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Mining waste, called minestone, is often stored in large piles near coal mines. It can be used for aggregates, embankments, and burning. However, it may contain contaminants and pose safety risks. Governments may need to address waste management in bankruptcies. Minestone should not be confused with minestrone soup.
The backbone is the waste material left over after mining for the coal deposits. Mining companies do some on-site processing to limit the cost of transporting the waste material, and usually a colliery has one or more large piles of mining stone nearby to provide a place for waste storage until they can be removed from a site. There are numerous uses for this material, and mining companies may attempt to sell it with the goal of increasing the overall profits of a given mine.
The composition of the minestone depends on the conditions in a coal mine. Sandstone and shale are commonly found in the mix, along with various muds. The mining company will process it to remove as much coal as possible, but there may be dust and coal chips present. Under some conditions, ore piles can actually ignite due to suspensions of coal dust and heat buildup. This can cause the materials in the heap to melt and burn out.
One potential use of this waste product is in the production of aggregates for the production of concrete and similar materials. The company can grind the stone to a uniform size for this purpose and will test it to make sure it’s a good fit. It is also available for use as filler and support for embankments and unstable ground. In some cases it may have contaminants. The use of contaminated materials is more limited, as they can pose a risk to the environment and human safety.
Also known as mine spoil, this material can also be deliberately burned. Burnt Minestone can be used in many of the same ways as plain material. Burning will remove residue and can leave a cleaner, more compact final product. Mine personnel must observe appropriate safety measures when burning waste piles, as smoke inhalation can be dangerous and there is also a risk of the fire spreading beyond the piles. Respirators should usually be worn to protect the lungs, and burning should be avoided in high winds or extremely dry weather.
Coal company bankruptcies can create a health and safety problem, as they may not be able to adequately protect their waste materials. The government can take action to address the mining stones and other wastes and can recover the costs of doing so from the liquidation of the mine’s assets. In some countries, the government requires transportation insurance to cover these costs in the event of bankruptcy or other problems.
Despite the similarity in appearance of both words, minestone should not be confused with minestrone, a soup of Italian origin that typically contains beans, vegetables, pasta, and other additions. As a general rule, minestrone lacks charcoal products, unless the cook uses a very unusual recipe.
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