The post-mining land use optimisation framework developed as part of this research underpins the need for examining site-specific decisions within the regional land planning context as well as in relation to the social, economic, and political perspectives within the mine’s localised planning domain. It emphasizes that the spatial and temporal planning and implementation of rehabilitation and land use-related activities remain continually changing throughout the mining life cycle. This implies that amendments, refinements or corrective action should be an integral aspect of this planning, improving the trajectory towards success as new site knowledge and learnings becomes available. Rehabilitation activities should be implemented as soon as site disturbance (construction) starts and maintained throughout the operational and decommissioning periods. More importantly, these activities remain even more pertinent to the monitoring and maintenance period, during which successful implementation of the pre-defined land use/s can be demonstrated. Rehabilitation-, land use and mine closure plans are hence ‘living’, changing tools, aligned towards a common goal – defining a resilient post-mining landscape that will, ultimately, enable harnessing the altered landscapes’ new characteristics to optimise services to post-mining communities that either provides similar resourcing needs from the land, or alternative resources that contribute to the long-term viability of the area. / Dissertation (MSc) - University of Pretoria, 2018. / Coaltech Research Institute, Chamber of Mines / Chamber of Mines / Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology / MSc / Unrestricted

Dans le but d'une meilleure caractérisation de l'aléa gaz dans les bassins houillers miniers ennoyés, un dispositif expérimental a été développé pour quantifier la libération du méthane depuis le charbon. Des échantillons de charbon saturés en méthane ont été soumis à des pressions hydrostatiques allant de 3 à 4,3 MPa, dans une cellule autoclave. Le protocole développé à partir du système initial et des moyens techniques apportés au cours des travaux de thèse s'est révélé opérationnel. Les résultats des expériences et leur analyse ont mis en évidence deux phénomènes : une désorption significative du méthane initialement adsorbé et l'effet de la pénétration de l'eau dans les pores du charbon sur la pression dans la cellule. Les différents niveaux de pression imposée au charbon ont montré que la fraction de méthane désorbé augmente avec la pression, du fait d'une sollicitation plus profonde des pores saturés en méthane.Les constantes d'équilibre déterminées ont été utilisées dans des modèles numériques visant à simuler la migration du méthane dans des structures minières ennoyées. Les modèles les plus simples ont montré l'importance des perméabilités du charbon et des vides miniers, ainsi que l'effet inhibiteur de l'ennoyage sur la libération de méthane. La concentration atteinte en méthane dissous est limitée par la constante de sorption attribuée au charbon et à sa teneur initiale en méthane. D'autres scénarios reprenant un contexte de gestion de la remontée des eaux de mine illustrent l'impact d'un pompage sur la sollicitation du méthane et son influence quant à une possible émission en surface, au terme d'une durée de l'ordre de la décennie, voire du siècle. / An experimental laboratory device has been developed in order to better characterize the possibility if gas emissions from flooded coal mines. Coal samples, saturated with methane, have been submitted at hydrostatic pressure from 3 to 4.3 MPa in an autoclave cell. The initial set-up and the technical apparatus added during the thesis work permit to establish an operational protocol. The results and their analysis highlight two processes: a significant desorption of methane from the flooded coal and the impact of the water penetration in the coal pores on the hydrostatic pressure. The pressure levels the coal was submitted to reveal that an increase of hydrostatic pressure enhances desorption and dissolution, as a consequence of a deeper solicitation of the methane-saturated pores.The experimental equilibrium constants have been taken into account in numerical models aiming to simulate the methane migration in flooded mine structures. The simplest models showed the importance of coal and mine voids permeability and the methane release limitation by flooding. The methane concentration in water is controlled by the desorption constant of the coal and its initial methane content. Other models simulating a flooding management context illustrate the impact of pumping on methane release and its influence concerning an eventual surface emission after decades or even century.

