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Chemical characteristics of some southwest Virginia mine soils
Abstract
A detailed study of the chemical characteristics of mine soils derived from the Wise formation in Southwest Virginia was undertaken using a number of standard techniques. The mine soils studied ranged in age from 4 to 20 years, and were derived from sandstones and siltstones high in carbonates and iron. The wet acid-dichromate digestion organic matter technique often yields questionably high values in mine soils. In order to evaluate the effects of coal fragments on this technique the authors added coal fragments to a standard mine soil. The coal contents were varied from 1% to 10% of soil weight. The size of the coal fragments was varied from 0.05 to 2mm. Coal particles finer than 0.1mm affected the procedure, but were not completely oxidized. Larger, visible coal fragments had no effect on measured organic matter content. In these soils, KCl exchangeable acidity accounts for only a fraction of the total soil acidity determined by potentiometric titrations. As a result, high base saturation (>80%) is often associated with comparatively low pH values (
... This irregular distribution can be associated with coal and dark shale fragments found throughout the soil as well as mixing of the original soil with depth (Ciolkosz et al., 1985; Pederson and Rogowski, 1978; Smith et al., 1971; Thurman and Sencindiver, 1986). Minesoil pH values have been known to range from as low as 2.9 to as high as 8.2 (Barnhisel and Massey, 1969; Ciolkosz et al., 1985; Daniels and Amos, 1981; Johnson and Skousen, 1995; Plass and Vogel, 1973; Sencindiver, 1977; Smith et al., 1971). In some cases minesoil pH values have been reported as being equal to the contiguous native soils (Pederson and Rogowski, 1978; Thurman and Sencindiver, 1986). ...
... throughout the eastern coal region (Barnhisel and Massey, I 969; Smith and Sobek, 1978; Daniels and Amos, 1981 ). Exchangeable bases in minesoils often reflect the base status of the original pre-mine native ...
... This irregular distribution can be associated with coal and dark shale fragments found throughout the soil as well as mixing of the original soil with depth (Ciolkosz et al., 1985;Pederson and Rogowski, 1978;Smith et al., 1971;Thurman and Sencindiver, 1986). Minesoil pH values have been known to range from as low as 2.9 to as high as 8.2 (Barnhisel and Massey, 1969;Ciolkosz et al., 1985;Daniels and Amos, 1981;Johnson and Skousen, 1995;Plass and Vogel, 1973;Sencindiver, 1977;Smith et al., 1971). In some cases minesoil pH values have been reported as being equal to the contiguous native soils (Pederson and Rogowski, 1978;Thurman and Sencindiver, 1986). ...
... These disturbed soils are in theory quite " young " in the sense that time has not fully acted upon them, and they have not yet reached a state of equilibrium with the environment. However, several studies have noted that surface horizonation is evident in as little as three years post disturbance creating an A-C horizon sequence (Ciolkosz et al., 1985; Daniels and Amos, 1981; Shafer, 1980; Sencindiver and Ammons, 2000; Thurman and Sencindiver, 1986). This trend is credited to the acceleration of the soil physical and chemical processes performed by air, water and plant roots acting upon consolidated rock at the surface or near surface of disturbed soils (Sencindiver and Ammons, 2000). ...
... The 1-2 year-old site at section 5 had A horizons of 3 to 5 cm thick with weak structure. This rapid development of A horizons has been observed in minesoils (Ciolkosz et al., 1985; Daniels and Amos 1981; Schafer 1980; Thurman and Sencindiver 1986, Haering et al., 1993). However, distinct A horizons had not yet formed on the other 1-2 year-old site (section 4). ...
... Also, no AC or Bw horizons were observed on the 11-year-old site (section 2). AC horizons have been described in some minesoils of the same age (Thomas et al., 2000), but not in others of the same or similar age (Daniels and Amos, 1981; Thomas et al., 2000). The sola thicknesses of the 8-year-old and the 26-year-old sites were similar to sola observed by researchers who evaluated minesoils of similar ages (Ciolkosz et al., 1985; Daniels and Amos, 1981; Thomas et al., 2000). ...
