MINESOIL PROPERTIES OF 15 ABANDONED MINE LAND SITES IN WEST-VIRGINIA

The characteristics of minesoils on abandoned mine land (AML) often di ctate which plant species will invade and establish from nearby undist urbed areas. This study measured physical and chemical minesoil proper ties on 15 AML sites in northern West Virginia and matched these prope rties to vegetation cover. Fifteen sites ranging in age from 13 to 35 yr old were selected from three surface-mined coal beds (Pittsburgh, F reeport, and Kittanning). On each site, three 1 m-deep pits were dug a nd minesoil samples were extracted from two horizons, and vegetation w as sampled in three 100-m(2) plots near the pits. Minesoils on Freepor t sites had more rock fragments and sand than either Pittsburgh or Kit tanning sites. No particle-size changes with depth or age were evident between horizons in any minesoil. Acidity increased and pH decreased with minesoil age on Pittsburgh and Kittanning minesoils due to the ox idation of pyritic materials near the soil surface. A cluster analysis distinguished three minesoil types on these sites. Minesoil type A ha d low acidity and high CEC. Minesoil type B had high acidity and moder ate CEC. Minesoil type C had high rock fragment content, low to modera te acidity, and low CEC. Minesoil type A was completely covered by her baceous plants and trees, while minesoil types B and C were generally covered by trees. Based on our minesoil analyses and other studies, ba rren AML sites may not require complete redisturbance for revegetation but may be revegetated by adjacent plant species if surface amendment s are applied.