This article presents a concept method which aids the forecasting of the reclamation cost in post- rock mining areas. The method may also prove useful in estimating the investment profitability of a mining operation at its planning stage as well as managing a potential Reserve Fund to cover future activities, such as land reclamation. The development of the method consisted in defining a set of basic/typical land reclamation directions and the typical structure of reclamation operations/works, which are based on “statistically stable” values. The estimations included the distribution of the probable cost of these works with respect to the reclamation direction and were calculated on the basis of the analyzed current price lists and historical land reclamation projects. The article proposes a method for estimating the cost structure of multi-directional projects by combining the basic directions. The changeability and predictability of various land reclamation solutions was analyzed in terms of fuzzy logic. A price list was developed, which included unit costs for separate types of reclamation works, independent of their type and scale. The assumed optimal measure involved comparing the cost of individual types of operations to the surface of the reclamation area. As an example, the method was also applied to hypothetical data from a clastic rock mine with a surface of 20 ha, and for the forest, agricultural and forest-agricultural reclamation directions. The forest-agricultural reclamation directions was presented in the proportions of 0.3:0.7.

A study was undertaken to investigate the effects of crumb rubber on the strength and mechanical behaviour of Rubberized cement soil (RCS). In the present investigation, 26 groups of soil samples were prepared at five different percentages of crumb rubber content, four different percentages of cement content and two different finenesses of crumb rubber particle. Compressive strength tests were carried out at the curing age of 7 days, 14 days, 28 days and 90 days. The test results indicated that the inclusion of crumb rubber within cement soil leads to a decrease in the compressive strength and stiffness and improves the cement soil’s brittle behaviour to a more ductile one. A reduction of up to 31% in the compressive strength happened in the 20% crumb content group. The compressive strength increases with the increase in the cement content. And the enlargement of cement content is more efficient at low cement content.

The problem related to the management of post reclamation dusts generated in the reclamation process of waste moulding sands with

organic binders is presented in the hereby paper. Waste materials generated in this process are products hazardous for the environment and

should be utilised. The prototype stand for the utilisation of this dangerous material in its co-burning with coal was developed and patented

in AGH in Krakow. The stand was installed in one of the domestic casting houses. As the utilisation result the transformed waste product

is obtained and its management in the production of ceramic materials constitutes the subject of the presented publication.

The cumulative results of investigations of the possibility of using the reclaimed materials after the mechanical, thermal or

mechanical-thermal reclamation for making cores by means of the blowing method in the alkaline CO2 technology, are

presented in the paper. Three kinds of spent sands: with furfuryl resin, bentonite and alkaline phenolic resin, obtained from

the foundry, were subjected to three kinds of reclamation: mechanical, thermal and combined mechanical-thermal, applying

for this aim adequate experimental devices. The obtained reclaims were assessed with regard to the degree of the matrix

liberation from the determined binding material. Reclaims of moulding sands with binders of the form of resin were assessed

with regard to ignition loss values and pH reaction, while reclaims of moulding sands with bentonite with regard to the

residual clay content and pH value. In all cases the results of the performed sieve analyses were estimated and the average

characteristic diameter dl was determined. The reclaimed matrix was applied as a full substitute of the fresh high-silica sand in typical

procedures of preparing core sands used for making shaped samples for bending strength investigations, Rg

u

.

“Wartowice” tailings pond was closed in 1989, resulting in 232,4 ha tailings pile requiring reclamation. The major problem is heavy metals presence and poor nutrient conditions and physicochemical structure of soil which disturbs the plants development. In order to assess the real condition of studied area the complete biological characteristic has been done. The physicochemical conditions were assessed altogether with phytosociological, microbiological and toxicological studies of deposits. We recorded only 27 species of vascular plants belonging to 15 families on the tailings pond of which 5 belong to Rosaceae, 4 to Asteraceae and 3 to Poaceae and Saliceae. Species inhabiting the tailings depended on their dispersal capacity, metal tolerance and rhizome strategy. Microbiological analyses revealed the low number of bacteria and fungi on the tailings pond, apart from the small uplift area where the plants were indentified. Bacteria identified on the tailings pond were classified to 8 genera. The low number of bacteria suggests the lack of nutrients which affects the development of soil microflora. Toxicity tests showed that post-flotation sludge is not toxic to microorganisms because of its high pH. Some plants, such as lucerne could even influence positively the microorganisms development what has been proved in our studies. The tailings toxicity was higher towards producers, where Secale cereale appeared to be the most sensitive species. Amendment with topsoil from adjacent areas can influence positively the phytotoxic properties of tailings and enrich them into native seeds.

