Evaluation of amendments for a topsoil substitute at the Stillwater Mine

TL;DRAbstract

Topsoil is an invaluable resource for use in reclamation of disturbed lands.It is often in short supply, particularly when dealing with disturbances related to underground mining.The paucity of topsoil available at the Stillwater Mine, a platinum group metals mine in south central Montana, prompted a study evaluating an alternative for native topsoil materials at the site.The subject of this study is the crushed rock or cuttings produced by the Tunnel Boring Machine which was utilized during the underground mining process at the Stillwater Mine.This crushed rock is considered waste and is disposed of through ongoing construction of the tailings impoundment, portal sites, and access roads.The cuttings contain no phytotoxic materials and are barren of essential plant available nutrients.They are comprised of about 50 percent loamy sand (<2 mm particle diameter), 15 percent small rock fragments (2 mm to 5 cm) and 35 percent coarse materials (>5 cm) Revegetation trials on the cuttings were

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