Economic Technologies Investments,

Costs

Quantity of Impacts Nois, Dust, Energy

consumption,
Exhaust fumes,
Evaluation of Impacts Vibrations, ...

Selection of Equipment/ Technology

48
 Types of dumps

• internal dump

mining direction
=> filled ground inside the border of the surface mine

• external dump

mining direction
=> filled ground outside the border of the surface mine

49
 Types of dumps

Particularity:
• external dump on
in-pit dump

• external dump for

field balancing

• external dump under

water

50
 Influence of the Deposit to the Reclamation
Soil characteristics
• loose overburden
– steep slope, higher dumps => moderate space requirement
– sooner transition to internal dump when the storage is planar and sloped
• cohesive overburden
– planar slope, smaller high of dump => large space requirement (hydraulic dump)
– later transition to internal dump only with planar storage => larger residual spatial
Abbaurichtung
Außenkippe

V1

Aufschlußvolumen
mit Freilegung
V1 Gewachsener Oberabraum

Braunkohlenflöz

Abbaurichtung Außenkippe

V2

Aufschlußvolumen
mit Freilegung Gewachsener Oberabraum
V2

Braunkohlenflöz

51
 Abbaurichtung Außenkippe

Innenkippe V1

Aufschlußvolumen
mit Freilegung
V1

Braunkohlenflöz

Außenkippe
Abbaurichtung

Innenkippe V2
V Betrieb V Betrieb

Aufschlußvolumen
mit Freilegung
V2

Braunkohlenflöz

Außenkippe

V Betrieb

V3
V Betrieb

Aufschlußvolumen
mit Freilegung
V3

Abbaurichtung

Braunkohlenflöz

52
 Influence of the Deposit to the Reclamation
classification of the past mining landscape in the surface mining after change
in landscape and utilization

main elements of the past basic variations of external detail variations of dumps and criteria of the
mining landscape and internal dumping flooding of the residual spatial detailed variations
with external dump dumping above field location of
overburden the
external dump with external tailing external
dump field backfilling
dump to
without external dump complete flooding the field
past mining
landscape without internal dump partial flooding in the high flooding
with internal dump situation
partial flooding in the area
partial plugging of the
surface mine without flooding residual
with internal dump spatial
complete plugging appropriate primary dump

with internal dump overburden back plugging origin of

dumping above field the
foreign overburden plugging
material
residue of the processing

materials not due to mining

53
 Influence of the Deposit to the Reclamation
Example of generating a landscape in abondeded mine

54
Mine Closure, Lichtenberg (Situation)

External Dumps

55
Mine Closure, Lichtenberg (Vision)

56
Mine Closure, Lichtenberg (Result)

57
 Influence of the Deposit to the Reclamation
Cultural value of the overburden

=> suitability for the reclamation by the particle size

overburden

loos rock solid rock

clay silt sand / crushed stone

gravel
unsuitable
unsuitable well suitable
suitable

suitable
suitable
suitable

well suitable

58
 Influence of the Deposit to the Reclamation
Cultural value of the overburden
the particle size determine:
• availability of water
• ground air conditions
• nutrient supply
very fine coarse

particle size / soil air

plant-available
nutrients

plant-available
water
Suitability for the reclamation according to pH-value
• quaternary / pleistocene sediments => weak acid (sand); neutral to basic
(boulder clay)
• tertiary substrate => according to coal content to very acidly, at pH < 3,5 hardly
life in the water and ground possibly

59
 Mine planning and control
Material tracking

GPS

B Scanning B
N
A
A

60
How Avoid AMD

B/N Q B

A T A

B
N A – Potential Acid Soil/Rock (AMR) - T
B – Base (Alkaline) Soil/Rock - Q
A N – Neutral Soil/ Rock - Q

A >> B

61
 6. Soil as Habitat Factor
6.1 cultural value of the overburden
detection by soil geological preliminary field expert's opinion:
• evaluation of geological data
• sample analyse

What is analysed?

predicate to soil physical and chemical properties (if necessary soil

biology)
conclusions

• suitability for agriculture and/or forestry

• derivation of actions for land amelioration (melioration)
• demands to the selective mining / dumping

62
 Soil as Habitat Factor
- Soil Physics -
= stable soil characteristic, can be hardly changed
– texture particle size distribution (sand-gravel-
silt-clay; loos/cohesive)
... responsible to...