Charakterystyką objęto 12 próbek zwałowanych odpadów serpentynitowych oraz 2 próbki gliniastego nadkładu. Próbki odpadów odznaczają się obojętnym i alkalicznym odczynem, bardzo wysoką zawartością przyswajalnego magnezu, natomiast bardzo niską - przyswajalnego fosforu i potasu. Spośród badanych metali ciężkich, chrom i nikiel występują w największych ilościach (odpowiednio do 760 i 4130 mg/kg), potencjalnie toksycznych dla roślin. W odpadach stwierdzono również występowanie azbestu chryzotylowego. Obecność azbestu oraz niekorzystne właściwości chemiczne powodują konieczność przykrycia odpadów serpentynitowych warstwą czwartorzędowych glin występujących w nadkładzie złoża. Warstwa taka zabezpieczy sąsiadujące tereny przed emisją ze zwałowisk oraz stworzy korzystniejsze warunki wegetacji roślinności wprowadzonej w trakcie rekultywacji.

The necessity of rational water resource management and reduction of water consumption demandsthat water utilities address water losses during water treatment. Therefore, the backwash water generated during the filtration process is often the focus of research aimed at its reuse within the water treatment system. The studies outlined here were conducted in a large water treatment plant (100,000 m3), focusing on the backwash water produced from sand bed filter flushing. Prior to its reintroduction into the treatment train, the backwash water underwent pre-treatment using ultrafiltration (UF) process with two different modules: a spiral module with a PVFD (200kDa) membrane and a capillary module with a PES (80kDa) membrane. The effectiveness of the process was evaluated based on the degree of retention of organic substances and microorganisms, which pose health risks in backwash water recirculation. The capillary membrane exhibited greater effectiveness in retaining these contaminants, thereby ensuring the complete elimination of pathogenic microorganisms. The study findings indicate that pre-treating backwash water using UF membranes and reintroducing it into the water treatment system before the ozonation process can lead to a reduction of environmental fees. However, this process results in a 1.5% increase in water treatment costs

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible use of geoinformatics tools and generally available geodata for mapping land cover/use on the reclaimed areas. The choice of subject was dictated by the growing number of such areas and the related problem of their restoration. Modern technology, including GIS, photogrammetry and remote sensing are relevant in assessing the reclamation effects and monitoring of changes taking place on such sites. The LULC classes mapping, supported with thorough knowledge of the operator, is useful tool for the proper reclamation process evaluation. The study was performed for two post-mine sites: reclaimed external spoil heap of the sulfur mine Machów and areas after exploitation of sulfur mine Jeziórko, which are located in the Tarnobrzeski district. The research materials consisted of aerial orthophotos, which were the basis of on-screen vectorization; LANDSAT satellite images, which were used in the pixel and object based classification; and the CORINE Land Cover database as a general reference to the global maps of land cover and land use.

The paper, especially dealt with problems of reclamation of used furan sand, carried out in new, vibratory sand reclamation unit REGMAS

developed by researches from AGH-University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Foundry Engineering in Cracow (Poland).

Functional characteristics of reclamation unit as well as the results of reclamation of used sand with furfuryl resin are discussed in the

paper. The quality of reclaim was tested by means of the LOI and pH value, dust content in the reclaim and at least by the the quality of

the castings produced in moulds prepared with the use of reclaimed matrix.

Presented are results of a research on usability of an innovative reclamation process of microwave-hardened moulding sands containing

water-glass, combined with activation of binder. After each subsequent stage of reclamation, quality of the reclaimed material was

determined on the grounds of measurements of permeability and results of screen analysis. The reclaimed material was next used again to

prepare new moulding sand. The sandmix based on high-silica sand prepared with water-glass grade 145, was subject to the following

cyclical treatment operations: mixing components, consolidation, microwave hardening, cooling, heating the mould up to 800 °C, cooling

to ambient temperature, mechanical reclamation dry and wet. It was found that the used-up and reclaimed sandmix containing water-glass

is susceptible to the applied activation process of thermally reacted film of binder and, in addition, it maintains good quality and

technological properties of high-silica base. Observations of surfaces of reclaimed high-silica grains with activated film of reacted

inorganic binder were carried-out using a scanning microscope. Thanks to properly selected reclamation parameters, the high-silica base

can be reused even five times, thus reducing demand for fresh aggregate and inorganic binder.

