Document Type

Thesis - University Access Only

Award Date

2010

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Plant Science

Abstract

The Ruby Gulch Waste Rock Depository (RGWRD) in Lawrence County, South Dakota was reclaimed with the use of a geomembrane cap which aids in the reduction of acid materials generated from the waste rock. The geomembrane was capped with soil materials to support plant growth. Little is known about the geomembrane cap sustainability under SD environmental conditions. Restoring mine sites after major surface mining operations involves reclamation to restore soil functions within the landscape. By studying these functions, we begin to understand soil restoration processes and can more effectively manage the RGWRD. The concept of soil quality links soil properties to the ability of the soil to support ecological systems. The physical, chemical, and biological properties are crucial to the interactions between the developing soil and the vegetation. The reclaimed minesoil of the RGWRD of the Gilt Edge Mine Superfund Site (GEMSS) has uncharacterized soil properties. After three years of reclamation, reclaimed minesoil (RMS) at two positions within the landscape (upper-RU and lower-RL) were compared to two native soils (one burned in a recent forest fire, GB, and one unburned, GUB). The native soil sampled was a Grizzly loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, frigid Glossic Hapludalfs and the reclaimed soil was a loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, frigid Typic Udorthents (USDA-NRCS, 1999). The objectives of this study were to: 1) characterize/analyze RGWRD soil and contrast and compare it with adjacent undisturbed soil; and 2) assess, estimate, and compare RGWRD quality and spatial variability to adjacent undisturbed soil. The Grizzly burned site was affected by fire and the reclaimed soil sites were affected by being man-made and covered with stockpiled topsoil. Fire had significant impacts on the stability of the landscape through aggregate stability, infiltration data, and organic carbon levels. Stockpiling the topsoil decreased CEC and organic carbon. The soil profiles in each main treatment ( e.g., native and minesoil) followed similar trends. The GUB and GB had similar profile development but GUB was more developed. The RU and RL were also similarly linked. The RU and RL showed signs of initial soil profile development. The RU and RL were similar to each other meaning that the human-made material was uniform in construction from top of the waste rock depository to the bottom and soil textural fractions were similar to GUB and GB.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Soils -- South Dakota -- Lawrence County

Soils -- Quality -- South Dakota -- Lawrence County

Soil restoration -- South Dakota -- Lawrence County

Abandoned mined lands reclamation -- South Dakota -- Lawrence County

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

101

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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