Authors: Carl E. Zipper, Extension Specialist, Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences, and Associate Director, Powell River Project, Virginia Tech; and Steven Winter, Professional Engineer, Schnabel Engineering Associates, Blacksburg, Virginia
Publication Number 460-130, Posted July 1997
Figure 1. Settlement of underlying mine spoils can affect buildings constructed on mine spoil fills. The spoil depth under Building A is relatively uniform, whereas Building B is built over an area where spoil depth varies. Building B is more likely to be damaged due to differential settlement because it covers a larger lateral area, and because of variations in the depth of the underlying spoils.
Return to the Mine Reclamation Procedures to Minimize Differential Settlement section of Stabilizing Reclaimed Mines to Support Buildings and Development.