Four-lane highways have been constructed in West Virginia since the 1960's. During the early construction periods of four-lane highways, geologic information was not assessed, nor was the effect of the disturbance of these geologic materials on soil quality established prior to construction activities. Due to the mountainous topography of the Central Appalachian region, the construction of four-lane highways requires large, expansive cut and fill areas that may contain acid or alkaline producing materials. The disturbance and mixing of these materials with the original soil produces "new" soil that differs considerably from the surrounding native soil. In order to evaluate highway substrate conditions and the development processes of these new soils, study areas along sections of highways have been selected for comparison based on differences in age and geologic parent materials. The long-term goal of this research is to improve selective soil handling of earth excavated during highway construction similar to that of mine overburden materials. Cut, fill and on-grade areas within sections of Interstates 68, 79, and 81 and Corridor H (U.S. Route 33 and State Route 55) have been randomly selected as sampling sites. Soil pits located at 10- m increments along transects perpendicular to these four-lane highways have been sampled at 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm depths and described according to USDA methods. Surface samples also were taken near the edge of the highway. Field pH values of all sites ranged from 5 to 8. Preliminary analysis of the data suggests that thin A horizons develop within 1 to 2 years in rapidly weathering surface materials. In these young soils, little development is observed beneath a weakly developed A horizon, commonly creating an A-C1-C2 or A-AC-C horizon sequence. Soils of intermediate ages (9-12 yrs) were similar to young soils, although at some sites a more developed soil profile was occasionally observed (A-Bw-C1-C2). The most developed soil profiles were observed on sites where soils had been constructed 25 to 43 years ago. At these locations, multiple B horizon sequences were common creating A-Bw1-Bw2-C or A-Bw- BC-C horizons.
... A unique property of mine soils is the presence of coal and carboniferous rock particles, commonly referred to as geogenic carbon. Depending on their particle size and quality, geogenic carbon particles could have the chemical and physical properties resembling those of soil organic matter, such as their ability to be chemically oxidized (Daniels and Amos, 1982) and to be decomposed by soil microorganisms (Faison, 1993). Because size and quality of geogenic carbon particles is usually a function of their moisture content and amount of impurities contained in individual coal macerals (distinct Figure 1. ...
... Before now mine land researchers have used standard soil organic matter measurement procedures, such as the Walkley-Black wet oxidation procedure (Walkley and Black, 1934) for SOM analyses in mine soils with the assumption that coal and carboniferous rock particles are not as easily oxidized as organic matter (Rodrigue, 2001). Although the latter could be true for some mine soils, the effect of the oxidizing agent used in the Walkley-Black procedure could be significant depending on the size and quantity of geogenic carbon particles in the soil (Daniels and Amos, 1982; Skjemstad and Taylor, 1999). Because of the uncertainties associated with SOM estimates determined by the Walkley- Black procedure and the following adjustment of these estimates in order to acquire the final soil organic carbon content value or the SOC value as referred to in this paper, this method only provides a qualitative measure of SOC and is not recommended for quantitative SOC analysis in soils (Nelson and Sommers, 1982; Skjemstad and Taylor, 1999). ...
Reclaimed surface coal mines in the eastern United States are commonly revegetated with grasses and legumes. The productivity and carbon sequestration potential of the vegetation varies with the condition and nature of the mined site and soil. This study was conducted to determine the distribution pattern of soil carbon stock on 9 mined grasslands reclaimed after the passage of SMCRA in 1977. Mine soil samples of the surface and the subsurface overburden material were collected to approximately 2m depth and chemical and physical soil properties were determined on the less-than-2mm fine sample fraction. Results are presented for the vertical distribution of soil organic carbon concentration (SOC_Cwt%), fine earth (
... Soil organic C content was initially measured using the Walkley-Black (WB) wet oxidation procedure (Nelson and Sommers, 1982), assuming that soil coal fragments would not interfere with the analysis. However, some studies have shown that such interference could exist (Daniels and Amos, 1982). In order to account for the effect (i.e. ...
