Coal refuse

Coal refuse (also described as coal waste, rock, slag, coal tailings, waste material, rock bank, culm, boney, or gob^[1]) is the material left over from coal mining, usually as tailings piles or spoil tips. For every tonne of hard coal generated by mining, 400 kg (880 lb) of waste material remains, which includes some lost coal that is partially economically recoverable.^[2] Coal refuse is distinct from the byproducts of burning coal, such as fly ash.

Piles of coal refuse can have significant negative environmental consequences, including the leaching of iron, manganese, and aluminum residues into waterways and acid mine drainage.^[3] The runoff can create both surface and groundwater contamination.^[4] The piles also create a fire hazard, with the potential to spontaneously ignite. Because most coal refuse harbors toxic components, it is not easily reclaimed by replanting with plants like beach grasses.^[5]^[6]

Gob (short for "garbage of bituminous"^[7]) has about four times as much toxic mercury and more sulfur than typical coal.^[1] Culm is the term for waste anthracite coal.^[1]

^ ^a ^b ^c "Waste Coal | Energy Justice Network". www.energyjustice.net. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
^ Fecko, P.; Tora, B.; Tod, M. (1 January 2013), Osborne, Dave (ed.), "3 - Coal waste: handling, pollution impacts and utilization", The Coal Handbook: Towards Cleaner Production, Woodhead Publishing Series in Energy, vol. 2, Woodhead Publishing, pp. 63–84, ISBN 978-1-78242-116-0, retrieved 2 August 2020
^ "Waste Coal | Energy Justice Network". www.energyjustice.net. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
^ Kowalska, Arlena, et al., "VLF mapping and resistivity imaging of contaminated quaternary formations near to 'Panewniki' coal waste disposal (Southern Poland)." Acta Geodynamica et Geromaterialia, vol. 9, no. 4, 2012, p. 473+. Gale Academic OneFile, https://link-gale-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/apps/doc/A311377866/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=f0f488c8. Accessed 7 Aug. 2020.
^ POWER (1 July 2016). "The Coal Refuse Dilemma: Burning Coal for Environmental Benefits". POWER Magazine. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
^ Dove, D.; Daniels, W.; Parrish, D. (1990). "Importance of Indigenous VAM Fungi for the Reclamation of Coal Refuse Piles". Journal American Society of Mining and Reclamation. 1990 (1): 463–468. doi:10.21000/jasmr90010463. ISSN 2328-8744.
^ Flavelle, Christopher; Tate, Julie; Schaff, Erin (27 March 2022). "How Joe Manchin Aided Coal, and Earned Millions". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 28 March 2022.

[:0-1] "Waste Coal | Energy Justice Network". www.energyjustice.net. Retrieved 2 August 2020.

[2] Fecko, P.; Tora, B.; Tod, M. (1 January 2013), Osborne, Dave (ed.), "3 - Coal waste: handling, pollution impacts and utilization", The Coal Handbook: Towards Cleaner Production, Woodhead Publishing Series in Energy, vol. 2, Woodhead Publishing, pp. 63–84, ISBN 978-1-78242-116-0, retrieved 2 August 2020

[3] "Waste Coal | Energy Justice Network". www.energyjustice.net. Retrieved 2 August 2020.

[4] Kowalska, Arlena, et al., "VLF mapping and resistivity imaging of contaminated quaternary formations near to 'Panewniki' coal waste disposal (Southern Poland)." Acta Geodynamica et Geromaterialia, vol. 9, no. 4, 2012, p. 473+. Gale Academic OneFile, https://link-gale-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/apps/doc/A311377866/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=f0f488c8. Accessed 7 Aug. 2020.

[:3-5] POWER (1 July 2016). "The Coal Refuse Dilemma: Burning Coal for Environmental Benefits". POWER Magazine. Retrieved 2 August 2020.

[6] Dove, D.; Daniels, W.; Parrish, D. (1990). "Importance of Indigenous VAM Fungi for the Reclamation of Coal Refuse Piles". Journal American Society of Mining and Reclamation. 1990 (1): 463–468. doi:10.21000/jasmr90010463. ISSN 2328-8744.

[7] Flavelle, Christopher; Tate, Julie; Schaff, Erin (27 March 2022). "How Joe Manchin Aided Coal, and Earned Millions". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 28 March 2022.

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