pore volume
pore size distribution
...determinedly for...

soil air content

soil water content
sorption
63
 Soil as Habitat Factor
- Soil Chemistry -
• pH-value
– lime content (pH-value-increase)
– Coal content (tertiary substrates) – pH-value-reducing
• nutrient content
– N, P, K – macronutrients
– Mg, Fe, S,...- micronutrients
• influence coal content (finely distributed)
– promoted aggregation by large reactive surface
– increased the usable field capacity (why hydrophobe !!!)
– increased cation exchange capacity
– decrease of the density

64
 Soil as Habitat Factor
- Negative Properties -
• sandy substrates
less capability to hold water and nutrients
• tertiary substrates
high acid potential
• cohesive substrates
seal storage / water saturated (high content elutriated
components <0,02 mm)
• general problems
– heterogeneity (horizontal / vertical)
– depth of root penetration
– stones

65
 Soil as Habitat Factor
methods:
- Dump Substrate Mapping I -
• probe bar (visibility, colour, feeling), raster
• sampling / lab analysis (sample per area)
• aerial photographs interpretation (s/w, colour)
– soil type
– soil moisture
– organic material
aims:
• substrates acquire and differentiate
• composition of the substrates determine
• culture value assess
• soil melioration arrange according to the aim of utilization
• ecological evaluation
• recording relief / area size
• detect problem areas (temporary water saturated, stones, foreign body,...)

66
 Soil as Habitat Factor
- Dump Substrate Mapping II -
another information:

• partial areas in the overall design integrate

development of the area:
– subsidence (decided altitude)
– location to the ground water
– stability
– water outflow / erosion

unit of mapping (Pedotop) > 0,5 ha (in exception less)

67
working algorithm
for soil geological
dump mapping

68
 Soil as Habitat Factor
- Dump Substrate Mapping III -
raw soil forms
• dump substrates with same physical and chemical
property
• comparable capability of crop yield resp. usability

subdivision in main top soil types and local top soil types:
• main top soil types after type of particle size, content of
coal, lime, humus, nutrients, acid potential
• local top soil types for smaller differences (compounds of
substrates, deviations of nutrient content,...)

69
Classification Scheme of the Main
Top Soil Types

70
71
72
73
74
 Soil as Habitat Factor
- Type of Location -

Q - Quaternary dump substrates

Qt` - Quaternary dump substrates, tertiary <10%
Qt - Quaternary dump substrates, tertiary 10 – 40%
QT/TQ - mixed substrates 60/40
Tq - tertiary dump substrates, Quaternary 10 – 40%
Tq` - tertiary dump substrates, Quaternary < 10%
To - tertiary dump substrates

75
valence of important groups of raw top soil types in dumps in the Lusatia.
(Nach Schwabe 1970)

76
 6.2 Melioration Dump Substrates Containing
Sulphur
release of the potential of sulphuric acid:
2 FeS2 + 71/2 O2 + H2O => Fe2(SO4)3 + H2SO4
Fe2(SO4)3 + 4H2O => 2 FeOOH + 3H2SO4
thiobacillus ferrooxidans accelerates to 106 times, lives in the pH-value optimum 2,0

continuous acid subsequent delivery by weathering of pyrite/marcasite

consequences

– small buffer ability, by pH < 3 extraction Fe3+ from Fe3+ + OOH,

cation exchange capability 10-50 mval/100g soil
– small nutrient source, mobilization Ca, Mg, K and micro nutrients
– release heavy metals
– small micro-organisms trimming (10³/g soil)

77
Melioration Dump Substrates Containing
Sulphur
determination of the lime requirement to buffering

acid-bases-balance:

inorganic total sulphur

+ portion potential cation exchange capability KAKpot
- base saturation of the sorption complex

portion KAK dependent on target-pH-value => ca. 60 %

=> see example of calculation

78
Melioration Dump Substrates Containing Sulphur
- Example of Calculation SBB -
raw data:
KAKpot 34,0 mval / 100g soil
total S 0,871% SO3
pH (HCl) 2,53
lime requirement 93 dt CaO / ha
CaO 0,0927 %
MgO 0,0226 %
80,06 mg SO3
1. acids: 1 mval SO3   40,03 mg SO3
2
871 mg SO3  21,76 mval / 100 g soil

