SurfMin: Sawmill / Paper mill

NTIS Accession No: NTIS List Price:

Title of Report:

UTILIZATION OF SAWMILL BY-PRODUCTS AND GYPSUM TO REVEGETATE SODIC BENTONITE MINE

SPOILS 31pp.

Performing Organization Name and Address:

Agricultural Research Service, USDA; High Plains Grasslands Research

Station; 8408 Hildreth Road; Cheyenne, WY 82009

Type of Report: Final Report

Abstract:

Lands disturbed by or abandoned after bentonite mining in the Northern Great

Plains are difficult to reclaim because of adverse chemical and physical

properties of the spoil material, the limited inherent topsoil, the

arid/semiarid climate of the area, and to some extent, the mining methods

utilized.

Research findings leading to the development of a reclamation technology for

abandoned bentonite mine spoils were tested. Wood residue amendment resulted in

immediate improvement of the physical characteristics of bentonite spoils,

enabling improved water infiltration, leaching and the concurrent establishment

of a desirable productive plant community. The studies have also pointed out

the need for an inorganic amendment, such as gypsum, to be incorporated with the

wood residue to replace the sodium in the system with calcium and prevent

further sodication of the spoil. Nitrogen fertilizer should also be

incorporated with the wood residue to provide adequate nitrogen for both plant

growth and wood residue decomposition.

This technology has been readily adaptable to large scale reclamation of

abandoned bentonite spoils. The Wyoming Abandoned Mine Land Program has

reclaimed over 3500 ha of these spoils since 1985 using the technology. Average

cost per ha was $12,048 with amendments accounting for only 21.3% of the total

cost.

Keywords:

Reclaiming bentonite mines

Gypsum

Nitrogen fertilizer

Sawmill by-products

Costs per ha.

Author(s)

Gerald E. Schuman