The Reclamation of Coal Mine Spoils

Tree survival and growth on Iowa coal-spoil materials

“…The leve of available potassium in coal-spoil materials has been reported by various authors (Grandt and Lang 1958» Kohnke 1950, Limstrom 1950, Limstrom and Merz 1951a, 1951b, Rogers 1951and Sail 1954. Grandt and Lang (1958) reported that spoil materials in Illinois, represented by some 2,000 samples, were high in available potassium.…”

“…The chief means of energy transfer in of available phosphorus in coal-spoil materials (Kohnke 1950» Potter al. 1951» Limstrom and Merz 1951a, 1951b, Rogers 1951» Sail 1954, Einspahr 1955» Grandt and Lang 1958) • Potter et al (1951) examined many small strip-mine banks in West…”

“…Likewise, Kohnke (1950) reported that available potassium had almost always been found in adequate amounts, and Rogers (1951) indicated that most spoil banks of the Western Interior…”

“…The low level of nitrogen in coal-spoil materials has been pointed out by Croxton (1928), Kohnke (1950), Rogers (1951), Potter fit aL. (1951), Sail (1954) and Einspahr (1955).…”

“…Kohnke (1950) observed that roof coal and other strata of carboniferous age contained pyrites and other forms of iron sulphide, and that the oxidation of these compounds with the production of sulphuric acid led to extremely acid conditions.…”