Surface Mine Sites Research Articles

Time series procession for monitoring land disturbance caused by surface coal mining in China

Surface mining has been subject to increased criticism and pressure due to its potential to cause environmental damage. China accounts for more than half of world coal consumption, and this continued demand for coal, combined with low costs, has accelerated surface coal mining worldwide. However, it isn't easy to understand the impact of surface mining in China. Therefore, combined with POI, the Exposed Coal Frequency Index (ECFI) was constructed without any mining information in China. A LandTrendr algorithm was used to identify past mining disturbances and reclamation events (1986–2021). While examining these events, surface destruction due to coal mining in China was revealed. Based on the results, (1) the detection accuracy of statistical surface mining sites by province reaches 91.8%, while the detection accuracy of disturbance and reclamation events exceeds 72.59 %. Also, by comparing the mine data, our results provide more accurate information regarding both time and spatial consistency. (2) 253.61 km2 of surface mining sites were identified in 14 provinces or autonomous regions during 1986–2021. Of these, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Shanxi and Xinjiang ranked in the top four occupying 89.0% of the total mining site. (3) China has cumulatively disturbed 545.84 km2 and reclaimed 169.41 km2 including more comprehensive human activities. In the last 12 years, large-scale mining and reclamation have accounted for 51.63% and 75.17% of the cumulative area, respectively. (4) Generally, reclamation in China can be completed within four years. In contrast, reclamation time intervals and the proportion of reclamation varied widely between mining areas. Clearly, this study provides the most accurate data on surface coal mining disturbances in China, which will be beneficial for future studies in spatial geography related to mining. It also includes more policies and management creation for mines.

Smart Helmet-Based Proximity Warning System to Improve Occupational Safety on the Road Using Image Sensor and Artificial Intelligence

Recently, collisions between equipment and workers occur frequently on the road in construction and surface mining sites. To prevent such accidents, we developed a smart helmet-based proximity warning system (PWS) that facilitates visual and tactile proximity warnings. In this system, a smart helmet comprising an Arduino Uno board and a camera module with built-in Wi-Fi was used to transmit images captured by the camera to a smartphone via Wi-Fi. When the image was analyzed through object detection and a heavy-duty truck or other vehicle was detected in an image, the smartphone transmitted a signal to the Arduino via Bluetooth and, when a signal was received, an LED strip with a three-color LED visually alerted the worker and the equipment operator. The performance of the system tested the recognition distance of the helmet according to the pixel size of the detected image in an outdoor environment. The proposed personal PWS can directly produce visual proximity warnings to both workers and operators enabling them to quickly identify and evacuate from dangerous situations.

Evaluating Occupational Noise Exposure as a Contributor to Injury Risk among Miners.

This study: (i) assessed the relationship between noise exposure and injury risk, comprehensively adjusting for individual factors, psychosocial stressors, and organizational influences; (ii) determined the relative importance of noise on injuries; (iii) estimated the lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL) of noise on injury risk to determine the threshold of noise considered hazardous to injuries; and (iv) quantified the fraction of injuries that could be attributed to hazardous noise exposure. In this cross-sectional study at 10 US surface mine sites, traditional mixed effects, Poisson regression, and boosted regression tree (BRT) models were run on the number of reported work-related injuries in the last year. The LOAEL of noise on injuries was identified by estimating the percent increase in work-related injuries at different thresholds of noise exposure using a counterfactual estimator through the BRT model. A population attributable fraction (PAF) was quantified with this counterfactual estimator to predict reductions in injuries at the LOAEL. Among 18 predictors of work-related injuries, mine site, perceived job safety, age, and sleepiness were the most important predictors. Occupational noise exposure was the seventh most important predictor. The LOAEL of noise for work-related injuries was a full-shift exposure of 88 dBA. Exposure ≥88 dBA was attributed to 20.3% (95% CI: 11.2%, 29.3%) of reported work-related injuries in the last year among the participants. This study further supports hypotheses of a dose-response relationship between occupational noise exposure and work-related injuries, and suggests that exposures ≥88 dBA may increase injury risk in mining.

