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Look! Ten Typical Cases of Mine Ecological Restoration—Broadcasted by Black King Kong
Recently, the Ministry of Natural Resources released the second batch of national exemplary cases in ecological restoration of mining areas. From "born from mining" to "revived by mining," these exemplary cases profoundly illustrate the multifaceted value and remarkable benefits of ecological restoration in mining areas—encompassing enhanced regional ecosystem functions, improved living environments, empowerment of rural revitalization, promotion of efficient resource utilization, and facilitation of industrial transformation. They provide a development model for green transformation and sustainable growth in resource-based cities, while also injecting fresh momentum into China's efforts to build a beautiful nation.
The editor has compiled 10 typical cases of mine ecological restoration.
Come take a look!
1. Ecological Restoration and Comprehensive Remediation Technologies and Demonstration for Large-Scale Coal-Electricity Base in Eastern Grassland Region
This project is the first central enterprise-led initiative in the ecological field during the 13th Five-Year Plan period. Organized and implemented by the State Energy Group, it brings together 20 institutions, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences. The Yanbao Energy Baorixile Mining Area serves as the research and demonstration base, where the project has, for the first time, quantitatively revealed the cumulative ecological impact of coal-power base development. Moreover, it has developed and established an integrated technology system for open-pit mining that minimizes ecological damage—encompassing mining, waste disposal, and land reclamation—as well as a comprehensive restoration approach uniting water, soil, and vegetation. As a result, a pioneering open-pit mine ecological restoration demonstration project has been completed, covering an area of 10,394 mu. Vegetation coverage has increased by 37.96%, and the rate of reclaimed wasteland treatment has reached 100%. Additionally, an underground reservoir system capable of storing 1.22 million cubic meters of water has been constructed at the open-pit coal mine, complemented by a surface reservoir with a storage capacity of 21 cubic meters. This innovative system enables efficient winter storage and summer utilization of mine pit water. The project’s groundbreaking research achievements were honored with the First Prize in Science and Technology from the China Coal Industry Association in 2021.
2. Hebei Province, Chengde City, Yingshouyingzi Mining District: Resource-Depleted City Mine Geological Environment Remediation Project
According to the "Notice on Issuing the Second Batch of Lists of Resource-Depleted Cities" jointly issued by the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Land and Resources, and the Ministry of Finance (NDRC Northeast [2009] No. 588), Yingshouyingzi Mining District in Chengde City, Hebei Province, has been officially approved as a second-batch resource-depleted city. In September 2010, the Ministry of Land and Resources and the Ministry of Finance jointly approved this project, allocating a total funding of 280 million yuan, which will be disbursed in three phases. To date, the project has completed the treatment of 50 acres of mined-out areas and environmental remediation covering 22,030 acres of mining sites. Additionally, two underground water source areas have been fully constructed. These initiatives have provided a solid foundation for economic development in the Yingshouyingzi Mining District, while significantly enhancing the city's investment climate and improving residents' living conditions.
The stability analysis of coal mine goaf areas employs numerical simulation techniques, successfully revealing the distribution characteristics of these voids. A specialized monograph titled "Practical Exploration, Design, and Stability Evaluation Methods for Old Coal Mine Goafs" has been published, showcasing this approach as an effective tool for assessing the stability of coal mine goaf regions.
Grouting Treatment Photos
3. Jizhong Energy Fengfeng Group Co., Ltd. Fushui Service Center No. 2 Mine - Phase I Treatment Project for the Gangshi Mountain
The No. 2 Mine's gangue mountain has accumulated for decades, severely polluting the surrounding environment with harmful substances. This time, the mine has adopted a soil-free, rapid ecological restoration technology that has completely transformed the polluted landscape—shifting away from conventional methods like topsoil covering and greening. At its core, the technology works by neutralizing toxic compounds already formed on the surface of coal gangue through oxidation, effectively blocking both chemical oxidation pathways and microbial catalytic oxidation processes within the waste material. It leverages a synergistic approach involving higher plants, microorganisms, and secondary metabolites to achieve comprehensive pollution control. Meanwhile, pioneering surface vegetation harnesses photosynthesis to produce abundant carbohydrates, serving as a continuous carbon source for microorganisms thriving in both the shallow and deeper layers of the gangue. As a result, this innovative method ensures long-term ecological stability, enabling the gangue mountain to remain virtually maintenance-free for several years. Notably, this groundbreaking technology has already earned prestigious accolades, including the First Prize of the Hebei Provincial Coal Association’s Science and Technology Award and the Second Prize of the Jizhong Energy Fengfeng Group’s Science and Technology Progress Award.
4. Shanxi Province Pilot Demonstration Project for Ecological Restoration and Governance of the Guandi Mine Area in Coal Mining Subsidence Zones
This project is located in the Guandi Mining Area of Xishan Coal & Electricity, encompassing the Gaojiahe 200-yard gangue stockpile sites (Areas A, B, C, and D), as well as the gangue discharge road connecting the four stockpiles. The total volume of gangue stored across the project area amounts to approximately 18 million tons, with a combined treatment area of about 500,000 square meters. The project includes eight major sub-projects: fire suppression and prevention, mountain reshaping, retaining and supporting structures, drainage and diversion systems, water supply and irrigation, road construction, ecological restoration, and landscape reconstruction. The total investment for the project is 111.8551 million yuan. Notably, this project features significant innovations in gangue mountain fire diagnosis, dynamic firefighting techniques, and ecological restoration methods and concepts. Through the implementation of this project, a total of 10 patented technologies for comprehensive gangue mountain management have been authorized, laying a solid foundation of practical experience for tackling similar projects in the future.
