Our Environmental Stewardship: Reclamation
At Kyanite Mining Corporation, we take immense pride in our industry-leading approach to environmental stewardship, from our resource management practices to our award-winning reclamation efforts.
John Snoddy, Environmental & Safety Director
A Conversation with John Snoddy, Environmental & Safety Director
This month, we sat down with John Snoddy, Kyanite Mining Corporation’s Environmental & Safety Director, to discuss our latest reclamation projects and achievements.
Can you tell us about Kyanite Mining Corporation’s latest reclamation project?
John: Reclamation is a constant effort here at KMC. In the spring of 2024, we transformed a three-acre section of the East Ridge mineral fill into a wildlife habitat. In the fall of 2023, we created an identical grassland on three adjacent acres of the same mineral fill. We also recently put the finishing touches on an ambitious, three-decade project just west of the East Ridge quarry. That project began as a 15-acre mineral fill in the early 1990’s and ultimately spanned over 50 acres by the time it was completed. By employing sound construction practices, careful material placement, effective sediment control, and proven seeding practices, we achieved a reclamation milestone 30 years in the making.
Some of the KMC environmental team.
Daniel Price-Reclamation Specialist, John Snoddy-Environment & Safety Director, and Travis Pugh-retired Reclamation Specialist.
Who is responsible for KMC's reclamation efforts?
John: Our reclamation efforts are a team sport, made possible with tireless dedication and thousands of hours from our small, yet productive, reclamation group. The KMC environmental team includes me, Reclamation Specialist Daniel Price, Safety Specialist Steve Lann, and, until very recently, Reclamation Specialist Travis Pugh. Further, while he’s no longer helping us every day, Quarry Foreman Jason Sams deserves a huge amount of recognition for the 18 years he spent reclaiming the mine site and for the support and training he continues to provide.
East Ridge mineral fill into quarry.
How does KMC create a mineral fill?
John: First, we choose areas adjacent to the quarry or, to further minimize our land disturbance, we choose areas within the quarry that are no longer mined. We then surround the area with grass or rock-lined diversion ditches and sediment traps, so that no sediment leaves the site. Once the sediment control structures are in place, we begin permanently stacking the minerals that our customers don’t want. Using an impressive mixture of bulldozer skill and concentration, Daniel Price carefully transforms the extremely steep slopes of waste minerals into a hillside gentle enough for a farm tractor. Daniel then caps the area with 12-20 inches of topsoil and installs stormwater ditches to prevent erosion of the slopes. Next, Daniel applies soil amendments, including lime, locally sourced wood ash to add organic matter, and fertilizer. Our seed mix includes fescue, lespedeza, clover, and native wildflowers, providing not only soil stabilization but also foraging opportunities for pollinators and wildlife. Finally, Daniel blows straw over the bare acreage, not only to hold the seeds and soil amendments in place, but also to protect the seedlings as they sprout. This meticulous process ensures that the reclaimed earth supports wildlife and withstands precipitation events now and far into the future.
Native planting and view of Willis Mountain from East Ridge hollow fill site.
Now that the mineral fill west of the East Ridge quarry is complete, where are minerals deposited?
Mining operations, the deposition of minerals back into the earth, and reclamation projects all occur simultaneously. Since 2022, extracted minerals that we don’t sell are backfilled into either an area immediately adjacent to the East Ridge quarry, or into the quarry itself.
Reclamation pond at Baker Mountain.
What challenges do you face in reclamation and how are they addressed?
John: The steep, unstable terrain of our mineral fills poses a challenge. However, we’ve grown quite skilled in transforming these steep slopes into manageable hillsides that double as wildlife habitat. Additionally, we design our reclamation projects to withstand a 100-year storm event without suffering substantial erosion. For reference, in central Virginia, a 100-year storm event equates to 8.8 inches of rain in 24 hours. To ensure that stormwater pipes and sediment traps can handle such a storm, we perform fairly complex erosion calculations that guide not only pipe and rip rap sizing, but also the grade on which we place our slopes and ditches.
Have Kyanite Mining Corporation’s reclamation efforts been recognized with any awards?
John: Yes, we’ve received several state and national awards for our reclamation projects over the last 30 years, reflecting our dedication to environmentally sound mining practices.
In 1993 and again in 2002/2003, KMC received the Virginia Mineral Mining Reclamation Award and the Interstate Mining Compact National Reclamation Award for projects at the Baker Mountain Mine. In 2009, we received the Virginia Mineral Mining Reclamation Award for the Quarry Division and the Overall Winner Award for transforming the Baker Mountain Quarry into a wildlife habitat, complete with a low-maintenance water treatment feature.
Most recently, in 2022, we received the Virginia Mineral Mining Reclamation Award for the Quarry Division and the Overall Winner Award for the East Ridge mineral fill, located just west of the East Ridge.
Looking Forward
At KMC, we’re committed to high-quality reclamation efforts, ensuring that as we mine, we’re simultaneously restoring land to wildlife habitats for native flora and fauna. Thank you to John, Daniel, Steve, Jason, Travis, and our entire Kyanite Mining Corporation team for their unwavering commitment to the environment.
Stay tuned for our next Environmental Stewardship segment as we explore our pollution prevention practices!
Want to learn more about our environmental stewardship and reclamation practices?
Head to: https://www.kyanite.com/environmental-stewardship
