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M. Rehor & V. Ondracek 2010. Application of modern, non traditional restoration methods on brown coal localities
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Application of modern, non traditional restoration methods on brown
coal localities of Czech Republic
Michal Rehor 1* & Vratislav Ondracek 2
1 Brown Coal Research Institute, Most, Czech Republic
2 North Bohemian Mines, Chomutov, Czech Republic
Abstract
Over 70% brown coal reserves have been exploited in the North-Bohemian Basin today.
Opencast mining of brown coal naturally led to vast landscape damages. Therefore reclamation
work has acquired a great significance. The research methodology of the areas of interests and
the reclamation works themselves described in this article arises from North Bohemian Mines
locality reclamation philosophy. Apart from the earlier published methodology of fertilizable
soils application used today in operation, experiments with filling areas left for natural
succession and pilot application of power plant stabilizer and ash in phyto-toxic areas. The
results are stated in the paper.
Key words: Restoration, dump, geology, methodology
1. Introduction
The North-Western Bohemia region takes a unique position in the history of mining in
the Czech Republic. Several ore districts are situated here, the welfare of which influenced the
development of the Czech state in some periods. Some precious stones mining was also
significant. Today the North-Bohemian Basin area is known for its largest Czech brown coal
deposit. Whereas ore mining in the region extinguished and the other raw materials mining has
relatively small significance, coal mining and the restoration of damages caused by mining
activity still have an essential meaning.
Severoceské doly, a.s. Chomutov (North Bohemian Mines, j.s.c. Chomutov), the
greatest mining company of the Czech Republic, was founded within the privatization of the
North-Bohemian Brown-Coal Mines concern privatization on 1.1.1994. Today the allotments of
the share holding company include geological reserves of about 1200 million tonnes and the
recoverable reserves amounting 700 million tonnes. The annual production amounts to ca 22
million tonnes of brown coal representing almost 50% Czech market with this coal, and the
annual volume of overburden stripping is 100 million m 3 of clayey rocks. This is currently the
largest mining company in the Czech Republic. The reclamation of vast areas affected with
brown coal mining is, of course, an important part of its activities.
Current task of Severoceské doly, a.s. reclamations is to make reclamation works more
efficient using locally available fertilizable rocks and other materials, and to be maximaly
environmentally friendly. The core of the article is the characteristics of new reclamation
methods used mainly for reclamation of sterile and phyto-toxical areas of both localities of
Severoceské doly, a.s. and for the protection, research and relevant development of remarkable
ecosystems arising in the dumps.
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +420603935808
Email address: rehor@vuhu.cz
Forest Landscapes and Global Change-New Frontiers in Management, Conservation and Restoration. Proceedings of the IUFRO Landscape Ecology
Working Group International Conference, September 21-27, 2010, Bragança, Portugal. J.C. Azevedo, M. Feliciano, J. Castro & M.A. Pinto (eds.)
2010, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Bragança, Portugal.