Study of the Properties of Mine Waste in the Midwestern Coal Fields. Final Report

摘要

This study was sponsored by the US Department of Energy in recognition of the need for additional information on the properties and potential secondary use of coal waste produced in the midwestern coal fields. The objectives of the investigation were to (1) assess the amount of coal waste accumulated to date in the midwestern coal fields and to predict the cumulative amount of waste to be produced by the year 2000; (2) to evaluate the potential use of coal waste as a raw material for the coal, mineral and manufacturing industries; (3) to determine the calorific values, and chemical and engineering properties of midwestern coal waste; (4) to determine any trends in the variation of these properties within the regions of the midwestern coal fields; and (5) to determine any spatial variation in properties within a given disposal area. To accomplish these objectives, the midwestern coal fields were divided into six regions based on the geology and the coal seams mined. A total of twenty sites were selected for study and samples of coarse and fine coal waste obtained at each site. The results show that there exists little variation in the properties of coal waste within the midwestern coal fields. The results generally support the findings of previous investigations, but also dispute the conclusions drawn by other investigations regarding engineering strength properties. (ERA citation 07:020758)