Course Introduction

Optimizing Overburden Placement in Surface Mining of Coal

Version: 26 July 2010

Lee Saperstein

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The title of this course was changed from "Overburden Placement in Coal Surface Mining for Long-Term Reclamation Success" on 30 September 2008

Who Should Participate?

• People active in the design and operation of surface mines for coal and other bedded materials such as china clay, phosphate, tar sands, uranium, etc.

• People who prepare reclamation plans for these mines.

• Similarly, people who prepare permit applications and environmental impact assessments for these mines.

• Environmental resources and reclamation managers

What You Will Learn

Part 1 provides an introduction and glossary of terms.

Part 2 discusses the "Nature of coal-mine overburden," including distribution of coal fields in North America, the kinds of sedimentary strata found typically above and below the coal, the connection between the depositional environment and the types of contaminants found in the overburden, and the connection between rhealogical changes when the overburden is submerged in a groundwater regime and the rock types.

In Part 3 we look at "Overburden Analysis" and the kinds of tests that can be used to predict contamination and rhealogical changes.

Part 4 looks at "Potential reclamation problems from routine overburden handling," which is a catalog of potential problems and is meant to reinforce the need for good planning of overburden handling.

Part 5 goes over the process of "Disposal of inimical material," which is often essential to the economic success of a surface mine but can lead, if done haphazardly, to the need for almost perpetual care and treatment of discharged waters.

In Part 6 we get to the heart of the course, for which the earlier materials provide the foundation, "Improved handling techniques of surface coal-mine overburden." Examples are presented and diagnosed for each of the major coal surface-mining geometries.

Part 7 - Conclusions reviews the major parts of the course and suggests that individual designs, responsive to the goals of the course, may need to be tested on sophisticated mine-design software to optimize production before buying capital goods.

Content

The course comprises 20 learning sessions, each of 30 - 60 minutes duration, plus supporting figures, tables, images, references, suggested exercises, and interactive reviews that confirm achievement of the learning objectives. The total duration of the course is estimated at 12 hours.

Learning Outcomes

Participants who successfully complete this course and the certification requirements will be able to perform the following:

• Participants will have familiarity with long-term, sustainable reclamation techniques that are based on environmentally sound foundations.

• Participants learn the consequences of poor overburden handling techniques.

• Participants gain an overview of improved methods that are environmentally stable.

• Participants will understand that reclamation costs are integral to mining and not a post-mining addition.

Course Requirements

Basic requirements for successful completion of this course include the following:

• Participants should be fluent in the technology and methods of surface mining. This may come from experience and/or formal education.

Course Certification

This course qualifies for EduMine Certification. A certificate will be issued to an EduMine enrollee who registers for certification and successfully completes the certification requirements. The total certification fee for this course is Can$172.

1.2 CEUs (Continuing Education Units) will be awarded for successful completion of certification requirements for this course. EduMine meets the Criteria for Certification established by the Authorized Provider Commission of The International Association for Continuing Education and Training, 1620 Eye Street, N.W., Suite 615, Washington, DC 20006.

To register for certification for this course use the "Register for Certification" link above or below on the right.

UBC Certificate in Mining Studies

This course qualifies as online learning for the University of British Columbia - Certificate in Mining Studies in the Environment, Social Issues, Health and Safety stream. Students who complete the certification requirements for this course may optionally register for the Certificate in Mining Studies program and complete the associated classroom component. For further information click UBC Certificate in Mining Studies.

[Note: Participation in the UBC Certificate in Mining Studies program is optional. For EduMine certification proceed as described under Course Certification above.]

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