Valorization of coal mining waste dumps from he mines of Katowicki Holding Węglowy

Abstract

Abstract The cataloging of over 220 coal mining dumping grounds after hard coal mining was carried out on the area of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (USCB). Considering the significant content of coal particles in the waste, these object may be perceived as perspective anthropogenic deposits. In order to define the possibilities of recovery, an attempt of linking the quality of coal in the deposit and the in waste material was performed. Another step is the reclamation and use of dumping grounds after completing effective recovery processes. The purpose of the research was the cataloging, mapping and valorization of coal mining waste dumps from Katowicki Holding Węglowy coal mines, for the needs of reclamation and management of examined objects and defining the potential recovery of coal from the dumps. The valorization of the post-mining waste dumps was done with the use of original methodology, considering the problems of: reclamation, management, accessibility of the dumps as well as environmental hazards. T he directions of the technical reclamation (e.g. landscape objects, tabular dumps) and biological reclamation (e.g. forest direction, mixed reclamation (grass and tree reclamation), grass cultivation, lack of reclamation) were defined. Accessibility with regard to open access/closing of the dump area and the roads leading towards the object were evaluated. T he connection of coal quality in the deposits of KHW S.A. and in waste material enabled the definition and evaluation of the potential possibilities of recovery of coal from the post mining dumping grounds.