Abandoned Mine Reclamation Glossary
743 terms total — 24 showing — Last updated 16 Sep 2026
Brownfield Site
A property with known or suspected environmental contamination from previous industrial or commercial use, typically an abandoned or underutilized mine facility. Brownfield designation often triggers regulatory cleanup requirements and may provide tax incentives for remediation.
Mine Subsidence Risk Assessment
A systematic evaluation of the probability and potential impact of ground surface collapse or deformation caused by unde...
Mine Tailings
The remaining fine-grained material left after mineral extraction, consisting of crushed rock, clay, and processing chem...
Mine Tailings Stabilization
The process of chemically, physically, or biologically treating mining waste deposits to prevent erosion, leaching, and...
Mine Void Assessment
A systematic evaluation of subsurface cavities, voids, and structural integrity left behind after mining extraction to d...
Mine void backfilling sequence
The planned phased approach and methodology for filling underground mine voids or surface pits with approved material du...
Mine Void Infill
The process of filling underground excavated spaces in closed mines with inert materials such as rock, sand, or cement-b...
Mine Void Infill Strategy
An engineered approach to filling underground excavations left by subsurface mining operations using selected materials...
Mine Void Stabilization
The engineering process of safely securing underground cavities and surface depressions created by mining extraction to...
Mine Waste Characterization
The systematic analytical and geochemical assessment of solid and liquid mine materials to determine their physical prop...
Mine Waste Rock Characterization
The systematic analysis of non-ore rock material extracted during mining to determine physical, chemical, and geotechnic...
Mine Water Management System
An integrated network of infrastructure and operational practices designed to collect, treat, and discharge or reuse wat...
Mine Water Rebound
The rise in groundwater levels that occurs after mining operations cease and dewatering systems are shut down, allowing...
Mine Water Treatment
The physical, chemical, and biological processes used to remove contaminants from water discharged from abandoned mines...
Mine Water Treatment Infrastructure
The engineered systems and facilities designed to process contaminated water from abandoned mines to meet discharge stan...
Mine Water Treatment Rebound
The phenomenon where groundwater or surface water quality in an abandoned mine initially improves when active pumping st...
Mine water treatment train
Series of sequential treatment processes designed to remove contaminants from mine discharge before environmental releas...
Mineral Oxidation Lag
The temporal delay between initial exposure of sulfide minerals to atmospheric oxygen and the onset of chemical oxidatio...
Mineral Waste Segregation
The process of separating different types of mine waste materials based on chemical composition, acid-generating potenti...
Minewater Treatment
The process of removing contaminants and adjusting water chemistry from abandoned mines before discharge to surface wate...
Native Revegetation
The ecological restoration of abandoned mine sites through the deliberate establishment of indigenous plant species suit...
Native Species Establishment
The process of introducing and cultivating indigenous plant and animal species adapted to local climate and soil conditi...
Native Vegetation Reestablishment
The ecological restoration process of planting and cultivating indigenous plant species native to a region to restore ha...
Netural Drainage Transition (NDT)
The period and point at which mine drainage changes from acidic to neutral pH, indicating that acid-generating potential...
Neutral Drainage Treatment
The management and treatment of mine drainage that has neutral to alkaline pH, typically containing dissolved metals and...