Preventing dust emission in non-active quarries by filling enriched waste material

Quarrying activities have significant impacts on the human and the natural environments. Following a quarry's closure, exposed surfaces remain vulnerable to wind erosion and dust emission until full long-term reclamation is achieved. The objective of this research is to examine the efficacy of using quarry by-product material (Nivrar) to fill such surfaces in inactive quarries to prevent erosion until full rehabilitation takes place. This pilot research is conducted in a calcareous quarry. The fill sample consists of Nivrar supplemented with a local topsoil from the edge of the quarry to enrich it with seeds of native vegetation. Additionally, a biopolymer is used to stabilize the upper layer for immediate-term protection. Samples of the Nivrar and the topsoil were analyzed at various ratios to determine the optimal composition related to erosion and soil fertility, including aggregation, organic matter, dust fraction, electrical conductivity. A controlled experiment was performed to test seed germination and growth within the Nivrar. Experiments in a boundary-layer wind tunnel allowed for testing the samples' resistance to soil erosion and dust emission (PM). The results indicate that the Nivrar material is not a limiting factor for plant development, and its wind erosion coefficients are relatively low compared to the quarry's surfaces despite the relatively high amount of dust fraction. The addition of the topsoil increased the percentage of organic matter and essential elements (potassium). The polymer application significantly reduces dust emissions. The research results to date demonstrate the potential for implementing this method in the field as a sustainable ecological-environmental solution for the rehabilitation of inactive quarries until full reclamation is achieved.