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Salt Generation in Pyritic Coal Spoils and its Effect on Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity¹

ABSTRACT

The oxidation of pyrite (FeS₂) in surface-mined coal spoils usually generates a large amount of soluble salts. These salts may impede water movement through the spoil, in some cases due to an increase in soil solution viscosity. This hypothesis was tested by the use of an 8.9-cm diameter column filled with spoil material and outfitted with six tensiometers at 14-cm intervals along its length. The buildup of salts in the lower portion of the column due to oxidation of pyrite was correlated with a suppression in hydraulic conductivity. A gradient in saturated hydraulic conductivity was measured starting in the upper portion of the column with a value of 0.50 cm/hour, decreasing to 0.03 cm/hour in the lower portion of the column. A gradient of salts was also encountered, with an electrical conductivity at the top of 0.12 mmho/cm and at the bottom of 16.44 mmho/cm. Upon depleting the salts from the column the saturated hydraulic conductivity of the lower portion approached that of the upper portion.

¹ Contribution from the Department of Agronomy, University of Kentucky Agric. Exp. Stn., Lexington. The investigation reported in this paper (82-3-8) is in connection with a project of the Kentucky Agric. Exp. Stn. and is published with the approval of the Director.

² Assistant Extension Professor in Disturbed Land Reclamation, Professor of Soil Physics, and Research Assistant, respectively, Dep. of Agron., Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0091.

Received for publication August 5, 1981. Accepted for publication February 11, 1982.