Composition and Properties of Coal Mine Overburden in Tuva: Areas of Application

The scope of overburden investigation embraces overburden volume, physical state, mineralogy and chemistry, content of toxic elements, hydraulic/thermal/physical/mechanical properties, compositional analysis and potential process flows with a view to manufacturing materials of construction. It is found that the mineral and chemical compositions of overburden in coal mining are the same as the mineral raw material has, and the content of toxic elements is within the allowable concentrations. These rocks are classified as modulus-active and highly active, and are thermally inert. The integrated processing of overburden in coal mining enables using these rocks as a feedstock for the production of heat-insulating, ceramic, binding and road construction materials.