An artificial reality for mine site rehabilitation—the industrial symbiotic approach

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter (Book)Researchpeer-review

Abstract

This paper presents the results from pot culture studies undertaken to test the performance of synthetic soils built from overburden (OB) waste, power station Combined Ash (CA), Brown Coal (BC) and composted Sewage Sludge (SS). These soils are essential to meet the large predicted shortfalls at open pit coal mines for successful progressive rehabilitation needs at the mines in the Latrobe Valley in the Gippsland Region of Victoria. The study identified a suitable artificial soil mixing ratio that would ultimately neutralise AMD and amplify nutrient content (1 part OB, 1.23 parts CA and varying proportions of BC and SS), based on net acid producing potential derived for each component. The constructed artificial soils also demonstrated increased water retaining characteristics and enhanced vegetation growth, effectively supporting grass growth after mixing.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationLegislation, Technology and Practice of Mine Land Reclamation
Subtitle of host publicationProceedings of the Beijing International Symposium Land Reclamation and Ecological Restoration, LRER 2014, Beijing, China, 16-19 October 2014
EditorsZhenqi Hu
Place of PublicationLondon UK
PublisherTaylor & Francis
Pages579-581
Number of pages3
ISBN (Electronic)9781315732138
ISBN (Print)9781138027244
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015
EventInternational Symposium on Land Reclamation and Ecological Restoration, LRER 2014 - Beijing, China
Duration: 16 Oct 201419 Oct 2014

Conference

ConferenceInternational Symposium on Land Reclamation and Ecological Restoration, LRER 2014
Country/TerritoryChina
CityBeijing
Period16/10/1419/10/14

Keywords

  • Ash
  • Brown coal
  • Composted sewage sludge
  • Mine rehabilitation
  • Overburden

Cite this