Characterisation of overburden waste and industrial waste products for coal mine rehabilitation

AbstractThis study focuses on the creation of artificial soils from waste products, such as overburden, leftover brown coal, fly ash and compost, for rehabilitation of degraded mine sites acknowledging acid mine drainage. It was found that with the increase in the amount of compost from 2 to 2.5 g in artificial soils, there was an increase in the moisture holding capacity and load bearing capacity from 7.47 to 16.5% and 2.5 to 5.7 kN, respectively. Metals leached from artificial soils under different conditions were found to be below standards limits set by USEPA for leachate in the environment.