What happens to a mine when it is closed?
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What happens to a mine when it is closed?
Eventually, once the most accessible and valuable materials have been extracted, the mine is closed, and the site must be restored back to its original state. This includes covering up mine entrances, replanting grass and trees, and testing surrounding water, soil, and air for contaminants.
How many mines are in Alabama?
Most of the state’s 23 active surface and underground coal mines are located in the Warrior Coalfield. The top coal-producing counties in 2018 were Tuscaloosa, Jefferson and Walker.
What causes a mine to close?
In a perfect world, mines would only close when their mineral resources are exhausted. In coal mines for example, the coal seam between the sandstone, shale or conglomerate sedimentary layers would have been completely extracted. Similarly, in hard rock mines, the valuable metals would be completely recovered.
Is there any mining in Alabama?
Alabama produces bentonite, construction and industrial sand and gravel, crushed stone, lime, and iron oxide pigments, portland cement, and salt. Bauxite mined in Alabama is used for cement.
What is the deepest coal mine in Alabama?
Shoal Creek Mine is an underground mine owned by Drummond Company located near the central portion of the Warrior Coal Basin in Adger, Alabama. It is the largest coal mine in Alabama and one of the largest underground facilities in the country.
Where in Alabama can you pan for gold?
The Tallapoosa River, Crooked Creek, and Wesobulga Creek are good locations for placer gold in Clay County. Look throughout this beautiful county along smaller streams and creeks, you may find some good Alabama gold locations.
How much does it cost to reclaim land after mining 2020?
approximately $11.5 billion
According to OSMRE, the states and tribes have estimated total unfunded costs for the reclamation of eligible sites of approximately $11.5 billion to date.
How many active coal mines are in Alabama?
There are around 95 active coal mines located in the Black Warrior River watershed. Strip mining (a.k.a. surface mining) and longwall mining (a.k.a. underground mining) are the methods of choice for coal extraction in Alabama. As a result, many Black Warrior streams are impaired by sediment laden with heavy metals.
How many coal mines are in Alabama?
Coal Mine Mapping It is estimated that there have been over 4,000 underground coal mines in Alabama since the late 19th century.
What creeks in Alabama have gold?
Most of the gold in the heart of the state has been produced at the Hog Mountain District and the eastern banks of the Hillabee Creek in Talapoosa County. Both locations, together with Cleburne County were credited to produce the bulk of Alabama’s gold.
Where are gold nuggets found in Alabama?
Looking for Gold in Alabama? Here’s a Map to 8 Historic Mining Locations
- Hog Mountain District. Hog Mountains was one of Alabama’s most important mining areas in regards to total gold production.
- Blue Creek.
- Chestnut Creek.
- Gold Ridge.
- Chulafinnee District.
- Weogufka Creek.
- Coosa River.
- Rocky Creek.
How much does it cost to strip mine?
The estimated cost of reclaiming land strip-mined for coal in the West averaged $3,500 per acre in 1976, This was equivalent to 5 cents per ton of coal produced, or less than 1 percent of mine-mouth coal prices that year.
Can you enter abandoned mines?
Although a mine may appear abandoned it does belong to someone and trespassing laws do apply. Anyone rescued from an abandoned mine may face criminal trespass charges. Tools, equipment, building materials, and other items on mine sites are not to be taken.
How much gold is left in Alaska?
At the end of 2015 there were reserves of 162.4 million tons at 0.012 ounce of gold per ton (0.37 g/t), sufficient to carry the mine plan into year 2020, within a total identified resource of 284.4 million tons at 0.013 ounce per ton (0.40 g/t), containing 1,900,000 troy ounces (59,000 kg) of gold.
Are there still coal mines in Alabama?
Coal has been mined commercially in 21 northern Alabama counties for more than 150 years. Ranking 14th in the United States, Alabama routinely produces over 20 million short tons of coal each year. About two-thirds of Alabama’s coal is mined in deep underground mines, with the remainder coming from surface mines.
