Abandoned Mine Reclamation Glossary

A reclamation technique involving the creation of horizontal steps or platforms on steep slopes to reduce erosion and im...

A comparative analysis process that establishes baseline environmental and physical conditions at a mine site before, du...

The conversion of abandoned mine sites into productive facilities serving community needs such as renewable energy gener...

A productive post-mining land use that provides value to the community or environment. It represents the intended functi...

An evaluation process determining whether reclaimed mining land can be productively utilized for designated purposes suc...

An official regulatory finding that establishes the appropriate post-mining land use for a reclaimed site based on envir...

Discarded material generated during ore processing and concentration to remove unwanted minerals and prepare ore for met...

A mine closure approach in which site activities are minimized and the property is left to naturally stabilize without a...

The restoration and reestablishment of aquatic organisms living on or in sediment (benthic fauna and flora) following re...

Ecological rehabilitation of lake and stream bottoms in reclaimed mine sites to restore aquatic community structure and...

A compacted clay layer composed primarily of montmorillonite minerals, installed beneath or within waste containment str...

The accumulation of contaminants, particularly heavy metals and toxic compounds, in organisms over time as they consume...

The systematic evaluation of how toxic mine contaminants (particularly heavy metals and metalloids) accumulate in living...

The likelihood that contaminants from abandoned mine sites will accumulate in biological tissues of organisms and increa...

A naturally occurring or engineered zone of biological and chemical activity that restricts the migration of contaminant...

The ecological process or engineered intervention promoting the return of native flora and fauna to reclaimed mine sites...

A quantitative assessment tool measuring the restoration progress of plant and animal communities at reclaimed mine site...

The incorporation of biological processes and living organisms—such as microbes, plants, and fungi—to break down or neut...

The process of applying treated organic residues (sewage sludge) to abandoned mine land to improve soil structure, add n...

The controlled distribution of treated sewage sludge or mining-derived organic materials onto reclaimed mine sites to re...

The process of mapping and establishing boundaries of areas affected by explosive mining operations, including zones of...

The legal process by which a regulatory agency claims financial assurance posted by a mining company when reclamation ob...

The formal process by which regulatory agencies return financial assurance funds to mining companies after successful co...

The regulatory achievement of full reclamation milestones as defined in closure plans, verified through third-party insp...