Der verantwortungsbewusste Umgang mit alt- und nachbergbaulichen Strukturen umfasst den Aufbau und die Entwicklung eines Risikomanagementsystems. Aktuelle Informationen über die Stabilität der bergbaulichen Objekte, ihren Zustand und mögliche Auswirkungen auf die Tagesoberfläche werden durch ein Monitoringprogramm bereitgestellt. Der Beitrag behandelt die Zusammenhänge zwischen den bergbaulichen Elementen/ Objekten, den Ereignissen an der Tagesoberfläche, den zu messenden Parametern und den heute zur Verfügung stehenden Monitoringverfahren. In einem besonderen Fokus stehen alle Verfahren, deren Potentiale als besonders untersuchungswürdig eingestuft werden. Dazu zählen insbesondere die Daten des europäischen Erdbeobachtungsprogramms Copernicus. Die bisher gewonnenen Erfahrungen bei der Verschneidung der radarinterferometrischen, multi- und hyperspektralen Daten u.a. der Sentinel-Satelliten, mit den Ereignissen an altund nachbergbaulichen Elementen werden beschrieben. Neben der Analyse von Bodenbewegungsprozessen kommt den Veränderungen des Bodenwassergehaltes, der Vitalität der Vegetation und der Landnutzung eine besondere Bedeutung zu. / The responsible handling of old- and post-mining structures encompasses the installation and the development of a risk management system. Up-to-date information about the mining objects` stability, their condition and possible effects to the ground surface are provided by a monitoring program. This contribution deals with the contexts between the mining objects, the effects to the ground surface, the parameters to be measured and the currently available monitoring methods. The methods which are recognized as extraordinary useful, shall be emphasized within this paper. Among these, the data of the European Earth observation program Copernicus are of a special interest. The to date gained experiences by merging of radar interferometrical, multi- and hyperspectral data with the old- and post-mining elements are being described. Besides the analysis of ground movement processes the variations of soil water, the vegetation’s vitality and the land use are focussed.

Surface coal mining in West Virginia has supplied energy to the eastern coast of the United States for over a century. Over the years, the coal mining industry has been forced to adapt as societal demands regarding health, safety, and environmental impacts have changed. More recent pressure has called for another iteration of change: long-term post-mining sustainability. The research presented in this thesis investigates one potential solution—or component of a solution—to improve the sustainability of surface coal mining in West Virginia: post-mining wind power. This thesis intends to demonstrate and explain the feasibility of synergistic mine closure and wind development. Wind conditions at three reclaimed mine sites in West Virginia were monitored in order to develop representative case studies for post-mining wind power. This report contains a summary of the literature consulted to plan the site assessments, the methodology employed to execute them, the analysis steps undertaken to derive conclusions, and a discussion of all findings. This research has found that significant cost savings can be yielded from synergistic mine closure and wind development, as compared to greenfield wind development. Though wind conditions themselves remain the primary driver for site feasibility, post-mining wind power is a practice with significant promise for improving project economics, contributing to renewable energy development, enhancing company-community relations, providing local employment opportunities, and exemplifying sustainable business practices in Appalachia. / Master of Science

Planting woody biomass for energy production can be used as a mine reclamation procedure to satisfy the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) and provide renewable energy for the United States.  This study examines the economic viability of bioenergy production on previously mined lands using multiple hardwood species and treatments.  Five species were planted at two densities; one-half of the trees were fertilized in year two.  Height and diameter of the trees were measured annually for five years; the first three years by cooperating researchers at Virginia Tech, the last two years specifically for this report.  Current and predicted mass of the species, effects of planting density and fertilizer application, and the land expectation value (LEV) of each treatment were summarized.  A sensitivity analysis was conducted to determine how changes in production costs, stumpage price, rotation length, and interest rate affect the economic feasibility of bioenergy production.  Renewable energy and mine reclamation policies were investigated and it was determined that woody bioenergy can be planted as a mine reclamation procedure and may receive financial incentives.  Production cost appears to have the largest impact on LEV and is often the difference between positive and negative returns for the landowner.  The extra cost of fertilization and high density planting do not increase LEV; the unfertilized, low density treatments have the best LEV in all examined scenarios.  In general, bioenergy was found to be economically viable as a mine reclamation procedure only in limited circumstances.  In low cost, high price scenarios, bioenergy crops could have the potential to reforest both active and abandoned mine lands throughout southern Appalachia. / Master of Science