Abundance and Habitat Associations of Winter and Spring Birds on a Reclaimed Surface Mine (The Wilds) in Ohio, USA

Several studies have examined how grassland birds use reclaimed surface mines during the breeding season, but few studies have documented how these birds use these areas during the winter and early spring months. Using point counts, birds occupying a reclaimed surface-mine site in southeastern Ohio were surveyed from late December 2020 to April 2021. The primary objective was to document bird abundance and species richness across a temporal gradient spanning from late December 2020 through April 2021. Additionally, bird species composition was examined in habitat patches dominated by cool-season plants and in a single warm-season plot dominated by switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). A total of 1,452 bird sightings were made consisting of 40 species in 7 orders. Songbirds (order Passeriformes) comprised 60% of all sightings, and most of these (53%) were Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus), Eastern Meadowlarks (Sturnella magna), and Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia). Thirty-nine species were observed on cool-season sites versus 13 species in the switchgrass plot. Species including returning Eastern Meadowlarks, Henslow's Sparrows (Centronyx henslowii), and Field Sparrows (Spizella pusilla) were common on the cool-season plots, but uncommon or absent in the switchgrass plot. Conversely, the switchgrass plot had more wintering American Tree Sparrows (Spizelloides arborea) and returning Swamp Sparrows (Melospiza georgiana). Return rates of long-distance migratory species fell within the time frames for these species as obtained from previous studies in this region. The diverse habitat structure of the cool-season portions of this study site attracted some winter species, including birds of prey, as well as several returning migratory species.

Vegetation Disturbance and Recovery Dynamics of Different Surface Mining Sites via the LandTrendr Algorithm: Case Study in Inner Mongolia, China

Mining sites are areas where mining and restoration coexist and are constantly changing. The vegetation condition can reflect the process of surface mining and restoration, while quantifying the impacts of different mining patterns and surrounding environments on vegetation is the key to balancing mining activities and ecological restoration. In this study, long-term monitoring from 1986 to 2020 was implemented by the LandTrendr algorithm to reveal the ecological impacts of two concentrated and contiguous surface mining sites with different mining patterns (scattered and aggregated mining) and surrounding environments in Inner Mongolia, China. The results show that it is reasonable to use the LandTrendr algorithm for long-term monitoring of surface mining sites, and that the ecological impacts of different surface mining sites in ecologically fragile areas have the same regularity. As the duration increases, the magnitude of disturbance decreases, and the magnitude of recovery first decreases and then reaches a natural fluctuation state after 20 years of recovery. Different mining patterns and surrounding environments bring different ecological impacts. Scattered mining areas are more likely to produce natural recovery while the restored ecosystem is more stable. The performance of mining development disturbance is more obvious in places with better ecological environment, while the effect of ecological restoration is also more significant. This study can provide guidance for the rational planning of mining and restoration activities in ecologically fragile areas.

A taxonomy of surface mining slip, trip, and fall hazards as a guide to research and practice

Slips, trips, and falls (STFs) are the second leading cause of non-fatal injuries and can lead to fatal incidents in the mining industry. Hazard identification is an essential first step in remediating STF hazards and creating a safer work environment. Previous research has identified industry-specific risk factors for STFs, evaluated exposures to those risk factors, and developed taxonomies of the hazards for the construction and farming sectors. In comparison, ErgoMine–a mobile device application-based ergonomics audit tool–is the only systematic evaluation tool that covers STF hazards in the mining industry. However, ErgoMine was not specifically developed to address STF hazards. This paper describes the development of a taxonomy that helps identify STF hazards at surface mining sites and provides recommendations to address these hazards to inform future evaluation tools. The objective was to develop a taxonomy that was self-explanatory, observable, repeatable, and solution oriented. In addition to current regulations, standards and guidelines were used to develop the taxonomy to ensure the focus was beyond basic compliance. A detailed description of how the STF hazard taxonomy was created for walkways, stairways, and fixed ladders is provided, along with two specific applications of its use. The STF hazard taxonomy can be used to develop tools like checklists and ergonomics audits to identify and remediate slip, trip, and fall hazards at surface mining facilities, thereby improving worker safety.

Monitoring ecosystem restoration of multiple surface coal mine sites in China via LANDSAT images using the Google Earth Engine

