Publication Number 460-121, posted May 1999
Figure 5 Highly compacted mine soil typical of Southwest Virginia. The obvious subsurface pan in this otherwise suitable mine spoil material strongly limits rooting depth and water holding capacity. Fortunately, the surface layer of this soil is relatively loose, but in many instances mine soils are compacted all the way to the surface; heavily compacted soils are usually barren.
Return to the Powell River Project -- Creation and Management of Productive Mine Soils