Surface mining of coal in the country leaves a lot of damage. This type of mining is characterized by the creation of large external dumps. The dumps often contain substrates with toxic substances or substances which become toxic after reaction with air. These substrates are toxic to plants and edaphon. This work is intended to show what properties of substrates are important for phytotoxicity. The location of research was selected including 3 different kinds of substrates, terrain unevenness and a lagoon in the middle. Coordinate grid has been created on the selected location. At each point a test was conducted with plant Sinapis alba and biomass was extracted from a naturally growing vegetation. Further, at the points substrates were collected and values of pH, conductivity and arsenic were measured. Test with plant Sinapis alba was repeated in the laboratory conditions as well. On site GPS coordinates were measured for the mathematical model created in ArcGIS. Experiment has shown the importance of the type of substrate and the geologic description, and then the association between dejection, value of pH and conductivity. Conductivity and pH levels also correlate with the germination Sinapis alba and biomass of naturally growing vegetation.

Field observation and manipulative experiments were carried out to describe and test important processes affecting the plant succession on Sokolov post-mining sites. Examined was mainly effect of dominant tree species (which are planted or spontaneously established) on understory plants, litter decomposability and effect of earthworms (Lumbricidae) on late successional plant species.

Der verantwortungsbewusste Umgang mit alt- und nachbergbaulichen Strukturen umfasst den Aufbau und die Entwicklung eines Risikomanagementsystems. Aktuelle Informationen über die Stabilität der bergbaulichen Objekte, ihren Zustand und mögliche Auswirkungen auf die Tagesoberfläche werden durch ein Monitoringprogramm bereitgestellt. Der Beitrag behandelt die Zusammenhänge zwischen den bergbaulichen Elementen/ Objekten, den Ereignissen an der Tagesoberfläche, den zu messenden Parametern und den heute zur Verfügung stehenden Monitoringverfahren. In einem besonderen Fokus stehen alle Verfahren, deren Potentiale als besonders untersuchungswürdig eingestuft werden. Dazu zählen insbesondere die Daten des europäischen Erdbeobachtungsprogramms Copernicus. Die bisher gewonnenen Erfahrungen bei der Verschneidung der radarinterferometrischen, multi- und hyperspektralen Daten u.a. der Sentinel-Satelliten, mit den Ereignissen an altund nachbergbaulichen Elementen werden beschrieben. Neben der Analyse von Bodenbewegungsprozessen kommt den Veränderungen des Bodenwassergehaltes, der Vitalität der Vegetation und der Landnutzung eine besondere Bedeutung zu. / The responsible handling of old- and post-mining structures encompasses the installation and the development of a risk management system. Up-to-date information about the mining objects` stability, their condition and possible effects to the ground surface are provided by a monitoring program. This contribution deals with the contexts between the mining objects, the effects to the ground surface, the parameters to be measured and the currently available monitoring methods. The methods which are recognized as extraordinary useful, shall be emphasized within this paper. Among these, the data of the European Earth observation program Copernicus are of a special interest. The to date gained experiences by merging of radar interferometrical, multi- and hyperspectral data with the old- and post-mining elements are being described. Besides the analysis of ground movement processes the variations of soil water, the vegetation’s vitality and the land use are focussed.