AbstractThe restoration of surface mining (open‐cast) sites is key to meeting global ecosystem restoration targets. With the improving of data availabilities and technologies, it has become possible to expand restoration monitoring from single to multiple mine sites on a large scale. Based on the MODIS global disturbance index (MGDI), this study proposes a mine landscape restoration index (MLRI), by coupling the LST and EVI to simultaneously monitor the restoration of multiple mine sites. Restoration areas were identified by MLRI time‐series analysis and classified into significant consistent increase (SCI) and significant anti‐consistent increase (SAI) areas. The restoration effects of 46 surface coal mine sites located in the ecologically fragile northwestern region of China from 2000 to 2019 were assessed based on 3,675 LANDSAT images from the Google Earth Engine. Results show that the MLRI was effective at identifying restoration areas and processes, and this effectiveness was validated by high‐resolution images and field investigations of mine samples. The overall percentage of restored area for mines that started mining before 2000 was 55.01% ; for mines that starting mining after 2000, 33.68%. According to the differences of SCI and SAI area percentages, 46 mine sites were classified into three clusters, with 13, 11, and 22 mine sites, respectively. The mine sites with high restoration percentage are located mainly in Hailar and Shanbeimengnan regions. This study provides a new approach for monitoring the restoration effects of multiple mine sites and informs government managers about developing mine restoration programs and sustainable mining development plans.

Development of Mine Soils in a Chronosequence of Forestry-Reclaimed Sites in Eastern Kentucky

Surface mining for coal has contributed to widespread deforestation and soil loss in coal mining regions around the world, and particularly in Appalachia, USA. Mined land reforestation is of interest in this and other regions where forests are the dominant pre-mining land use. This study evaluated mine soil development on surface-mined sites reforested according to the Forestry Reclamation Approach, representing a chronosequence of time ranging from 0 to 19 years after reclamation. Soils were sampled in depth increments to 50 cm and analyzed for a suite of soil physical and chemical characteristics. Overall, soil fines (silt + clay) tended to increase over time since reclamation (17% silt at year 0 increasing to 35% at year 11; 3.2% clay at year 0 increasing to 5.7% at year 14) while concentrations of metals (e.g., Al, Mg, Mn, Na) demonstrated varied relationships with time since reclamation. Concentrations of organic carbon (OC) tended to increase with time (0.9% OC at year 0 increasing to 2.3% at year 14), and were most enriched in near-surface soils. Some soil characteristics (e.g., Na, OC, Ca) demonstrated patterns of increasing similarity to the forest control, while others were distinct from the forest control throughout the chronosequence (e.g., Al, clay, Mn, gravel). Future surveys of these soils over time will elucidate longer-term patterns in soil development, and better characterize the time scales over which these soils might be expected to approximate forest soil conditions.

Surface mining caused multiple ecosystem service losses in China

China's surface mining greatly supported the rapid socio-economic development; however, there was a scarcity in the systematic understanding of national changes in surface mining changes and associated ecosystem services (ESs) losses, which inevitably affected human well-being and limited sustainable ecosystem management and policy optimization. In this study, we quantified the areal changes in surface mining based on the ChinaCover database and performed further analysis of ES loss from expanded surface mining using multidimensional geospatial data from 1990 to 2015, including MODIS products, meteorological records, and statistical datasets. Our observations reveal that China's surface mining was estimated to be 4746 km2 in 2015 and that Inner Mongolia had the largest surface mining area (28%). Surface mining expanded remarkably from 1990 to 2015, with an increase by 2.7 times after 2000. In particular, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, and Qinghai had the greatest increases in surface mining area. Rapid expansion of surface mining led to obvious declines in natural habitat area, water retention, net primary productivity, and grain production, and these ES losses showed apparent spatiotemporal variations. China has taken many measures to reclaim the abandoned surface mining sites. Given the rapid expansion of surface mining and related ES loss, China should continue to perform ecological restoration for its sustainability.

Climate Change and Invasive Species: Challenges and Opportunities for Forest Establishment on Appalachian Surface Mines

ABSTRACT Climate change and harsh environmental conditions present significant barriers to the reforestation of surface-mined sites in Appalachia. An experimental site was established on a reclaimed surface mine in eastern Kentucky to investigate the impacts of soil amendments (fertilizer additions and mycorrhizal inoculations) on the growth and survival of northern red oak and loblolly pine, and the effects of amendments and species planted on soil development. While early effects of soil fertility and mycorrhizae treatments were apparent, these did not affect the growth or survival of either species after 10 growing seasons. Overall, loblolly pine exhibited greater growth (7.6 m) and survival (58%) than northern red oak (1.8 m height growth and 39% survival). While the poor growth and survival of northern red oak were attributed to heavy vegetative competition from nonnative species, loblolly pine rapidly achieved canopy closure and shaded out competitive understory vegetation. This study documents that non-native loblolly pine may serve as an important pioneering tree species in reforestation of reclaimed mine sites by potentially outcompeting invasive exotic understory plant species. We speculate that, by suppressing invasive species, loblolly pine may have the potential to serve as a “nurse tree” for more economically and ecologically desirable hardwood species.

