Joint analysis of soil ecology and geobotany research findings and applicability of coal preparation waste in disturbed land reclamation

The implemented long-term research was aimed to obtain relevant information on functioning and recovery of young soil (manmade techno-soil with artificial root area layer created during reclamation and embryo-soil self-developing on manmade formations) and vegetation cover areas at placements of coal preparation waste. The integrated studies of functioning of techno-soil and embryo-soil generated above coal preparation waste allow concluding that coal preparation waste can be adopted as a reclamation resource and can be environmentally safely used only at the technical stage of disturbed land reclamation, when filling mined-out voids of open pits with a view to creating stable land forms for generating young soils above them. The surface of coal preparation waste should be sealed using inert materials to prevent their entry in the environment. Formation of a root area layer should use fertile or potentially fertile soils (natural resources) which also can promote reduction in the adverse after-effects of the waste use and can facilitate formation of vegetation cover above the young soil. The research findings made it possible to offer proposals on eco-friendly and efficient use of coal preparation waste in disturbed land reclamation.

Semina I. S., Androkhanov V. A. Joint analysis of soil ecology and geobotany research findings and applicability of coal preparation waste in disturbed land reclamation. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2025;(1):20-33. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2025_1_0_20.

I.S. Semina, Cand. Sci. (Biol.), Assistant Professor, Siberian State Industrial University, 654007, Novokuznetsk, Russia, e-mail: semina.i@mail.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0001-9222-0358,
V.A. Androkhanov, Dr. Sci. (Biol.), Director, Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry of the Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090, Novosibirsk, Russia, e-mail: androhanov@issa-siberia.ru, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-2123-2367.

I.S. Semina, e-mail: semina.i@mail.ru.

1. Bragina P. C. Spontaneous combustion of coal dumps in Kemerovo region. Bulletin of the Kuzbass State Pedagogical Academy. 2013, no. 4, pp. 57—64. [In Russ].

2. Zhuravleva N. V. Complex assessment of toxicity of industrial wastes of Kemerovo region enterprises. Bulletin of the Kuzbass State Technical University. 2006, no. 6-2 (58), pp. 86—89. [In Russ].

3. Ismagilov Z. R., Shikina N. V., Rudina N. A. [et al.] Aluminosilicate microspheres from the fly ash of kuzbass coal–burning power stations. Solid Fuel Chemistry. 2015, no. 4, pp. 49. [In Russ].

4. Starojilov V. T., Derbentseva A. M., Pilipushka V. N., Krupskaya L. T., Bubnova M. B. Assessment of technogenic landscapes for their environmental safety (on the example of coal mining and production in the Primorsky Krai). Ekologiya promyshlennogo proizvodstva. 2011, no. 4, pp. 41—45. [In Russ].

5. Chibrik T. S. Some aspects of evaluating the biological recultivation experience at the Urals coal fields. Izvestia Orenburg State Agrarian University. 2012, no. 5 (37), pp. 216—218. [In Russ].

6. Chibrik T. S., Lukina N. V., Filimonova E. I., Glazyrina M. A. Restoration of biodiversity on Cheremshansk Nickel Deposit dumps. Promyshlennaya botanika. 2019, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 45—48. [In Russ].

7. Finkelman R. B. Potential health impacts of burning coal beds and waste banks. International Journal of Coal Geology. 2004, vol. 59, рр. 19—24.

8. Capilla A. V., Delgado A. V. The destiny of the earth’s mineral resources. London: World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., 2015, 672 p.

9. Iguan Wang, Guangcai Wang, Tingyu Ren, Haibo Wang, Qingyu Xu, Guanghui Zhang Assessment of soil fertility degradation affected by mining disturbance and land use in a coalfield via machine learning. Ecological Indicators. 2021, vol. 125, article 107608. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.107608.