... mined sites (to 0.5 m depth) contained 51.5 Mg ha À1 of SOC, and 50-yr-old sites contained 54.9 Mg C ha À1 ; all measurements were done by the WB procedure. However, results from other studies on mined land also indicated that the WB method could over-estimate SOC due to interference from coal particles in the soil (Daniels and Amos, 1982; Amichev, 2007). Mined sites approximately 30-yr-old in our study contained 16 Mg C ha À1 , while approximately 50-yr- old mined sites contained an average of 17 Mg C ha À1 . ...
Carbon (C) accreditation of forest development projects is one approach for sequestering atmospheric CO2, under the provisions of the Kyoto protocol. The C sequestration potential of reforested mined land is not well known. The purpose of this work was to estimate and compare the ecosystem C content in forests established on surface, coal-mined and non-mined land. We used existing tree, litter, and soil C data for fourteen mined and eight adjacent, non-mined forests in the Midwestern and Appalachian coalfields to determine the C sequestration potential of mined land reclaimed prior to the passage of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (1977). We developed statistically significant and biologically reasonable models for ecosystem C across the spectrum of site quality and stand age. On average, the highest amount of ecosystem C on mined land was sequestered in pine stands (148 Mg ha−1), followed by hardwood (130 Mg ha−1) and mixed stands (118 Mg ha−1). Non-mined hardwood stands sequestered 210 Mg C ha−1, which was about 62% higher than the average of all mined stands. Our mined land response surface models of C sequestration as a function of site quality and age explained 59, 39, and 36% of the variation of ecosystem C in mixed, pine, and hardwood stands, respectively. In pine and mixed stands, ecosystem C increased exponentially with the increase of site quality, but decreased with age. In mined hardwood stands, ecosystem C increased asymptotically with age, but it was not affected by site quality. At rotation age (60 yr), ecosystem C in mined hardwood stands was less on high quality sites, but similar for low quality sites compared to non-mined hardwood stands. The overall results indicated that the higher the original forest site quality, the less likely C sequestration potential was restored, and the greater the disparity between pre- and post-mining C sequestration stocks.
... The Powell River Project site is ideal for this type of research effort for a number of reasons. First, we have numerous detailed studies on the mine soils, water quality, and land resources within this area over a long period of time (Daniels and Amos, 1981a, 1981b, 1982Roberts et al., 1988c). The overburden and mine soils in this area are some of the best in the Appalachian region, and are generally non-acidic. ...
... The topsoil substitution allowance is generally based upon conventional soil chemical tests and an estimation of the post-blasting texture and rock content of the resultant spoils (Daniels & Zipper, 1997). Since the native forest soils are typically acidic, infertile, and high in coarse fragment content, historically it has been rather simple to demonstrate superior soil chemical properties such as higher pH and extractable Ca and P from the relatively unweathered rock spoils (Daniels & Amos, 1982). However, post-placement mine soil compaction is a significant limiting property over time (Haering et al., 2004). ...
Topsoil means many things to many people, but to everyone it represents the best part of the soil from a plant-growth perspective. Many activities alter the soil profile including surface mining, agriculture, and urban development. Of these, mining is subject to state and national regulations for protection of soil and the USDA has a series of programs to protect topsoil from erosion. The extensive use of mass grading to remove topsoil from entire subdivisions during construction will likely create pressure for additional standards and regulations governing topsoil protection and replacement, as will national efforts to restore brownfields. Topsoil is the subject of mine reclamation regulations and is viewed as something to be protected and preserved, but also something that regulators will allow, in certain situations, to be removed or buried and replaced by a topsoil substitute. When there is a need for a suitable growth medium to support vegetation at a site that has lost its native topsoil due to mining or other earth moving activities, a wide range of materials can be used as topsoil, including subsoil or selected overburden materials. The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) was the first federal statute to specifically define operations involving the handling, storage, and substitution of topsoil. Within SMCRA, "topsoil" is not specifically defined, but the A horizon is identified in the prime farmland subsection, and by implication it is topsoil. SMCRA also specifically allows for the use of topsoil substitutes when the pre-mining A + E horizons are less than 15 cm thick. Blasted sedimentary overburden materials are routinely converted into successful topsoil substitutes in the Appalachian coal mining region, but compaction commonly limits their productivity, and post-mining pH must be carefully matched to intended post-mining vegetation. A wide range of organic and mineral wastes and residual products can be beneficially used for either in-situ soil reconstruction or on-site remediation. Similarly, many run-of-mine mineral wastes can be successfully combined with organic composts to produce commercially viable manufactured topsoils. This paper will review the authors' experience with "topsoil", both in a scientific and practical, applied sense. Of necessity, it will focus on surface mine issues, while raising other issues and discussing some case studies.