The article presents the principles of sozology formulated by Walery Goetel and examples of their development in the scientific and research works as well as implementation and teaching work performed at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Resource Management at AGH University of Science and Technology. These works are aimed at the rational management of mineral deposits and its extraction, as well as at the creation of utility values of the post-mining areas. It has also been shown that the work carried out at the faculty has gone far beyond mining activities using the experience gained from them. This has included, for example, the preservation and accessibility of the subsoil of medieval towns and the revitalization of towns with a predominantly industrial character. Work has also been conducted to rehabilitate sites and facilities for additional public use.
The most important directions of solutions in the field of the reclamation and revitalization of post-mining areas developed with the participation of the faculty staff as well as in cooperation with national and international researchers are in this article. The continuous development of the Faculty is also reflected in its name changes: from the Faculty of Mining, through the Faculty of Mining and Geoengineering, to the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Resource Management. The current name reflects the actual scope of the subject matter undertaken in research and teaching, specifically the management of natural mineral deposits and also of secondary resources that should be reused in a closed cycle.

In the defunct Górka heading there is both a waste disposal site with an area of 6.7 ha containing approximately 600 000 m3 of waste generated in the course of aluminum oxide production and a pond with an area of 3 ha and depth ofup to 15 m containing about 400 000 m3 of effluent (leachate water). The reservoir is filled with infiltrates flowing in from the above-mentioned disposal site at a rate - 130 m3/day. The subsidence of the pond bottom and infiltration of solutions into the Triassic and Jurassic water resources, estimated at - 40 m3/day, is a cause of serious concern. The basic problem of the effluents in the Górka pond is their high alkalinity (pH 12-14) and variable pollutant content, the level of which increases with the pond's depth. The proposed solution involves pumping out and treating about 500 000 m3 of effluents retained in the Górka reservoir. The effluents would be treated in a reverse osmosis plant using a process which has so far been verified on a quarter-commercial scale. The treatment process by-product would be discharged into the Ropa stream. The brine solution (containing - 25% NaCl), would be solidified. The next stage after pumping would be the utilization of approximately 50 000 m3 of bottom slurry. Highly alkaline slurries would be utilized in the production of self-solidifying mixtures. These mixtures would be used to scal the bottom of the Górka reservoir and part of the edges of the defunct quarry, according to requirements. The next stage would involve outcropping the feed-water sources located in the northern section of the old heading to reconstruct the original flow system from the sources to the Ropa River. The excavated solid waste would be relocated into the remainder of the disposal site containing solid aluminium waste. The surface ofthc site would be scaled and then reclaimed. The final stage involves macrolcvclling of the site into an amphitheatre system, outcropping the fertile soil layer, constructing a lake and streams, and finally land reclamation of the whole site.

The mining industry, including hard-coal mining, has a significant and multifaceted impact on all components of the environment. One of the factors is the production of various types of waste which, due to their physico-chemical and ecotoxic properties, do not always pose a threat to the environment and can be used in various ways. Such treatment of waste perfectly fits into the concept of the circular economy through the protection of natural resources and the maximum re-use of waste. One of the wastes generated by hard-coal mines is coal sludge from the purification of underground water in surface settling tanks. The article presents the results of research on the physico-chemical and phytotoxic properties of carbon sludges from two settling tanks with regard to assessing the possibility of their re-use in the reclamation of degraded areas. These sludges contain mainly sand fractions. An analysis of their chemical composition revealed the presence of heavy metals. Leachability studies have shown that despite the high concentrations of metals, a small quantity of these metals passes into the solution. In this respect, therefore, they do not pose a threat to the environment. However, a threat may result from the presence of chlorides and sulphates, the amounts of which are influenced by, among other factors, the time of waste storage in the settling tank. Phytotoxicity tests performed on garden cress ( Lepidium sativum) did not show a toxic effect at any concentration of the water extract. In addition, for one of the sludges, water extracts with concentrations starting from 12.5 and 50% stimulated the growth of the plant’s shoots and roots, respectively. The results show that the tested coal sludges may be used in appropriate doses for reclamation work, for example, when establishing a plant cover.