KAK 60 % = 20,4 mval / 100g

total = 42,16 mval / 100g

79
Melioration Dump Substrates Containing Sulphur
- Example of Calculation SBB -
2. bases 50,08 mg CaO
1 mval CaO   28,04 mg CaO
2
32 mg MgO
1 mval MgO   20,16 mg CaO
2
92,7 mg CaO = 3,3 mval/100g soil
22,6 mg MgO = 1,12 mval/100g soil
total: 4,42 mval / 100g soil

1–2 = 37,74 mval/100g soil

1mval/100g soil => 8,06 dt CaO/ha (22,5 cm layer)
(crumb weight 284 t/ha, dB=1,262 g/cm³)
=> 338 dt CaO/ha

soil effective base content (free and hydrolysable portion)

brown coal pulverized fuel ash => CaO from HCl-essence – sulphur content

free CaO, light and heavy hydrolysable CaO

80
buffer curves of selected dump soils

81
 Soil Types of the Basic Melioration
- Melioration Neediness (Lime Requirement for
Depth of 60 cm) -

MG 0 < 10 dt/ha CaO (little)

MG 1 10 – 50 dt/ha CaO (small) increasing also
MG 2 50 – 200 dt/ha CaO (medium) structural
effects
MG 3 200 – 1000 dt/ha CaO (high)
MG 4 1000 – 3000 dt/ha CaO (very high)

82
 Melioration Dump Substrates
Containing Sulphur
• crop increases with melioration depth

production curves „melioration depth and

corn equivalent (GE) crop“ for dump top
soils containing sulphur

• basic fertilization:
– 120 kg K, 160 kg P, 100 - 200 kg N / ha; 22,5 cm deep
– N – fertilization dependent on Ct-content
• the bigger Ct the more N
• crop rotation with leguminoses respect !!!
– for plants with deep roots double the depth to 60 cm

83
Afforestation of 1961 with
Populus nigra (main type
of wood) and Alnus
glutinosa (biological wood
type) on planar-meliorated
coal-containing sand with
low to high loam content;
poplar (Pappel) is removed
gradually by Betula
pendula. (Photo: Katzur
1992)

84
 Melioration Dump Substrates
Containing Sulphur
• test seed
– stone clover (Steinklee), mustard (Senf), rape (Raps), winter rye
(Winrerroggen)
– failure rate in debit < 3 % or 50 m²

• methods
1959 Schwarzkollmer method (Knabe), 30 cm, ash
1962 Böhlener method (Brünig), lime + fertilizer
1965 Domsdorfer method (Illner, Katzer), 60 cm, ash
1974 Kleinleipischer method (Katzer), 100 cm
1977 Koyne- method, like before + N-containing sewages

85
Groups of dump top soil forms and local top soil forms of the Lusatia with its melioration
neediness and utilization possibility

86
Groups of dump top soil forms and local top soil forms of the Lusatia with its melioration
neediness and utilization possibility

87
 Influence of Calcification and Mineral
Fertilization on the Corn Crop of Forest
Herbaceous Perennials Rye
(Waldstaudenroggen)

a 140 dt CaO/ha
b 160kg/ha N (calcium ammonium nitrate), 174 kg/ha K (Emge potash), 40 kg/ha P
(superphosphate)

88
 Average loadings of
the seepage waters
from dump top soils in
December, 1991
(Katzur 1992)

a upper 100 cm mighty soil

layer meliorates with lime
fertilizer (lime requirement
calculated from the acid-bases-
balance, compare section 1.2)

89
8. Agricultural and Forest-economic Utilization
of Dumps
8.1 Agriculture on Dumps
• part of the cultural landscape, determined...
– function and efficiency
– agricultural diversity, structure of surface
– attractiveness
• proportion differentiates (Lusatia 40 - 60%)
• influence by mining
– excavation / over dumped / mining damages
(Lusatia to 2000: 23.000 ha land demand
8.000 ha return)
– further removal of areas by mining induced development of the
infrastructure, housing estate and business,
– larger field distance (detours, lapse of near areas),
– influencing water supply (ground-water and surface water),
– change of the site climate