... Much research has been done on using native plants on roadsides (Ahern et al. 1992, Barton et al. 2002, Corley 1995, Fiedler et al. 1990, Harper 1988, Morrison 1981, Swan et al. 1993) and other studies have examined the properties of disturbed soils (Daniels and Amos 1982, Haering et al. 2004, Johnson and Skousen 1995, and Skousen et al. 1998). However, there has been little research correlating native plant establishment to soil properties. ...
The West Virginia Division of Highways is required to develop seeding mixtures comprised of native plants for revegetation of newly constructed highway corridors. The challenges faced when revegetating highway corridors are similar to those of reclaiming minelands. Similar processes such as blasting and backfilling result in a compacted, rocky soil that often contains acidic materials. Non-native species are generally seeded with high fertilizer rates to assure revegetation success. However, these aggressive species prohibit the establishment of desirable native species. When using native species, soil properties are an important aspect of the revegetation process of these disturbed areas. The chemical properties of soils can be manipulated, however the physical properties are more difficult to influence without great expense. This study evaluated the use of native plants for revegetation along roadsides and the soil factors influencing this reclamation. Soil properties of six West Virginia sites (Baker, Hazleton, Parkersburg, Buckhannon, Elkins, and Weston) were evaluated on the basis of bulk density, pH, electrical conductivity, texture, water holding capacity, cation exchange capacity, extractable bases, and various elemental analyses. Younger soils had less profile development as well as higher bulk densities, increased rock fragments, and decreased water holding capacities than older sites. Older sites with more vegetation had higher amounts of organic carbon in the soil, which translated into improved soil conditions and water holding capacity. Soil pH did not significantly influence native species establishment on these sites. The Elkins site had slightly saline soils as determined by electrical conductivity, which related to a decreased amount of vegetation on this site. Sites with higher amounts of vegetation correlated to soils with lower bulk densities, higher CEC and water holding capacities, and ample nutrients.
Natural soils on steeply sloping landscapes in the Appalachian coal fields of Virginia. West Virginia. Kentucky, and Tennessee are often thin, rocky, acidic and infertile, making the topsoiling of surface mined sites impractical in many cases. Topsoil substitutes composed of blasted rock fragments are commonly used in this region. The proper selection and placement of designated topsoil substitutes is therefore critical to long term reclamation success. These mine soil surfaces are not in equilibrium and with the surface environment, and it is quite difficult to diferentiate among dissolution, adsorption, desorption and precipitation reactions as these surfaces weather with time. Severe compaction limits the productivity of many otherwise suitable topsoil substitutes. A minimum non-compacted thickness of 1 m is desirable to insure long run mine soil productivity for a variety of post-mining land uses. Significant changes in the physical, chemical, and mineralogical properties of mine soils occur within one year after placement. Mine soils high in silt content often form hard vesicular surface crusts, particularly when left unvegetated. The long term survival of plant communities on these mine soils is dependent upon mine soil organic matter accumulation and N and P cycling. Little is currently known about N and P dynamics in these mine soils, but P-fixation is a profound problem in high Fe(3-) spoils. Revegetation practices that were designed to meet 2-year bond release requirements may not he sufficient to meet new 5-year release standards. Hard rock derived mine soils can often equal or exceed native topsoil in productivity and post mining land use potential.
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