Personal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Appalachian mining communities

Coal mining activities may increase residential exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), but personal PAH exposures have not been studied in mining areas. We used silicone wristbands as passive personal samplers to estimate PAH exposures in coal mining communities in Central Appalachia in the United States. Adults (N = 101) wore wristbands for one week; 51 resided in communities within approximately three miles of surface mining sites, and 50 resided 10 or more miles from mining sites. Passive indoor polyurethane foam (PUF) sampling was conducted in residents’ homes, and a sample of 16 outdoor PUF samples were also collected. Nine PAH congeners were commonly detected in wristbands (mean ± standard deviation), including phenanthrene (50.2 ± 68.7 ng/g), benz[a]anthracene (20.2 ± 58.2 ng/g), fluoranthene (19.4 ± 24.1 ng/g) and pyrene (15.2 ± 18.2 ng/g). Controlling for participant characteristics and season, participants living closer to mining sites had significantly higher levels of phenanthrene, fluorene, fluoranthene, pyrene and ∑PAHs in wristbands compared to participants living farther from mining. Indoor air showed no significant group differences except for pyrene, but outdoor air showed significant or marginally significant differences for phenanthrene, fluorene, pyrene and ∑PAHs. The results suggest that mining community residents face exposure to outdoor mining-related pollutants, and demonstrate that personal silicone wristbands can be deployed as effective passive sampling devices.

Whole-Body Vibration Associated with Dozer Operation at an Australian Surface Coal Mine.

Bulldozers are used extensively on surface mine sites and have been previously identified as being associated with high amplitude whole-body vibration exposures. Previous investigations of this equipment have involved either a very small number of measurements, or measurements of very short duration (or both); or the data obtained were incompletely reported. This research reports 69 measurements (median duration 440 min) obtained from 15 different dozers during operation at a surface coal mine. More than one-third of vertical vibration measurements exceeded the ISO2631.1 Health Guidance Caution Zone when expressed as VDV(8). Considerable variability in measurement amplitudes was found. This was also true within measurements obtained from the same dozers on different shifts suggesting, by a process of elimination, that the remaining variability in whole-body vibration amplitude is a function of some combination of task characteristics, geology, and operator behaviour; rather than equipment-related variability, such as maintenance, suspension, seating, or track design. Short-comings in the evaluation methods provided by ISO2631.1 are highlighted.

Meltwater from snow contaminated by oil sands emissions is toxic to larval fish, but not spring river water

To assess the toxicity of winter-time atmospheric deposition in the oil sands mining area of Northern Alberta, embryo-larval fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) were exposed to snowmelt samples. Snow was collected in 2011–2014 near (<7km) oil sands open pit mining operations in the Athabasca River watershed and at sites far from (>25km) oil sands mining. Snow was shipped frozen back to the laboratory, melted, and amended with essential ions prior to testing. Fertilized fathead minnow eggs were exposed (<24h post-fertilization to 7–16days post-hatch) to a range of 25%–100% snowmelt. Snow samples far from (25–277km away) surface mining operations and upgrading facilities did not affect larval fathead minnow survival at 100%. Snow samples from sites near surface mining and refining activities (<7km) showed reduced larval minnow survival. There was some variability in the potencies of snow year-to-year from 2011 to 2014, and there were increases in deformities in minnows exposed to snow from 1 site on the Steepbank River. Although exposure to snowmelt from sites near oil sands surface mining operations caused effects in larval fish, spring melt water from these same sites in late March–May of 2010, 2013 and 2014 showed no effects on larval survival when tested at 100%. Snow was analyzed for metals, total naphthenic acid concentrations, parent PAHs and alkylated PAHs. Naphthenic acid concentrations in snow were below those known to affect fish larvae. Concentrations of metals in ion-amended snow were below published water quality guideline concentrations. Compared to other sites, the snowmelt samples collected close to mining and upgrading activities had higher concentrations of PAHs and alkylated PAHs associated with airborne deposition of fugitive dusts from mining and coke piles, and in aerosols and particles from stack emissions. CapsuleSnow collected close to oil sands surface mining sites is toxic to larval fathead minnows in the lab; however spring melt water samples from the same sites do not reduce larval fish survival.

