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Spatial Variability in Geotechnical Properties Within Heterogeneous Lignite Mine Spoils

During surface coal mining, vast amounts of overburden waste materials—called spoils—are excavated and dumped, forming massive heaps, the sustainable exploitation of which is a top priority globally. This study addresses the advanced geotechnical characterization of spoil materials, focusing on lignite mine spoil heaps, which are often ignored due to their highly heterogeneous nature. This research quantifies the spatial variability in spoil materials from a large heap in Greece, highlighting the importance of a robust geotechnical framework for their effective reclamation. Using statistical analysis and variogram modeling, the scale of fluctuation (SoF) was derived for both the vertical and horizontal directions. The SoF values for spoil properties are found to be on the high end of the natural soil range. Vertical correlations are observed for distances over 10 m, occasionally reaching 20 m, indicating significant spatial variability; in the horizontal direction, the SoF reaches up to 285 m. These findings suggest that spoil elements exhibit important spatial dependence, which is critical for their proper design and exploitation. The results provide a basis for future research and the use of advanced numerical tools, such as the random finite element method, to support geotechnical design and the sustainable exploitation of spoil heaps.

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Detail Information
Series Title
Geosciences
Call Number
550
Publisher
Switzerland : MPDI.,
Collation
17 hlm PDF, 873 KB
Language
Inggris
ISBN/ISSN
2076-3263
Classification
550
Content Type
text
Media Type
-
Carrier Type
online resource
Edition
Vol.15, Issue 3, March 2025
Subject(s)
coal spoils
spoil heaps
mine waste dumps
statistics
scale of fluctuation
geotechnical characterization
Specific Detail Info
Geosciences
Statement of Responsibility
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No other version available

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  • Spatial Variability in Geotechnical Properties Within Heterogeneous Lignite Mine Spoils
    During surface coal mining, vast amounts of overburden waste materials—called spoils—are excavated and dumped, forming massive heaps, the sustainable exploitation of which is a top priority globally. This study addresses the advanced geotechnical characterization of spoil materials, focusing on lignite mine spoil heaps, which are often ignored due to their highly heterogeneous nature. This research quantifies the spatial variability in spoil materials from a large heap in Greece, highlighting the importance of a robust geotechnical framework for their effective reclamation. Using statistical analysis and variogram modeling, the scale of fluctuation (SoF) was derived for both the vertical and horizontal directions. The SoF values for spoil properties are found to be on the high end of the natural soil range. Vertical correlations are observed for distances over 10 m, occasionally reaching 20 m, indicating significant spatial variability; in the horizontal direction, the SoF reaches up to 285 m. These findings suggest that spoil elements exhibit important spatial dependence, which is critical for their proper design and exploitation. The results provide a basis for future research and the use of advanced numerical tools, such as the random finite element method, to support geotechnical design and the sustainable exploitation of spoil heaps.
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