In some areas the accelerated weathering of material disturbed by coal mining operations releases toxic concentrations of elements present. Also, water seeping through the mine waste may become quite acid. Knowledge of these detrimental side effects has been a concern to those planning coal mining operations in
Alberta.
A study was undertaken to determine if there is a potential for adverse side effects resulting from weathering mine waste derived from the Luscar Formation in the Alberta foothills.
Chemical analyses were selected to reveal base conditions present in the overburden profile and the potential for change during weathering. Constituents identified included total sulphur, macro and micro nutrients, water soluble cations and anions, extractable cations, and trace elements.
It is concluded that weathering of the material disturbed by mining will not have any harmful side effects. Consequently, from a geochemical point of view, waste materials may be placed in waste dumps in any order convenient to the mining program.