@article {Brown146, author = {K. W. Brown and J. C. Thomas and L. E. Deuel, Jr.}, title = {Chemical characteristics of surface runoff from soils and revegetated lignite mine spoils}, volume = {39}, number = {2}, pages = {146--149}, year = {1984}, publisher = {Soil and Water Conservation Society}, abstract = {Surface runoff from three revegetated lignite mine spoils and nine native soils on three geological deposits along the Texas Gulf Coast were evaluated. Purpose was to compare water quality from revegetated, nontopsoiled spoils with that from undisturbed soils. Field plots 4.6 {\texttimes} 9.5 m {\texttimes} 10 m deep were established on revegetated, nontopsoiled test pits at each geological deposit and on three soils representative of each of the three areas to be mined. Stormwater runoff from natural rainfall events was sampled following major storms and analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), soluble Fe, and Mn. Although runoff water pH from revegetated spoil on the Jackson deposit was low initially, a slow increase occurred during the first 15 months after revegetation. Runoff pH from spoils was eventually similar to that from soils. Runoff water pH from revegetated spoil on the other two geological deposits was similar to that from the soil during the first 15 months after revegetation. EC of runoff water from revegetated spoil was less than 3 dS/m for all sites immediately after revegetation and declined to background levels within 1 year. Concentrations of Fe in runoff exceeded 3.5 mg/1 during the first 6 months following revegetation; however, later concentrations were similar to those from soils. The Fe concentration in runoff from the Jackson deposit spoil and topsoils was low, but the concentration from spoil increased slightly with time. The concentration of soluble Mn in runoff was initially greater than 2.0 mg/1 from revegetated spoil on the Jackson and Claiborne deposits but declined to background levels after 4 months. Initially, EC and soluble Fe and Mn concentrations in runoff from revegetated spoil on several of the deposits studied were greater than desirable. However, they reached concentrations comparable to those in runoff from adjacent soils within 4 to 15 months after the initial phases of revegetation.}, issn = {0022-4561}, URL = {https://www.jswconline.org/content/39/2/146}, eprint = {https://www.jswconline.org/content/39/2/146.full.pdf}, journal = {Journal of Soil and Water Conservation} }