Development of ergonomics audits for bagging, haul truck and maintenance and repair operations in mining

The development and testing of ergonomics and safety audits for small and bulk bag filling, haul truck and maintenance and repair operations in coal preparation and mineral processing plants found at surface mine sites is described. The content for the audits was derived from diverse sources of information on ergonomics and safety deficiencies including: analysis of injury, illness and fatality data and reports; task analysis; empirical laboratory studies of particular tasks; field studies and observations at mine sites; and maintenance records. These diverse sources of information were utilised to establish construct validity of the modular audits that were developed for use by mine safety personnel. User and interrater reliability testing was carried out prior to finalising the audits. The audits can be implemented using downloadable paper versions or with a free mobile NIOSH-developed Android application called ErgoMine.Practitioner Summary: The methodology used to develop ergonomics audits for three types of mining operations is described. Various sources of audit content are compared and contrasted to serve as a guide for developing ergonomics audits for other occupational contexts.

Assessing the Impact of Removing Select Materials from Coal Mine Overburden, Central Appalachia Region, USA

The exposure of readily soluble components of overburden materials from surface coal mining to air and water results in mineral oxidation and carbonate mineral dissolution, thus increasing coal mine water conductivity. A conductivity benchmark of 300 μS/cm for mine water discharges in the Appalachian region has been suggested to protect aquatic life and the environment. A USGS screening-level leach test was applied to individual strata from three cores collected from a surface mine site in the Central Appalachian region to generate preliminary conductivity rankings, which were used to classify strata for two disposal scenarios: (i) Unmodified Scenario, which included all extracted strata and (ii) Modified Scenario, which excluded 15% (by mass) of the overburden materials with the highest conductivities. We evaluated overburden leaching conductivity using EPA Method 1627 in 18 dry-wet cycles, generating conductivities of 1,020-1,150 μS/cm for the Unmodified Scenario and 624-979 μS/cm for the Modified Scenario. Hence, overburden segregation was successful in reducing the leachate conductivity, but did not reach the proposed benchmark. The leachate was dominated by sulfate in the first four cycles and by bicarbonates in cycles 5-18 in columns with higher sulfur content, while bicarbonates were dominant throughout experiments with lower sulfur content in overburden. The use of conductivity rankings, isolation of potentially problematic overburden strata, and appropriate materials management could reduce conductivity in Central Appalachian streams and other surface mining areas.

The abandoned surface mining sites in the Czech Republic: mapping and creating a database with a GIS web application

Abstract. Based on the vectorization of the 55-volume book series the Quarry Inventories of the Czechoslovak Republic/Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, published in the years 1932–1961, a new comprehensive database was built comprising 9958 surface mining sites of raw materials, which were active in the first half of the 20th century. The mapped area covers 40.9 % of the territory of the Czech Republic. For the purposes of visualization, a map application, the Quarry Inventories Online, was created that enables the data visualization.

Matrix Intensification Affects Body and Physiological Condition of Tropical Forest-Dependent Passerines.

Matrix land-use intensification is a relatively recent and novel landscape change that can have important influences on the biota within adjacent habitat patches. While there are immediate local changes that it brings about, the influences on individual animals occupying adjacent habitats may be less evident initially. High-intensity land use could induce chronic stress in individuals in nearby remnants, leading ultimately to population declines. We investigated how physiological indicators and body condition measures of tropical forest-dependent birds differ between forest adjacent to surface mining sites and that near farmlands at two distances from remnant edge in southwest Ghana. We used mixed effects models of several condition indices including residual body mass and heterophil to lymphocyte (H/L) ratios (an indicator of elevated chronic stress) to explore the effect of matrix intensity on forest-dependent passerines classed as either sedentary area-sensitive habitat specialists or nomadic generalists. Individual birds occupying tropical forest remnants near surface mining sites were in poorer condition, as indicated by lower residual body mass and elevated chronic stress, compared to those in remnants near agricultural lands. The condition of the sedentary forest habitat specialists white-tailed alethe, Alethe diademata and western olive sunbird, Cyanomitra obscura was most negatively affected by high-intensity surface mining land-use adjacent to remnants, whereas generalist species were not affected. Land use intensification may set in train a new trajectory of faunal relaxation beyond that expected based on habitat loss alone. Patterns of individual condition may be useful in identifying habitats where species population declines may occur before faunal relaxation has concluded.

