The Impact of Mining on Topsoil

What Is Topsoil?

• Topsoil is the richest layer of the soil that lies on top of less fertile sands, clays and other types of dirt that appear beneath the surface. In some places it is only a couple of inches deep, while in others it may reach depths of 8 inches. It is full of nutrients, decaying organic matter and organisms that make it the perfect place for vegetation, crops and other life forms to make a home.

Strip Mining

• Strip mining involves mining in large surface areas near the surface of the Earth, in contrast to deeper mining methods where shafts are driven downwards. Because of the larger surface area used in strip mining, the damage to topsoil in strip-mined areas is immense. In mining operations where no specific action is taken to protect the topsoil, it becomes damaged if not destroyed after a mining operation. This destruction is of particular concern in more recently industrialized countries such as India and China, where environmental regulations on mining have yet to catch up to some other countries.

Quality

• Even in cases when the topsoil is preserved, it is difficult to disturb the soil to that degree without degrading the quality of that important layer of the Earth. Because of the destruction to vegetation, the natural cycle of organic matter being introduced into the topsoil is destroyed. In addition, many of the small organisms that are part of the cycle of soil nutrient production are killed or damaged in the process. Mining processes also mix topsoil with other, less fertile soil and make it more vulnerable to dissipation through erosion.

Protection

• If strip mining operations continue, which they likely will due to their economic usefulness, then it is important to implement mining practices that protect topsoil. This protection is done by mining topsoil separately. Essentially, the soil is removed carefully from the site with as little contamination or disturbance as possible. Then, when mining is completed on the sight, the topsoil is used in the reclamation process to make the land usable for other applications again.