Field observation of lignite strip mine spoils from the Darco mine near Marshall, Texas, revealed that gray spoil materials of various ages were devoid of vegetation. Within the same sites, spoil materials which were non-gray supported several conditions of revegetation. Analysis of spoil materials from this mine was undertaken to determine if spoils were differentiated on a chemical basis. Gray materials appear to have greater mineral sources of zinc, iron, and sulfate than non-gray spoils, and greater concentrations of zinc, calcium, magnesium, and potassium at all sites. Further, older spoils (17 to 31 years of age) have mean pH values below 5.0, a more rapid decline in pH, and greater concentrations of zinc, iron, sulfate, and aluminum. A weathering process which accounts for such differentiation is discussed. Recommendations for further research are made.
","abstract_html":"<p>Field observation of lignite strip mine spoils from the Darco mine near Marshall, Texas, revealed that gray spoil materials of various ages were devoid of vegetation. Within the same sites, spoil materials which were non-gray supported several conditions of revegetation. Analysis of spoil materials from this mine was undertaken to determine if spoils were differentiated on a chemical basis. Gray materials appear to have greater mineral sources of zinc, iron, and sulfate than non-gray spoils, and greater concentrations of zinc, calcium, magnesium, and potassium at all sites. Further, older spoils (17 to 31 years of age) have mean pH values below 5.0, a more rapid decline in pH, and greater concentrations of zinc, iron, sulfate, and aluminum. A weathering process which accounts for such differentiation is discussed. Recommendations for further research are made.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Cook, Reagan"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Forestry (MF)","degree_level":"Thesis","degree_discipline":"Forestry","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":1977,"date_issued":"1977-12-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"1977-12-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:30:03Z","subjects":["Forest Sciences","Other Forestry and Forest Sciences"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/14","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Cook, Reagan"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2015-11-06T08:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Forestry"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Forestry (MF)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Forest Sciences","Other Forestry and Forest Sciences"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/14"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Field observation of lignite strip mine spoils from the Darco mine near Marshall, Texas, revealed that gray spoil materials of various ages were devoid of vegetation. Within the same sites, spoil materials which were non-gray supported several conditions of revegetation. Analysis of spoil materials from this mine was undertaken to determine if spoils were differentiated on a chemical basis. Gray materials appear to have greater mineral sources of zinc, iron, and sulfate than non-gray spoils, and greater concentrations of zinc, calcium, magnesium, and potassium at all sites. Further, older spoils (17 to 31 years of age) have mean pH values below 5.0, a more rapid decline in pH, and greater concentrations of zinc, iron, sulfate, and aluminum. A weathering process which accounts for such differentiation is discussed. Recommendations for further research are made.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The Age and Fertility of Lignite Strip Mine Spoils from the Darco Mine, Harrison County, Texas"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:creator":["Cook, Reagan"],"dc:date.available":["2015-11-06T08:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Field observation of lignite strip mine spoils from the Darco mine near Marshall, Texas, revealed that gray spoil materials of various ages were devoid of vegetation. Within the same sites, spoil materials which were non-gray supported several conditions of revegetation. Analysis of spoil materials from this mine was undertaken to determine if spoils were differentiated on a chemical basis. Gray materials appear to have greater mineral sources of zinc, iron, and sulfate than non-gray spoils, and greater concentrations of zinc, calcium, magnesium, and potassium at all sites. Further, older spoils (17 to 31 years of age) have mean pH values below 5.0, a more rapid decline in pH, and greater concentrations of zinc, iron, sulfate, and aluminum. A weathering process which accounts for such differentiation is discussed. Recommendations for further research are made.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/14"],"dc:subject":["Forest Sciences","Other Forestry and Forest Sciences"],"dc:title":["The Age and Fertility of Lignite Strip Mine Spoils from the Darco Mine, Harrison County, Texas"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Forestry"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Forestry (MF)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:30:03Z"}