Geomorphic landform design alternatives for an existing valley fill in central Appalachia, USA: Quantifying the key issues

The goal of the geomorphic approach to reclamation is to reconstruct landforms that reduce the effect of natural geomorphic processes, replicating a mature landform that is stable and in erosive equilibrium. The geomorphic approach is becoming widely accepted as an alternative method for reclaiming disturbed landforms, with the success of geomorphic reclamation being acclaimed in the southwestern United States at surface mine sites. The following potential challenges, however, exist when applying geomorphic design principles to surface mine reclamation in the central Appalachian region of the United States: (i) geomorphic design criteria must be measured locally; (ii) constructing artificial landforms that naturally blend into the steep slopes of the surrounding environment may not ensure stability; and (iii) shallower, more stable slopes of geomorphic landforms could create greater stream burial to maintain fill volumes. This research established geomorphic design criteria specific to central Appalachia and completed a series of alternative geomorphic landform designs for an existing valley fill in southern West Virginia, United States using the GeoFluv™ method to investigate and quantify these issues. Designs investigated geotechnical stability and channel design on reclaimed landforms while considering permitted and expanded impact areas. Based on field data and spatial analysis, the geomorphic design criteria of mean drainage length and mean drainage density were calculated as 124m (408ft) and 4.7km−1 (61.7ft/ac), respectively. Conceptual designs confirmed that the issues associated with steep slope topography, landform stability, and channel stability are valid, especially if minimizing the area of impact is a priority. Creating a stable geomorphic design as an alternative to a conventional valley fill in central Appalachia is possible, although it does not comply with current regulations and policies governing excess spoil placement. Additional issues with respect to constructability must be investigated and further studies on quantifying the benefits of geomorphic reclamation with respect to erosion and water/contaminant management should be completed to fully assess the practicality of implementing geomorphic reclamation in central Appalachia.

English

American chestnut (Castanea dentata Marsh. Borkh.) is a once- dominant hardwood species with the potential to be a valuable restoration tree for use on surface mined lands in the Appalachian region. Coupling soil ripping and plowing and disking with plantings of American and backcrossed chestnuts has resulted in high seedling survival on a reclaimed surface mine site in southeast Ohio. The objective of this study was to evaluate flowering, chestnut bur production (seed), and natural cankers caused by chestnut blight fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica) on three chestnut breeding lines, in three soil tillage treatments after seven field seasons. Pure American (Castanea dentata), and two types of C. dentata × C. mollissima hybrids (BC2F1 and BC3F1) were documented. Reproduction potential was measured via flower production in June. Canker incidence was recorded as necrotic bark lesions with the presence of orange spore bearing structures. When reproduction potential was compared among seed types, there were no differences; all chestnuts trees were flowering and producing chestnut burs after 7 seasons. Soil treatment had no impact on flowering incidence; however, hybrid breeding lines had a mild effect. Canker incidence and presence of flowers were not related statistically. When natural canker incidence was compared, pure American chestnut exhibited the most infection (P < 0.0001). There were also notable treatment effects, plots that applied the deep ripping had greater disease incidence on pure American chestnuts (P < 0.0001). Long-term survival and stand stability will depend on chestnut's tolerance to the blight at an age of fruiting and flowering. Results after seven years suggest that hybrids were exhibiting a decrease in blight incidence and were flowering and producing burs. Employing deep ripping methods to backcrossed American chestnut plantings provide a viable method for hardwood seedling establishment in soils impacted by surface mining.

Atmospheric particulate matter in proximity to mountaintop coal mines: sources and potential environmental and human health impacts.

Mountaintop removal mining (MTM) is a widely used approach to surface coal mining in the US Appalachian region whereby large volumes of coal overburden are excavated using explosives, removed, and transferred to nearby drainages below MTM operations. To investigate the air quality impact of MTM, the geochemical characteristics of atmospheric particulate matter (PM) from five surface mining sites in south central West Virginia, USA, and five in-state study control sites having only underground coal mining or no coal mining whatsoever were determined and compared. Epidemiologic studies show increased rates of cancer, respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, and overall mortality in Appalachian surface mining areas compared to Appalachian non-mining areas. In the present study, 24-h coarse (>2.5µm) and fine (≤2.5µm) PM samples were collected from two surface mining sites in June 2011 showed pronounced enrichment in elements having a crustal affinity (Ga, Al, Ge, Rb, La, Ce) contributed by local sources, relative to controls. Follow-up sampling in August 2011 lacked this enrichment, suggesting that PM input from local sources is intermittent. Using passive samplers, dry deposition total PM elemental fluxes calculated for three surface mining sites over multi-day intervals between May and August 2012 were 5.8±1.5 times higher for crustal elements than at controls. Scanning microscopy of 2,249 particles showed that primary aluminosilicate PM was prevalent at surface mining sites compared to secondary PM at controls. Additional testing is needed to establish any link between input of lithogenic PM and disease rates in the study area.