Abandoned Mine Reclamation Glossary

The conditioning and amendment of reclaimed soil or waste material surfaces to support plant establishment and growth. T...

Quantifiable standards defining successful re-establishment of plant communities on reclaimed mine lands, typically incl...

Measurable ecological performance standards used to evaluate whether reclaimed mine sites have achieved adequate vegetat...

The systematic evaluation of plant establishment, survival rates, species diversity, and ecosystem function at reclaimed...

Quantitative criteria used to determine whether vegetation establishment on reclaimed mine sites meets regulatory requir...

A staged ecological recovery strategy that guides the reestablishment of native plant communities on reclaimed mining si...

The strategic design of phased plant community establishment on reclaimed mine sites, progressing from pioneer species t...

Engineered channels, berms, or constructed slopes designed to redirect surface water away from reclaimed areas and conta...

The movement of pollutants through soil and groundwater matrices via mechanisms including advection, dispersion, and dif...

The precipitation and crystallization of new minerals resulting from chemical weathering of primary mine minerals and in...

The development of new mineral phases within mine waste and surrounding materials through chemical weathering and oxidat...

The creation of additional pore space and permeability in rock and soil materials through chemical weathering, oxidation...

The chemical process where sulfide minerals exposed during mining become oxidized to produce sulfuric acid and iron comp...

The quantitative measurement and modeling of water flow velocity through mine waste and surrounding geological materials...

The targeted removal of undesirable vegetation, stumps, and woody debris from mine reclamation areas while preserving na...

A detailed investigative process involving geological mapping, soil sampling, water testing, and contaminant analysis to...

The steepest angle at which unconsolidated material such as spoil, tailings, or fill remains stable without sliding unde...

The process of determining and implementing the steepest stable slope grade for reclaimed or exposed mine pit walls that...

The modification of excavated or disturbed slope angles to reduce erosion potential, improve stability, and facilitate v...

The flattening of pit or dump slopes to lower angles through regrading, bench modification, or material removal to impro...

The engineered practice of creating stepped, horizontal terraces on steep mine slopes to reduce grade angles, improve st...

A systematic evaluation of the stability of mine slopes, pit walls, and waste rock dumps to identify potential landslide...

The engineering process of determining and implementing optimal angle, height, and shape configurations for excavated mi...

The process of stabilizing, reshaping, and rehabilitating excavated slopes at abandoned mine sites to prevent erosion, l...