Changes in physical and chemical properties of soil after surface mining and reclamation

Mining causes drastic disturbances in landscape and soil properties, and reclamation can restore soil quality over time. Thus, assessing changes in properties of reclaimed mine soils is essential to understanding the effects of the reclamation techniques. This study was aimed at quantifying the effects of mining and reclamation processes on physical and chemical properties of reclaimed soils for three dominant soil series in Ohio: Mahoning–Canfield–Rittman–Chili, Coshocton–Westmoreland–Berks, and Gilpin–Upshur–Lowell–Guernsey. Three newly reclaimed mine sites ( 200% higher than those for the undisturbed sites (43 to 154 μS cm− 1). In the 0–15 cm depth, SOC pools in RMSs (1.2 to 2.5 Mg ha− 1) declined by 52 to 83% of undisturbed sites (11 to 29 Mg ha− 1). Similarly, N pools in RMSs (1.2 to 2.5 Mg ha− 1) declined by 42 to 75% of undisturbed sites (3.1 to 5.1 Mg ha− 1). Clay content was positively correlated with SOC concentration in the RMSs but not in the undisturbed site. This trend indicates that a RMS high in clay content has a relatively high SOC sink capacity. The SOC, N, C:N ratio, and EC in the subsurface layer of RMSs were similar to those of the surface soil, although later received a topsoil cover. Such a trend suggests that topsoil materials require better handling during removal, storage, and application so as to preserve soil structure, nutrients, SOC, and N pools.