Coal Mining:Reclaim the Land

Written by Jo
Kentucky is one of the many states in which coal is mined. The type of coal generally found in this area is a type called Bituminous coal; it contains very little moisture and has a high heat value.
Coal exists in layers or seams found between rocks and sometimes fossils can be found in the layers.
The coal is usually mined by Surface Mining or also known as Mountain Top mining.
The soil and rocks are removed by heavy equipment to get the layers of coal. There is a ninety percent removal of coal by using this method. As a result of this type of mining the land is stripped of all vegetation and wildlife.
The creeks are polluted with sulfur minerals which cause discoloration of the rocks and water, due to the mineral content the water cannot be used for drinking or bathing.
Once the land is reclaimed, the coal company is responsible for resurfacing the land.
This area was reclaimed around the late seventy’s. It was filled in with several truck loads of top soil and planted with white pines and also different kinds of perennial grasses to prevent erosion.
As you can see here, over time problems can reoccur. It was later determined that some of the perennial grasses were not useful for this type of restoration.
Even though it has been years ago when this area was mined, there are still signs of the coal industries presence.

Mountaintop Mining in Kentucky
Mountaintop Mining in Kentucky. Bill K. Caylor. Vice President & General Counsel, Kentucky Coal Association. Introduction. The following is an overview today of mountaintop mining in Kentucky. ... today of mountaintop mining in Kentucky. Mountaintop mining is simply coal mining activities that ... operators and the Kentucky Department of Surface Mining to reclaim the land using ...
www.coaleducation.org/issues/moutaintop.htm
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I am trying to research information on names of reclaimed mines in Rockcastle and surrounding areas.
By Jo