10. Fischer A. M., Van Hamme J. D., Gardner W. C., Fraser L. H. Impacts from topsoil stockpile height on soil geochemical properties in two mining operations in British Columbia: Implications for restoration practices. Mining. 2022, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 315—329. DOI: 10.3390/mining2020017.

11. Gadzhiev I. M., Kurachev V. M. Genetic and ecological aspects of research and classification of soils of anthropogenic landscapes. Ekologiya i rekul'tivatsiya tekhnogennykh landshaftov [Ecology and reclamation of anthropogenic landscapes], Novosibirsk, Nauka, 1992, pp. 6—15.

12. Iglovikov A. V., Denisov A. A., Sannikova N. V. Innovative technologies of recultivation of disturbed lands in the Far North. Bulletin of Northern Trans-Ural state agricultural university. 2017, no. 2(37), pp. 41—49. [In Russ].

13. Altangerel Dambà. Selfrestoration of spoiled lands in mountain mining areas Khentey upland of Central Mongol (Baganur brown coal deposit). Bulletin of Buryat State University. Biology, Geography. 2015, no. 4, pp. 262—265. [In Russ].

14. Artamonova V. Humus reclamation of disturbed lands: past, present, future. Anthropogenic Transformation of Nature. 2023, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 32—45. [In Russ].

15. Artamonova V. and Bortnikova S. Ecological aspects of soil reclamation on overburden dumps in coal mining areas. Anthropogenic Transformation of Nature. 2022, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 48—57. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.17072/2410-8553-2022-1-48-57.

16. Bachurina A. V., Zalesov S. V., Tolkach O. V. The effectiveness of disturbed lands forest reclamation in the zone of copper-melting works. Ecology and Industry of Russia. 2020, vol. 24, no. 6, pp. 67—71. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.18412/1816-0395-2020-6-67-71.

17. Lestari D. A., Fiqa A. P., Fauziah F., Budiharta S. Growth evaluation of native tree species planted on post coal mining reclamation site in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Biodiversitas. 2019, vol. 20, pp. 134—143. DOI: 10.13057/biodiv/d200116.

18. Kurachev V. M., Androkhanov V. A. Classification of soils of technogenous landscapes. Siberian journal of ecologу. 2002, no. 3, pp. 255—261. [In Russ].

19. Vadyunina A. F., Korchagina Z. A. Metody issledovaniya fizicheskikh svoystv pochv i gruntov [Methods of research of physical properties of soils and grounds], Moscow, Vysshaya shkola, 1973, 400 p.

20. Rode A. A. Osnovy ucheniya o pochvennoy vlage, T. 1 [Fundamentals of the theory of soil moisture, vol. 1], Leningrad, Gidrometeoizdat, 1965, 663 p.

21. Dimo V. N. Teplovoy rezhim pochv SSSR [Thermal regime of soils of the USSR], Moscow, Sel'khozgiz, 1949, 447 p.

22. Soloviev S., Semina I., Androkhanov V., Shipilova A. Restoration of vegetation cover in reclaimed areas with coal preparation waste in Kuzbass. E3S Web of Conferences. 2021, vol. 244, article 01015. DOI: 10.1051/e3sconf/202124401015.

23. Semina I. S., Androkhanov V. A. Environmental and soil survey of sites reclaimed by coal processing wastes, as exemplified by the Kemerovo region, Kuzbass. Ugol'. 2021, no. 7 (1144), pp. 57—62. [In Russ].

24. Semina I. S., Androkhanov V. A., Shipilova A. M. Thermal behaviour of soils remediated using coal processing wastes in Kuzbass. Ugol'. 2022, no. 7(1156), pp. 60—65. [In Russ].

25. GOST R 59057-2020. Okhrana okruzhayushchey sredy. Zemli. Obshchie trebovaniya po rekul'tivatsii narushennykh zemel' [State Standart GOST R 59057-2020. Environmental protection. Land. General requirements for the reclamation of disturbed lands]. [In Russ].