Reclamation And Closure

Table of Contents
14.1 Principles of Reclamation
   14.1.1 Objectives of Reclamation 
   14.1.2 Commitment to Reclamation
   14.1.3 Cooperation in Reclamation 
14.2 Planning and Timing 
   14.2.1 Reclamation Plan
   14.2.2 Timing
14.3 Site Preparation
14.4 Landforms, Stability, and Land Use 
   14.4.1 Legal Requirements
   14.4.2 Climate
   14.4.3 Topography
   14.4.4 Soils 
   14.4.5 Community Views 
14.5 Soil Conservation
   14.5.1 Soil Handling
   14.5.2 Tillage 
      14.5.2.1 Winged Subsoilers
      14.5.2.2 Excavators
      14.5.2.3 Other Equipment 
      14.5.3 Soil Adjuncts and Fertilizers
      14.5.3.1 Organic Soil Adjuncts 
      14.5.3.2 Chemical Fertilizers
      14.5.3.3 Mulches
14.6 Revegetation
   14.6.1 Revegetation Strategies and Techniques
   14.6.2 Species Selection
      14.6.2.1 Grasses and Legumes
      14.6.2.2 Shrubs
      14.6.2.3 Trees
      14.6.2.4 Natural Regrowth
      14.6.2.5 Regrowth Planning
      14.6.2.6 Regrowth Management
   14.6.3 Seeding 
      14.6.3.1 Seed Mixes
      14.6.3.2 Seed Application Methods
      14.6.3.3 Dry Seeding
   14.6.4 Cuttings, Seedlings and Transplanting
   14.6.5 Bioengineering Techniques
   14.6.6 Documentation
14.7 Bond Requirements 
14.8 Monitoring Inspections

Introduction

The role of reclamation and closure in any mineral exploration project can be regarded as the final chapter in the life of that project. When the exploration project develops further into a feasibility study or a full-scale mining operation, however, then the reclamation process undertaken at the exploration stage becomes the first step in the final rehabilitation of the mine.