Ninety percent of the nation's supply of bentonite is mined in Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming. These lands are difficult to reclaim because of the chemical and physical properties of the soil/spoil material and the arid/semiarid climate of the area. Replacement of the limited topsoil available has shown some benefit but supplies are generally inadequate. The use of inorganic amendments, such as sulfuric acid, gypsum, calcium chloride, vermiculite and perlite, have not shown consistent benefits in plant establishment and growth. Organic amendments; sawmill wood residues, straw and manure, have provided the greatest benefits in the reclamation of bentonite mined lands. Cultural and management practices are important in determining the long-term success of these reclaimed lands. Reclamation technology development for bentonite mined lands is recent and limited and the refinement and application of such technology will depend on increased activity and cooperation among researchers, regulators and the mining industry.
The chemical and physical parameters of overburden (spoil) and pit bottom materials in abandoned bentonite mined lands in Crook County, Wyoming, were characterized by geologic unit in order to classify materials for defining site specific. treatments during reclamation. Key characterization parameters were found to be saturation percentage, exchangeable sodium percentage, electrical conductivity and pH. These parameters were used to develop proposals for amendment types and rates, physical manipulations of spoil and pit bottom materials, and revegetation species as part of the reclamation plan.Additional key words: exchangeable sodium percentage, abandoned mined lands, acidic material, clay. Scope and Purpose of the ProjectHarza Engineering Company and major subcontractors are working. under contract with the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality-Abandoned Mine Land program to, in part, perform the following functions relating to abandoned bentonite mines in northeastern Wyoming: 1) Perform an investigation of existing site conditions;2) develop and recommend reclamation procedure and techniques based upon site investigations and existing research applicable to bentonite mine reclamationj 3) prepare plans and specifications for construction/reclamation work; and 4) supervise and manage construction/reclamation activities.The investigation and design phase have been completed and limited construction activities have been accomplished.
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