ABSTRACT
Unfortunately, many of the mining and reclamation techniques required by Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act were essentially unknown to large segments of the mining industry. Due to the necessity to dispose of topsoil covering mineable coal, the only recognized cost of topsoil segregation is the increase in haulage time required to bring the topsoil to reclamation areas rather than to routine disposal sites. The rock beds in the southwestern Virginia coal fields lie essentially flat, with a gentle dip to the northwest. The coal seams are separated by varying thicknesses of fluvial-deltaic sandstones and siltstones, with a minor component of shales. Additional excess spoil is disposed of in the first hollow the bench produced by mining the lower coal seam, in conformance with observed practices. The structure of the coal industry in the Appalachian region also tends to inhibit the development of improved uses on reclaimed lands.