90
 Agriculture on Dumps
- Part II -
general demands to the past mining landscapes
• conservation, care and development of the natural life and
production bases
• space utilization long-term leave open
• equivalent living conditions in all partial spaces

regeneration and stabilization of the natural

space potentials
ecological equalizing function of the free spaces

91
 Agriculture on Dumps
- Part III -
demands to the agriculture
• proof production basis by

floor area
potential of crop yield (also extensive)
... it is influenced by...
– property of the dump substrates
– homogeneousness of the space
– thickness of the substrate cover
– surface geometry / approaches
– relief / inclination
– drainage / ground-water
– stone and foreign bodies tamping

92
 Agriculture on Dumps
- Part IV -
demands to the dump site

properties of the dump substrates

• Quarternary cohesive
– containing lime substrates ( >3,5% CaCO3)
e.g: valley => basin silt => till => boulder clay => loess/loess loam
– higher sand content do not effect unfavourable
• also dump- /coal loam sand and coal loam
=> increased effort melioration / cultivation
• soil fertility is decided by clay/silt content
loam 36-65 % clay/silt
loamy sand 25-35 % clay/silt
sand with low loam 10-24 % clay/silt

93
 Agriculture on Dumps
- Part V -
– finely distributed coal increased:
• capability to storage water
• cation exchange capacity
• nitrogen dynamic
• humus formation

• storage capacity for plant-available water

> 10 vol.%, better 14-15 vol. %
• bulk density: 1,5 – 1,6 g/cm³
• coarse pore volume > 8% in a crumb
(loam/silt) > 5% in the subsoil

94
 Agriculture on Dumps
- Part VI -
demands to dump sites

• thickness of the substrate application: > 100 cm (after subsidence),

during development variants also < 100 cm possible
• homogeneity
– balanced on > 20 ha
– main substrate > 80 %, max. 2 other

• consistent growth
• no cultivation difficulties

95
 Agriculture on Dumps
- Part VII -
• location / requirement
– field distance 6-8 km
– field number according to the crop rotation (6-8)
– field size 10-20 ha, length : width = 2:1
– general inclination max. 7 %, larger 0,5 %, easily wavy

• limitation of machining
• secure water outflow

• free of stones (>120 mm to in a depth of 35 cm)

derivation of groups of top soil forms and

treatment units of the agricultural recultivation

96
treatment units (Bhe) of the agricultural recultivation
a Wünsche et al. (1981) „Klassifikation der Böden auf Kippen und Halten . . . .. „. journal “Neue Bergbautechnik“ 1/81

97
Distribution of the Agricultural Used Dump Areas to the
Treatment Units (Bhe) of the Lusatia

98
survey about high-grade overburden substrates and some variants with reference to the
thickness of the filled layer in dependence on the reclamation of dump areas

99
 Agriculture on Dumps
- Part VIII -
• crop rotation (forage plants and corn)
– tasks:
• soil development
• humus production
• activation soil biology
• support of texture

start soil formation for

higher and secure crop yields

– composition of the crop rotation:

• field forage corps 40 - 50%; crop residuals (organic substance) remain,
suitably: alfalfa grass (Luzerngras), alternative cocksfoot (Knaulgras)
• corn 25 - 35%
• root crops (Hackfrüchte) < 15 - 20%; humus wasting, therefore only after
organic fertilization (dung) or with enough organic substance

100
Fertility Supporting Actions of the First
Cultivation of Dump Top Soils

101
 Agriculture on Dumps
Recultivation Methods - Part IX -
• fruit species selection according to:
– demands to the location (soil structure, nutrients, soil water,...)
– location promoting factors (depth of rooting and rooting intensity)
• first culture: field forage corps with big seeds
spring (field bean (Ackerbohne), field peas
(Felderbse), maize (Mais), meliot
(Steinklee))
alfalfa (Luzerne)– clean or with grasses
(highly nitrogenous crop residuals),
not less than 4a utilization
food rye (Futterroggen) with grasses (Italian
autumn
ryegrass (Welsches Weidegras))

102
 Agriculture on Dumps
- Part X -

• grasses => against weediness, promotion of soil development

• maize => least water demand per kg dry matter,
intensive root penetration
• winter corn => winter rye (Winterroggen) for sandy locations
=> winter wheat (Winterweizen) / winter barley
(- gerste) for better locations
• for tertiary dump substrates:
– white melilot (Bokharaklee) => incorporate 300-350 dt fresh mass
– than winter rye (Winterroggen)
– As of 3./4. year alfalfa (Luzerne)

