Land reclamation using oil sand processing tailings: a field study

In the reclamation and restoration of disturbed land by oil sand mining operations, a major challenge is the re-establishment of self-sustaining ecosystems. The possibility was explored of using oil sands processing tailings as reclamation materials for the disturbed lands, in which an aggregation method developed in laboratory and greenhouse experiments was successfully applied to field conditions. It is possible to create, on a preliminary basis, the plant growth medium using these tailings, but the presence of salts in the reclamation material is the major obstacle to the re-establishment of vegetation on the reclaimed site. There is a need for future research to concentrate on the selection of salt tolerant plant species, as well as the development of methods to reduce salt levels in the soil profiles. (Abstract only)