Open pit mine reclamation in Abelo Limestone mine using aboriginal replantation

The Abelo limestone mine which is much close to Hirkani forest lands in Mazandaran Province has been used as main source of limestone to feed Mazandaran cement factory since 1980s. As a consequence of mining activities the natural perspective and topography have changed drastically. It made a significant concern for natural hazards in the future. The geographic position of the mine remarks the exact reclamation of mine area. Because of proximity of mine are to residential zones and sylvan lands, utilizing nature compatible methods must be applied in mine reclamation phase. In this research the possibility of planting compatible herbs to local plants, rocky limestone lands and adjacent soils has been studied. Utilizing mine pit as recreation pool after mine closure has been studied too. With regard to diversity of more than 17 types of sylvan trees, replanting of 7 species with density of 188 trees per hectare in a 4 hectares’ land have been done as pilot phase. As result replanting of four types of trees has been suggested: Coliseum maple, ash tree, poplar and alder, so that the most compatibility to limestone rocky lands and acquisitive soils have achieved. In addition, horizontal transmittal of their roots would be another positive factor to replant them. The whole reclamation process should commence after diffusion of 40 cm soil on mine benches.