The quarrying industry is changing the local landscape, forming deep open pits and spoil heaps in close proximity to them, especially lignite mines. The impact can include toxic soil material (low pH, heavy metals, oxidations etc.) which is the basis for further reclamation and afforestation. Forests that stand on spoil heaps have very different growth conditions because of the relief (slope, aspect, wind and rainfall shadows, supply of solar energy, etc.) and type of soil that is deposited. Airborne laser scanning (ALS) technology deliver point clouds (XYZ) and derivatives as raster height models (DTM, DSM, nDSM=CHM) which allow the reception of selected 2D and 3D forest parameters (e.g. height, base of the crown, cover, density, volume, biomass, etc). The automation of ALS point cloud processing and integrating the results into GIS helps forest managers to take appropriate decisions on silvicultural treatments in areas with failed plantations (toxic soil, droughts on south-facing slopes; landslides, etc.) or as regular maintenance. The ISOK country-wide project ongoing in Poland will soon deliver ALS point cloud data which can be successfully used for the monitoring and management of many thousands of hectares of destroyed post-industrial areas which according to the law, have to be afforested and transferred back to the State Forest.

The results of the efficiency of the primary reclamation process as well as the influence of the used sand temperature and other process parameters on it are presented in this paper. A separate stand realized on a reduced scale was built, which is an analogous process of the primary reclamation treatment of spent foundry sands. The used sands were introduced to the crushing process in an agglomerated form in the way typically used in industrial devices. The primary reclamation process was realized on a set of four horizontal sieves with decreasing mesh clearances while maintaining their geometrical dimensions applied in the Regmas industrial device. The model system consists of a vibratory drive mounted on the table, allowing us to control the supply frequency of the vibratory motors within a range of 40-60 Hz as well as the computer system for measuring the vibration parameters and drive power. The used sand on the quartz matrix with the KALTHARZ U404 resin and 100T3 hardener was used in our investigations. The used sand was prepared under the following conditions: cubic-shaped elements made of the applied furan sand was compacted by vibrations then hardened and subjected to heating under controlled conditions (as a “simulation” of the overheating process taking place in the mold after pouring). Time functions of the crushing and sieving process in dependence of the overheating degree of the reference sand samples (100°, 200°, and 300°C) were investigated at various table vibration frequencies and feed loads of the sieve set. The relative index of the crushing ability was determined.

The investigation results of the reclamation of spent moulding sands with furfuryl resin are presented in this paper. The reclamation

process was performed in the secondary reclamation chamber of the REGMAS 1.5 vibratory reclaimer. 70 kg portions of moulding sands,

previously subjected to the primary reclamation and dedusting, were used. The secondary reclamation was performed in two stages: the

first consisted of determining the reclaimer intensity at various reclamation times (5 min, 10 min and 15 min) and various electrovibrator

frequencies (40 Hz, 50 Hz and 60 Hz), the second consisted of determining the influence of additional crushing elements on the intensity

of processes.

The investigation results of the influence of the selected parameters of the thermal reclaimer operations on the temperature changes in the

combustion chamber and the process energy consumption, are presented in the hereby paper. The analysis of the heat treatment was

performed with the application of a fresh foundry sand, since it was assumed that the dominating energy part was used for the grain matrix

heating and due to that, the energy used for burning small amounts of organic binder remained on sand grains could be omitted. Thermal

treatment processes performed under various conditions were analysed from the point of view of a gas consumption and temperatures

obtained in the experimental reclaimer. The recorded data allowed to point out the parameters having essential influence on the process of

the quartz matrix heating in the combustion chamber as a gas consumption function.

The paper presents the idea of the integrated recycling system of used moulding sands with organic resins. A combination of the method of

forecasting averaged ignition loss values of moulding sands after casting and defining the range of necessary matrix reclamation

treatments in order to obtain its full recycling constitutes the basics of this process.

The results of own investigations, allowing to combine ignition loss values of spent moulding sands after casting knocking out with

amounts of dusts generated during the mechanical reclamation treatment of such sands, were utilized in the system.