103
Standard Crop Rotations on Dump Soils
in the Lusatia

104
 Agriculture on Dumps
- Part XI -

cultivation

• plough 20 – 30 cm deep
• one time per crop rotation => 60 cm depth loosener (not
destroy crumb)
• organic fertilization (farmyard dung) 300 – 600 dt/ha
• admix crop residual

105
 Mean annual Crop in kg StW/haa on
Representative Dump Locations of the Lower
Lusatia (1967 – 1992)

a coarse forage: 11,2 kg StW/dt original substance; corn: 74,0 kg StW/dt grain

106
Influence of Crop Rotation and Plough Depth to
the Ct-Accumulation in a Dump Loam till 40 cm
Depth after 7 year old Recultivation (n = 6)

a at the beginning of the recultivation

107
 8.2 Forestry on Dumps
- Part I -
1. demands to the reclamation

properties of the dump substrates

• sandy loam or loam sands
• also more modest as agriculture
• basic fertilization before afforestation
• sequence fertilization N, P 3.-5. year (N near red oak (Roteiche)
lowers the resistance to frost!)
• soil supporting material: peat, forest soil, sewage sludge, ash, coal
dross, wood chips

thickness of the substrate filled ground:

• 2 m above non-cultural substrates
• alternative 1 m deep melioration quality test with test seed

108
 Forestry on Dumps
- Part II -
location and form

• lower demands as in agriculture

• moved relief possible
• planting without levelling
• limit of the machining 14 % (1:7),
avoid slope > 25 % (1:4)
• per 10 m difference in altitude one
berm 8 m wide

109
 Forestry on Dumps
- Part III -
2. general demands :

• part of the spatial arrangement

• connection
– flora and fauna adequate to nature
– raw material production
– recreation
• rapid formation organic substance => soil live
• fast soil cover against erosion (conservation of soil)

110
 Forestry on Dumps
- Part IV -
development

• economic path 15 m/ha

• supports 40 m/ha
• many approaches, no blind alleys (forest fire)

forest fire protection

• 20 ha damage per 10.000 ha/a

• up to 8 fires per year
• precautionary measure:
– reducing the percentage of pines < 50%
– forest fire bar with red oaks (heavy foliage)
– 1 sampling point of tempering water per 1000 ha (ponds or water tank)

111
 Forestry on Dumps
- Part V -
nature protection:
ca. 5 % of the forest area by special construction:
– walls of stub
– wetlands
– glades
– forest borders

recreation function:
installation of log huts, viewpoints, parking areas,
mountain to luge,...

112
 Forestry on Dumps
- Part VI -
afforestation
• two stages or connections:
1. foreforest
– quick-growing, light liking trees (minor demands) => Ki, Lä, RE, Bi, Pa, Ro
– soil conditioner => Li, Er, HBr
– servicing tree types (edge of the forest and waysides) => Tr Ki, EE, sea
buckthorn (Sanddorn), Russian olive (Ölweide), rose hip (Wildrose), bubble
shrub and pea bush (Blasen- und Erbsenstrauch)
2. target forest
– deciduous trees and coniferous trees every 50 %
– sensitive in opened position
– upper demands to the top soil
=> TrE, StE, Fi, RBu, A

113
 Forestry on Dumps
- Part VII -
• Slope planting => bastard acacia (Robinie)
• high number of plants (deficits, fast cover, existing climate
improvement)
hardwood: distance of rows: 2 m
distance in the row: 1 m
number of plants: 5.000 pieces/ha
coniferous wood (pine): distance of rows : 2 m
distance in the row: 0,4 – 0,5 m
number of plants: 10-12.000
pieces/ha
• young seed stock => 1-2 years of age

use of soil supporting plants:

improvement site climate, mulching in the first years
(Leguminoses – lupin (Lupinie), meliot Steinklee))

Attention !!! water- and food rivalry !!

