ABSTRACT
Degradation of land resources as a result of mining activities poses serious threat to the environment. In general, two major types of wastes are produced during mining activities: mine spoil and mine tailings. This chapter describes the physicochemical characteristics of mine wastes, including spoil, tailings, and overburden, by underpinning their source–property relationships. It also discusses the value of readily available biowaste resources, including biosolids, composts, and manures, in improving such physicochemical properties of mining-impacted soils/sites. Lack of organic matter and microbial life is one of the key reasons that may spoil the revegetation attempt of a mining-impacted site. Therefore, application of biowastes, which are a rich source of organic matter, has been found to be very effective. Along with immobilizing toxic heavy metals and organic contaminants, biowastes are able to improve numerous physical, chemical, and biological properties of impacted soils. Thus, they improve the overall soil quality and fertility.
