Area mining: The first stages of Mining and Reclamation
This is a typical view of first stages of area mining and reclamation under the Surface Mining Law. If an area mine is carefully planned and operated the land can be restored to its original productivity within a short period. Mining and reclamation at this site occur as the operation moves from the left to the right of the site. Click on the red numbers for a description of what is happening, or here for an 8 1/2" x 11" higher resolution copy of the illustration that you can print on a laser printer and color.
Key
Area Mining: The first stages of mining and reclamation
under the Surface Mining Law
1. Water diversions are being constructed to control the flow of water around the edges of the mine. This prevents any polluted water from leaving the mine site .
2. Water flowing in the diversions passes through sedimentation ponds before it leaves the mine site. Sedimentation ponds must be constructed before the operator begins mining or disturbs the site.
3.Another sedimentation pond also slows the flow of water before it leaves the mine site. In the ponds the speed of the flowing water is reduced and the sediment (small particles of rock and soil carried by the water) settles to the bottom of the pond.
4. The third sedimentation pond at this mine site.
5.This is one of the two locations where water is leaving the mine site. The water flowing past this point is from sedimentation pond 2 and the reconstructed stream.
6.The second location where water is leaving this mine site. Here the water is flowing from sedimentation ponds 3 and 4. This is a location that the mine inspector will check frequently to be sure polluted water is not flowing from the mine site.
7. Topsoil is being removed by a scraper. Removing layers of soil is like taking layers off a cake, where the topsoil is the icing or top layer. The topsoil will be stockpiled and spread on the reclaimed land after mining.
8. Topsoil stockpile.
9.Subsoil is being removed by a scraper. At this location the second layer of soil is being removed. After mining when the land is reclaimed the layers of soil will be replaced in their naturally occurring order. This will provide the necessary seedbed for the reclaimed land.
10. Subsoil stockpile
11. Drill rig drills holes in the overburden for explosives. Under the Surface Mining Law the mine operator must follow regulations that prevent the damages that used to occur from blasting.
12. Farm house where the neighbor lives. To be sure his property is not damaged the owner has request a pre-blasting survey be carried out so that any damages caused by the mine blasting can be identified and repaired by the mine operator.
13. A shovel removes the overburden to expose the coal. This is called the "first cut" because it opens the mine so that the larger dragline can be used.
14. Spoil removed by the shovel is transported by truck to this pile. Usually this spoil is stored and later used to fill the "last cut" or the pit where the mining ends. Here the operator is going to permanently leave some of this material at this location and the left hand slope of the spoil dump has been topsoiled and planted.
15. A hydroseeder applies seed and fertilizer to the temporary spoil mound (14) and stockpiles of topsoil (8) and subsoil (10).
16. Assembly of the dragline is in progress. Construction of the office and maintenance yard is complete.
17. The stream has been diverted permanently. The channel has been graded and constructed to reflect its natural character and the same varieties of plants that originally grew there are being planted.
18. Logging and removal of tree stumps is in progress. The timber has been sold to a near by saw mill.
19. Small trees and brush are being picked up following the logging operation. All woody branches are being chipped and used as mulch.
20. Much of the mine site is still in agricultural production. In this case a crop of mulch hay is being harvested by a local farmer for use during reclamation. A positive feature of area mining is that it allows the minimum area of the site to be disturbed at any one time.
21. The mine operator has planted trees on some areas of the site which will not be affected by mining. This is not required by the Surface Mining Law; but, improves public relations with the mine neighbors by softening the visual impact of the mining.