114
Planting target types for the site group on the dumps (model according to Lorenz u. Kopp 1968)

115
 8.3 Top Soil Development on Dumps
• texture development
– long-dated loosening cohesive soils Poren (Vol.-%)

(high density, till 1,9 g/cm³) by

PV
humus in the top soil, where
necessary breaking up subsoil
=> improvement of root penetration
amt
Ges
– aggregation in sandy soils by
P < 10 µm
humus formation (positive influence
by coal content )
=> improvement of capability to hold
el
Mitt
water and nutrients P < 0,2 µm

• soil chemistry Fein

– dependent on clay/silt content and
coal content
– influence emissions Ct - Gehalt [M.-%]

116
 Top Soil Development on Dumps
• humus accumulation
– 0,03 – 0,038 mass% Corg/a (boulder clay)
– deciduous forest favourable humus forms

• soil live
– funguses, bacteria, cellulose decomposer exist after 20 a
– animals appear just slowly (by high soil density no avoid in the depth by
heat/frost)

• top soil development

– boulder clay => pseudogley
– sands => soft – syrosem, regosol
formation and precipitation of iron oxides (pH 4-5)
acidification => formation of grey and white podsol

117
 9. Water on Dumps

water types

1. (residue-) sea
2. spring
3. flowing waters
4. temporary water saturated area (flat sea,
bog,...)
5. ponds

118
 Water on Dumps
- Residual Seas (I) -
1. Residual seas

• formation by mass removal in range of ground water

– removal of raw material
– dump
alternative also by accumulation of surface water by sealed concavities

• largest and distinctivest land use in the surface mine (Lusatia: ca.
25.000 ha, at present ca. 3.000 ha flooded)

• Size of the single sea till > 1.000 ha, depth of the water till 80 m

• by deep well pumping great water deficiency (Lusatia 1995 4,5

Mrd. m³ in concavities + 9 Mrd. m³ in the pore volume)

119
 Water on Dumps
- Residual Seas (II) -
• flooding of the residual seas from surface waters:
– decrease the period of flooding (ground-water rise required partly
decades)
– improvement of the water quality (ground-water rise leading to acid
watering, self-healing only about decades)
– Improvement of the stability (flow in the dump)

– cross-linking the seas together and with natural waters to protect the
water quality

120
 Water on Dumps
- Use of the Residual Sea -
performance of divers functions is possible at the same time:

• water management: use of seas as reservoir

(accumulation lamella 1 – 2 m)
• fish farming: fish farm, e.g. in cages
• use for recreation: fishing, water sports, sailing, bathing,
nature study,...
• nature preservation: settlement of plant and animal species in
protected areas

formation requirements corresponding to use

121
 Water on Dumps
- Formation of the Residual Sea (I)-
special attention is essential for the stability !!!

• inclination of the bank areas 1:10 (wash of the waves, ice shear)
• inclination underwater area 1:20 to 2 m depth
• stable dump subsoil in the bank area and in the shallow water area
(proof enter)
– filling non-subsidence flow endangered substrates
– compaction of the subsoil in the shallow water area at cover < 2 m
– warranty of a dry cover of 4 m during travel

– attention subsidence / subsides, ground-water fluctuation

122
 Water on Dumps
- Formation of the Residual Sea (II) -

• water cover above non-stable subsoil > 2 m, if necessary

excavation of areas
• mark no to redeveloped peril points (older seas) => buoy
strings, information signs as barrier
• if necessary acclivities are desired for nature protection
=> conflict to public safety !
• residual sea influenced the ground-water condition after
mining !!!

123
Artifical Lake
in Post Mining Landscape

124
 Water on Dumps
- Flowing Waters, Temporary Water Saturated
Areas, Ponds -
• installation far from ground-water by proofing (self or antropogenic)
• installation in the ground-water / near by ground water => attention
geotechnical dangers analogical residual sea

ecological appreciation especially in the compound of biotopes, offer

biodiversity, raise adventure value of landscape

• flowing water, springs and ponds (Lusatia surface mine Lohsa)

only rarely !!!
• temporary water saturated areas
– to form often accidentally (wetlands)
– large temporary water saturated areas (flat seas) by surplus dam to low
laid out dump closing fillings
125
Realisation:
Artifical River Bed on Dump Site

126
 Water on Dumps
influence of the ground-water lowering to the surface mine
surroundings

range of drainage wells till several kilometres (sandy / pebbly GWL)

countermeasures

• diaphragm wall (protection of parts of landscape, resp. outside inter-

state drainage effect)
• infiltration (penetration of water in protective wetlands)
• water induction in forefield for protection of discharge contribution
• reduction of drainage to minimise
– geotechnical protection
– profitableness
– environmental compatibility
– supply (power plants, nature, drinking water)