5. Tianshan District's "Trees on the Mountain" Yan'nan Bare Hill Greening Project
The "Tree-to-Mountain" Yannan Bare Mountain Greening Project in Tianshan District is located in Tianshan District, Urumqi City, Xinjiang, a core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt. A groundbreaking construction method—high-pressure saddle connections for drip irrigation pipelines, developed through intelligent irrigation research—is now primarily used to join main irrigation lines. This innovative approach ensures robust connections, effortless installation, exceptional pressure resistance, and outstanding corrosion and oxidation resistance. Additionally, it significantly reduces long-term maintenance costs, with component lifespans exceeding 10 years. Notably, this method has replaced the conventional hot-melt connection technique previously employed for tee fittings, thereby greatly accelerating the adoption and advancement of smart irrigation technology.
6. Yanqing Competition Zone Venue Supporting Infrastructure and Landscape Ecological Restoration Project
The landscape ecological restoration project for the infrastructure supporting facilities in Part A of the Yanqing Competition Zone is located in the Xiaohaituo mountain area of Zhangshanying Town, Yanqing District, Beijing. The total construction scale spans approximately 156,000 square meters, with an operational area extending about 5 kilometers in length and an actual construction area of roughly 110,000 square meters. The site features complex mountainous terrain. This project is an ecological restoration effort aimed at repairing the damage to mountainsides and vegetation caused during the infrastructure development for the Winter Olympics in the Yanqing Competition Zone.
7. Mine Pit Ecological Restoration and Utilization Project — Ice and Snow World Initiative
The Mine Ecological Restoration and Utilization Project—Ice and Snow World—is located in Pingtang Town, Changsha City. Built atop a century-old, 100-meter-deep abandoned mine pit that has been shaped by 50 years of mining activities, this project is currently the world’s only large-scale ice and snow amusement facility constructed inside a disused mine shaft. It also marks the first-ever attempt globally to transform an abandoned mine site into a vibrant theme park. Employing landscape-oriented design principles, the project seamlessly integrates its structures beneath the horizon, blending harmoniously with the natural contours of the mine pit itself. During construction, engineers overcame significant challenges posed by the region’s karst geological conditions, particularly in handling heavy loads and erecting wide-spanning architectural elements. Additionally, groundbreaking green ecological restoration techniques were developed specifically for the exposed rock walls, successfully healing the once-gaping "scar" left by the abandoned mine and revitalizing the surrounding area. The project has earned prestigious accolades, including the National Quality Engineering Gold Award and the China Steel Structure Golden Award for Outstanding Projects.
8. Zhenxiong County, Potou Town: Comprehensive Disposal and Ecological Restoration Project for Historical Sulfur Smelting Residues at Haitang
Employing an in-situ containment approach combined with "leakage prevention risk management and green ecological restoration" is a key initiative in Yunnan Province's efforts to build the "most beautiful ecological river system in the upper Yangtze region, serve as a model for practicing the 'Two Mountains' philosophy, and establish a pioneering demonstration zone for green, high-quality development across the basin"—specifically, it’s one of the nine major targeted actions outlined in the Chishui River Basin’s ecological governance plan. The project introduces the design concept of "leakage prevention risk management," implementing technical measures such as "environmental investigation and geotechnical exploration + risk assessment + in-situ solidification treatment," ultimately leading to a comprehensive green ecological restoration strategy. The successful outcomes have been extended to seven treatment sites across three neighboring townships, yielding remarkable ecological and social benefits.
9. Guangyuan City, Chaotian District, Guankou Coal Mine Well Water Inflow Treatment Pilot Project
The Guankou Coal Mine's pilot project for managing mine water discharge is among the first batch of national pilot projects focused on groundwater pollution prevention and control. Addressing how to achieve economical, effective, and sustainable treatment of acidic mine water is a global challenge. This project adheres to three core principles: systematic control, cost-effectiveness, and gradual implementation. It employs four key measures—separating clean from contaminated water, reducing groundwater recharge, sealing off mine shafts to inhibit oxidation, and implementing risk management to minimize environmental impacts—as well as integrating research with practical operations. These efforts have led to the development of an innovative treatment model that combines mine sealing and backfilling with advanced risk-control strategies, effectively containing pollution sources after sealing and significantly cutting down operational costs while ensuring long-term sustainability.
10. Jiangsu Province's 11th Horticultural Expo Project
The project for the 11th Jiangsu Provincial Horticultural Expo is located in the Tangshan Resort Area of Nanjing City, covering a total area of 345 hectares. The site originally featured three large open-pit mines—Kongshan, Nitan, and Taiming Lake—which were listed in 2018 as part of Nanjing City’s roster of 260 closed open-pit mining sites. This project marks the first pilot initiative that integrates comprehensive land-space remediation with ecological restoration. Taking the opportunity to host the 11th Jiangsu Provincial Horticultural Expo, the project innovatively employs cutting-edge techniques such as mine pit ecological restoration, creative expressions of Jiangsu’s premium garden designs, and adaptive reuse strategies for industrial heritage sites. These efforts have helped transform the area into a vibrant cultural and tourism destination, seamlessly blending horticultural displays, leisure experiences, wellness retreats, and convention & exhibition facilities. As a result, the project has achieved green, sustainable development in mine reclamation. To date, the project has generated 34 patents (including 13 invention patents) and earned 11 provincial-level construction methods awards.
