Opencast Coal Mining Induced Defaced Topography of

Authors: Abhijit Manna Ramkrishna Maiti

Publish Date: 2014/05/14

Volume: 42, Issue: 4, Pages: 755-764

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Abstract

With the advent of mining activities at Raniganj coalfield in India the natural topography has been defaced in some elongated tracts by either excavation or dumping This paper deals with opencast mining induced defaced topography of Raniganj coalfield which needs to be reclaimed properly right after mining This paper investigated intensity of defacing topography magnitude of topographic deformations through a number of exsitu measurement Consequences of these topographic deformations are also investigated in this study Through a number of exsitu measurement based on Geographical Information System GIS techniques generating contour and profiling them over the spoil dumps and excavated lows using fine resolution digital elevation data Remote Sensing image a total 132 85 are abandoned and 47 are working patches of defaced topography have been identified which covers 4326 sq km surface area Some working opencast quarries are more than 95 m deep with an area of more than 24 sq km and dumped ridges are more than 60 m high peak with area more than 15 sq km In case of abandoned mine more than 20 years some quarries are more than 28 m deep with area 099 sq km and some of dumped ridges are more than 28 m high peak with area 029 sq km These kinds of defaced surface remain for a long time such quarries contain acidic logged water and spoil dump leads to acid mine drainage and erosion of loose soil particle It deteriorates the entire land water system of the region The study suggests restoring land right after mining and the area made to be ecologically conformable

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