Cette thèse est une contribution à la connaissance des impacts, quantitatifs et qualitatifs, liés à la déprise minière de la région d’Alès. Le travail a consisté en l’analyse et l’interprétation de données quantitatives et qualitatives des eaux d’émergences des anciennes mines de charbon du bassin alésien afin de connaître la composition chimique des eaux d’émergences et de l’expliquer. Pour cela, nous avons utilisé des Analyses en Composantes Principales (ACP), des diagrammes de Piper et de Schoeller-Berkalov sur l’ensemble des émergences. Dans un deuxième temps, nous avons réalisé une analyse de l’évolution temporelle des concentrations de chaque élément pour les émergences où les données sont disponibles. L’aspect quantitatif est étudié grâce à une synthèse des connaissances disponible sur le réservoir minier de Fontanes (géologie, répartition spatiale, données de pompage et de niveaux piézométriques). Certaines émergences présentent une qualité qui rend impossible leur rejet direct dans l’environnement et il est important dans cette situation de bien définir la masse d’eau concernée. Pour cela, nous avons élaboré un modèle hydrodynamique par automates séquentiels. Il est appliqué aux anciens travaux de Rochebelle-St-Martin, aboutissant à la détermination des paramètres perméabilité et épaisseur du réservoir par reconstitution du niveau piézométrique du réservoir tout en tenant compte d’un pompage encore maintenu dans l’exploitation. Cette modélisation permet de mieux connaître les paramètres définissant l’aquifère minier dans la perspective d’exploiter cette réserve. Ces eaux de mines présentent une qualité médiocre. A partir d’une meilleure connaissance hydrodynamique du système, obtenue par la modélisation, il devient possible de proposer une valorisation de cette eau par utilisation de ses calories en géothermie connaissant la géométrie du réservoir minier. Les anciennes exploitations minières sont à nouveau source d’énergie / This thesis is a contribution to the knowledge of the quantitative and qualitative impacts, linked to the abandonment of the mining works on Alès coal basin. This work consisted in analysis and interpretation of quantitative and qualitative data on the waters outflows of former coal mines in order to determine the chemical composition of groundwaters outflows and the water chemistry. For that, we used principal component analysis, diagrams of Piper and Schoeller-Berkalov on all waters outflows. Secondly, we analyzed the temporal evolution of concentrations of each element for the waters outflows. The quantitative aspect is therefore considered by the synthesis of knowledge available on the mining reservoir of Fontanes (geology, spatial distribution, pumping data and piezometrics levels). Some groundwaters outflows have a quality that makes their direct discharge into the environment impossible and it is important, in this situation, to define the affected body of the water. For that, we have developed a hydrodynamical model by sequential automaton. It is applied to the former works of Rochebelle-St-Martin de Valgalgues leading to the determination of the parameters permeability and thickness of mining aquifer recovery of piezometric level of the reservoir while taking into account a pumping still maintained. This model will lead to a better comprehension of the parameters defining the aquifer in the mining perspective to exploit this reserve. The mine water has a poor quality. After a better knowledge obtained by a hydrodynamical modeling, it becomes realistic to propose a recovery of this water by use of its calories from geothermal and knowing the geometry of the tank mine

Surface mining and its associated territory disturbance is generally perceived negatively by society. However, these newly transformed regions may be very important areas of conservation from biodiversity point of view of and emergence of refugia. This thesis investigates the dynamics of the coal dumps and the land cover changes in relation to the occurrence of endangered species of Tawny pipit (Anthus campestris) in the North Bohemia. This area is the only breeding region in the country for this species. The aim of this thesis is to describe land cover change on three coal dumps (Tušimice, Bílina a Vršany) within horizon of four years (2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017). Moreover, another aim was to asses habitat preferences of Tawny pipit based on ornithological findings for particular year. As it is seen from the results, the most significant change occurred at those areas, which were without vegetation cover in the beggining of monitoring and were cover with vegetation later. The category of herbal vegetation was the one which increased the most, as it was caused by spontaneous succession. It showed up that Tawny pipit's most preferred areas are land cover categories coal dumps surface without vegetation, coal dumps surface with herbal vegetation and category buildings, build-up area and transport...