Addressing topsoil deficits

Topsoil deficits are a common issue when rehabilitating open-cut mines. This is often a result of the post-mining surface area of waste rock dumps and low wall slopes being greater than the comparatively flat area from which topsoil was harvested prior to mining. The situation is even more challenging at older mine sites where topsoil was often not harvested prior to mining, or where it has been stockpiled for years and has lost much of its nutritional quality. As a result, a thin layer of stockpiled topsoil, nutritionally deficient subsoil, overburden or a combination of the above is used as a growth media. Careful management is needed to ensure that these materials can sustain vegetation, are not prone to erosion and will support final rehabilitation objectives.

A student report related to this topic has been completed. The Office of the Queensland Mine Rehabilitation Commissioner is currently prioritising other research programs ahead of additional work regarding topsoil deficit. However, we acknowledge the importance of this issue and will continue to monitor for updated international leading practices.

Further publications will be made available here as they become available.

Publications

• A student report related to addressing topsoil deficits is available.