Surface Environment
Determination of the Impact of Coal Mine Water Irrigation on Groundwater Resources
2007
Groundwater investigation behind mine water irrigation in the Mpumalanga coalfields, with hydraulic testing, leaching studies and site selection and monitoring guidance for mines and regulators.
What this report foundMonitoring and geochemical modelling at five pilot sites, on undisturbed soils and on opencast spoils, showed that most soils held a large share of the applied...
DyVar Pilot Test Report
2019
Batch pilot trial of a salt concentration unit on saline coal mine effluent at the eMalahleni reclamation plant, for mines weighing brine treatment and salt recovery.
What this report foundA pilot brine concentrator treated Stage 3 reject effluent from a mine water reclamation plant, raising total dissolved solids from 24 g/L to 154 g/L at 88 per...
Evaluation of Three Native Grass Species and a Tree Species for Coal Mine Rehabilitation
2009
Field trials established on prepared topsoil at three Mpumalanga Highveld collieries and measured to 2007, covering survival, cover, biomass and tree growth, for rehabilitation planners.
What this report foundCynodon dactylon outperformed Themeda triandra and Hyparrhenia hirta, reaching 100 per cent survival and cover at all three trial sites by 2007 with or without...
Final Report – A feasibility study on a regenerative integrated cropping & livestock business case model as a mine closure tool and post-closure land use for differently rehabilitated land capability classes
2025
Feasibility study on a regenerative integrated cropping & livestock business case model as a mine closure tool and post-closure land use for differently rehabilitated land capability classes Enterprises University of Pretoria
Growth Potential of Kenaf on Coal Tailings in South Africa
2025
This research investigates the physiological performance of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) when grown in coal tailings—an area where limited studies exist, especially within the South African context. North West University
Institutional, Legal & Financial Aspects of Regional Mine Water Collection, Treatment and Re-use
2004
Review of ownership models, licensing and funding for a shared regional mine water treatment scheme on the Mpumalanga coalfields, written for mine managers and water regulators.
What this report foundA regional scheme to collect, treat and re-use mine water in the Upper Olifants River Catchment has merit, with the mines best placed to start it through a...
Micro-algal Systems for Carbon Capture, Metal and Energy Recovery using Mine Waters
2026
Laboratory and pilot work on indigenous South African microalgae used to treat metal-bearing mine water while capturing carbon, with biomass profiling, bioenergy routes and a preliminary techno-economic assessment.
What this report foundA four-strain polyculture of microalgae isolated in the Mpumalanga and Gauteng coalfields held its growth and carbon uptake at five times the metal load of the...
Models for Predicting Methane Gas Release from Coal Seams
2005
Emission factors and calculation models for national greenhouse gas reporting, built from mine seam gas measurements and ventilation sampling, for environmental staff and inventory compilers.
What this report foundEmission factors derived from measured South African seam gas data give simple models for methane released by underground mining, surface mining and coal after...
Predicting the Environmental Impact and Sustainability of Irrigation With Coal Mine Water
2006
Commercial scale field trials and modelling of centre pivot irrigation with gypsiferous and sodium sulphate mine water, covering crop, soil and aquifer effects for mines and regulators.
What this report foundIrrigation with calcium and sulphate rich mine water proved feasible and sustainable over eight years at a Mpumalanga colliery, with no significant impact on...
Project 12.2 – Land Rehabilitation Guideline for Surface Coal Mines
Four part reference covering planning, in-field implementation, monitoring and post-closure land management, written for mine planners, rehabilitation practitioners and regulators rather than as a site specification.
What this report foundSets out good practice for planning, implementing, monitoring and adaptively managing land rehabilitation at surface coal mines, with generic rehabilitation...
Project 8.3.3 – Framework to Guide Mine-related Land Use Planning Towards Optimisation of the Coal Mining Rehabilitated Landscape
2018
Masters research combining a review of rehabilitation guidance with South African industry interviews, for mine planners and regulators deciding what post mining land should become after closure.
What this report foundA framework for planning land use on rehabilitated coal mining land, built from a review of international and national regulatory and corporate guidance and...