ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews some of the important advances in revegetation techniques that may have national or regional application, with emphasis on site evaluation, site preparation and revegetation techniques. The chemical and physical characteristics of the rock strata above the coal will determine the cost and method of reclamation. The chemical variation among rock strata in the coal seam is a well-established fact. Once an area is mined and reshaped, there may be a need to evaluate the plantability of the spoil surface. A. F. Grandt recognized three classes of spoil based on texture: chiefly sandy materials, chiefly loamy materials, and chiefly clayey materials. Complex laboratory analyses can be used to delineate specific spoil characteristics. Site preparation involves all operations needed to achieve the revegetation objectives. Species selection may be based on personal preference or convention, but the most reliable method is selection on the basis of site characteristics.