127
 10. Nature Conservation on Dumps (I)
necessary site ratio for the development of biotope types on dump sites

+ required, x desirable, o regardless, - may not be

128
 Nature Conservation on Dumps (II)
minimum area for populations and part populations of different fauna groups.
(modifies and extended after Heydemann 1981)

129
Nature Conservation on Dumps (III)

orientation values for the dimensioning and

classification of biotope interconnection and
resources protection systems in the
past mining landscape

130
 Nature Conservation on Dumps (IV)
lawn seam between sand fields and pines forest take over tertiary raw soil islands are long-lived replacement biotopes for
the function of lines of propagation for light liking kinds devastated dune sites

formation of bog biotope in an acidic surface mine flat sea 40-odd years old fruit lawn on a boulder clay dump

131
Nature Conservation on Dumps (V)

target biotopes and biotope

distribution in the nature
protection area „green
house“

132
 Nature Conservation on Dumps(VI)
usable site ratio and the hence objective targets to be derived for the nature protection
area „green house“

xx very good preconditions; x good precondition; - negative

133
 Nature Conservation on Dumps(VII)
Bridge dump of the nature protection area „green With loam sealed pond in the centre of the crane
house“ before the design. (Photo: Wiedemann) roost. (Photo: Wiedemann)

Development of a sheep fescue lawn

View from north to the future “Heide sea”. The water (Schafschwingelrasens) on the north west frontier of
filling is finished in 2010. (Photo: Wiedemann) the nature protection area. (Photo: Wiedemann)

134
 Nature Conservation on Dumps (VIII)
Erratic block, appealing design elementes, are
used especially by sand lizard (Zauneidechse) and
wheatear (Steinschmätzer) as place to sun, sit
look-out and brooding habitats.
(Photo: Wiedemann)
Raw soil islands in the sheep fescue meadow
(Schafschwingelflur) give a chance to nesting for
wild bee species. (Photo: Wiedemann)
900 m long “Benjes hedge” (Benjeshecke) on stubs basic
as immigration help for sand lizard (Zauneidechse), sleek
viper (Glattnatter), slowworm (Blindschleiche) and smal
mammal Kleinsäuger. (Photo: Wiedemann)
Development of reed existence (Röhrrichtbestände) in the
residual sea 131, that are over dammed with the ground-
water rise. (Photo: Wiedemann)
135
Reclamation of Smale Scale Mines

136
11. Leisure and Recreation on Dumps (I)
landscape = section of the top soil

recreation value is established by:

– equipment with landscape elements (portion and distribution)
– Climate
– relief
– infrastructure

leisure requirements in the open land (according to inquiry):

– tramp, walk, cycle, ride
– bathe, swim
– aquatic sports

leisure in past mining landscape

– improvement of the leisure suitability opposite to the origin
– economic factor
– worth-living surroundings => appealing neighbourhood

137
 Leisure and Recreation on Dumps (II)
Systematics of the Leisure Potential. (Turowski 1972) Surface conformation
climate
water
vegetation
leisure relevant fauna
natural basics
air purity
freedom of noise
natural monuments

leisure relevant development

leisure potential leisure relevant
of a region leisure facilities
Infrastructure
leisure relevant secondary
services

sociological-cultural factors
leisure relevant sociological-economic factors
social factors
sociological-psychological factors

138
 Leisure and Recreation on Dumps (III)
Systematics of the Leisure Relevant Natural Basics. (Turowski 1972)
surface design
temperature
climate precipitation
sunshine duration

optical effective waters

water aquatic sports waters sailing waters
bath waterbodies other boat waters

farmland coniferous forest

grassland
deciduous forest
vegetation forest
heath mixed forest
leisure relevant
bog plantations
natural basics
un-land

feral
fauna birds
fishs

dust fall-out
air purity sulfure dioxide contamination

freedom of noise
individual natural monuments
natural monuments area natural monuments

139
 Leisure and Recreation on Dumps (IV)
• leisure takes place in the entire area, not only on
special sites
• proposal creates:
terrestrial area aquatic area
– nature trails - fishing
– playgrounds /sports facilities - bathing
– park - boating
– garden plot - sailing, surf
– nature study - nature study
– vivarium - sunbathing area
– motor sports
– camping / hostel

• effort / benefit – ratio consider !