One of the purposes of the application of chemically modified inorganic binders is to improve knocking out properties and the related reclamability with previously used in foundry inorganic binder (water glass), which allowing the use of ecological binders for casting nonferrous metals. Good knocking out properties of the sands is directly related to the waste sands reclamability, which is a necessary condition of effective waste management. Reclamation of moulding and core sands is a fundamental and effective way to manage waste on site at the foundry, in accordance with the Environmental Guidelines. Therefore, studies of reclamation of waste moulding and core sands with new types of inorganic binders (developed within the framework of the project) were carried out. These studies allowed to determine the degree of recovery of useful, material, what the reclaimed sand is, and the degree of its use in the production process. The article presents these results of investigation. They are a part of broader research programme executed under the project POIG.01.01.02-00- 015/09 "Advanced materials and technologies".

Badano wpływ osadu ściekowego na aktywność enzymatyczną pokrywy glebowej na terenie po otworowej kopalni siarki w celu oceny możliwości jego wykorzystania w leśno-łąkowej rekultywacji terenów Kopalni Siarki "Jeziórko". Wyniki, uzyskane po sześciu latach od zastosowanych zabiegów rekultywacyjnych wskazują, że osad ściekowy, dodany w odpowiedniej dawce, wpływał na ogól korzystnie na właściwości biochemiczne i chemiczne gleby. Oznacza to, że zastosowany osad może być brany pod uwagę, jako jeden ze środków służących do rekultywacji gruntów toksycznych.

The paper presents results of the research on the influence of sewage sludge on the enzymatic activity of the anthropogenic soil on the area of the former borehole sulphur-mine as well as· the effectiveness of sewage sludge utilization for forest-meadow reclamation of this ground.

The study was conducted in the area of the impact of sulfur mine in Jeziórko. The aim of the study was to assess changes in pH, cation exchange capacity and content of available phosphorus, potassium and magnesium after 6 years of conducting remediation. In the experiment (plots with an area of 15 m2) degraded soil was rehabilitating by post-floating lime and compost from sewage sludge, sewage sludge and ash from combined heat and power (CHP). Composts at a dose of dry matter 180 t · ha-1 (6%), were determined in accordance with Minister of the Environment Regulation from 2001, applied the following options: control (only native soil limed), compost from municipal sewage sludge, sewage sludge compost (80%) and ash (20%), compost from sewage sludge (70%) and ash (30%). The reclaimed plots were sown with mixture of rehabilitation grass. Single de-acidification, land fertilization and a further 6-year extensive (without fertilization) use had a different influence on the properties of the native soilless substratum. Irrespective of the reclamation manner, after six years land use in the upper layers, observed increase in the average content of available phosphorus, available potassium content does not changed significantly but recorded a tenfold decrease in the content of available magnesium.

Mining activity influence on the environment belongs to the most negative industrial influences. Land subsidence can be a consequence of many geotectonic processes as well as due to anthropogenic interference with rock massif in part or whole landscape. Mine subsidence on the surface can be a result of many deep underground mining activities. The presented study offers the theory to the specific case of the deformation vectors solution in a case of disruption of the data homogeneity of the geodetic network structure in the monitoring station during periodical measurements in mine subsidence. The theory of the specific solution of the deformation vector was developed for the mine subsidence at the Košice-Bankov abandoned magnesite mine near the city of Košice in east Slovakia. The outputs from the deformation survey were implemented into Geographic Information System (GIS) applications to a process of gradual reclamation of whole mining landscape around the magnesite mine. After completion of the mining operations and liquidation of the mine company it was necessary to determine the exact edges of the Košice-Bankov mine subsidence with the zones of residual ground motion in order to implement a comprehensive reclamation of the devastated mining landscape. Requirement of knowledge about stability of the former mine subsidence was necessary for starting the reclamation works. Outputs from the presented specific solutions of the deformation vectors confirmed the multi-year stability of the mine subsidence in the area of interest. Some numerical and graphical results from the deformation vectors survey in the Košice-Bankov abandoned magnesite mine are presented. The obtained results were transformed into GIS for the needs of the self-government of the city of Košice to the implementation of the reclamation works in the Košice-Bankov mining area.