– design effort
– area requirement (effort for support)
– accepting by visitors (income)

140
Leisure and Recreation on Dumps (V)

Bearing power (loadability) resp. required space from/for areas with different
premises for a leisure using in North Rhine-Westphalia. (Czinki 1979),
changed.

141
Leisure and Recreation on Dumps (VI)

• adventure effect
= f (diversity or variety of land structure)
– forest, water, open land
– extensive use possible => spacious planning
– intensive use exclude the public, less value for
nature study => object-related planning

142
 Leisure and Recreation on Dumps (VII)
• measures for increase of experience:

rural country water

-lesser areas -bank design
-different fruit species -Water quality
-extensive use -islands
-field small woods, biotopes -shadow dispenser (climate)

infrastructure forest
-reachability / parking -diversity by tree species
(outside development) -design of edge of the wood
-leisure facilities (camping,...)
-Service proposal
-lagging from dust and noise
(inside development)

143
 12. Other Use Possibilities of Dumps

1. Infrastructure: back relocation of streets and railway

2. development with condominiums and economy facilities
caution ! complicated subsoil => foundation against subsidence differences
example Lusatia ring
3. dump sites
license according to BBergG include the reclamation => backfill of concavities =>
provide security
– without proofing
• consider deterioration prohibition
• backfill with foreign substance to preparation geotechnical safety + income
(example: border hose backfilling/residual hole backfilling in the Lusatia with excavation/debris
from Berlin)
– With proofing
(example: taking back of power plant residue ash/gypsum/REA-
water)
– attention of location to the ground-water => normally above the ground-water

144
Other Use of Dumps
- Case Study -

145
 13. Dust Guard on Dumps
allowable limit values: (TA air no.2.5.1/2)
dust fall-out: IW 1 = 0,35 g/m² * d (long-time load)
IW 2 = 0,65 g/m² * d (short-time load)
suspended dust: IW 1 = 0,15 mg/m³ (long-time load)
IW 2 = 0,30 mg/m³ (short-time load)

cause:
temporal difference during the dump construction between the first dumps
and the closing dump; e.g.: conveying bridge dump / settling dump

provisions:
1. temporary cultivation
2. sealing (put about coatings)
3. protective strips /protective walls (secondary or added)

146
 Dust Guard on Dumps (I)
method of the temporary cultivation
Attention ! Dump is complicated plant site !
1. conventional surface machining
- levelling, melioration, sowings
- advantage: (relative) constancy
2. sharpen cultivation without levelling / melioration
- mixture of substrate / adhesive, fertilizer, seed
- deploy by lorry (throw cannon) or aeroplane
problem: connection to the subsoil particularly by tertiary

methods of sealing
analogical land or air supported, with or without levelling

147
 Dust Guard on Dumps (II)
- Protective Strips / -Walls -
• guard bar
effect by air turbulence / decrease of flow rate and filter function of foliage
– large space requirement
– mix of evergreen and summer-
green plants for all-season
function
– closed multilayered assembly

• protective walls by narrow space conditions

– use, e.g. topsoil waste dump
– combination with cultivation

• protective walls as buildings by very scarce space supply, if necessary with

cultivation

148
 14. Monitoring of Reclamation
general: soil developments, flooding and ground-water
rising again are long-lasting processes, likewise
stability and safety of erosion
• task of monitoring: checking and control
– actual state detect
– analysis (nominal/actual value comparison)
– determine activity and control
• methods of monitoring
– individual measurements / sampling:
• ground-water monitoring: amounts, quality and level
• stability: measurement of dislocations by mine surveyors
– surveying by remote sensing
• vitality of vegetation
• erosion / temporary water saturated data banks
– use geo information systems space and
thematic category time concrete

149
 Documentation of Reclamation
- Surface Concomitant Card File -
For a future marketing => acquisition of all information

• moment of the backfill

• result of the dump geological expert's opinion
• happened melioration
when; depth; lime amount and fertilizer; material source
• cultivation / “Inkulturnahme” (take in culture)
when; which seed; which plant; list of origins
• cultivation / task of care
when; material (after-fertilization); crops by LN; crop rotations; depth
loosener,...
• validity assessment
• area size, development

150
Thank You for Your Attention.

Glückauf!

Prof. Dr. Carsten Drebenstedt

TU Bergakademie Freiberg
Institut für Bergbau und Spezieltiefbau
Professur Bergbau-Tagebau
151