New Delhi/IBNS: Coal India Ltd (CIL) is looking to process the overburden rocks for sand production in mines where OB material contains about 60% sandstone by volume which is harnessed through crushing and processing of Overburden, the Ministry of Coal said on Friday.
OB to M-Sand initiative of CIL is facilitating the processing of waste overburden in its OC Mines.
According to the ministry, due to high demand, regulated supply, and complete ban on sand mining during monsoon to protect the river ecosystem, finding alternatives to river sand became necessary.
During opencast mining the overlying soil and rocks are removed as waste to extract coal and the fragmented rock (Overburden or OB) is heaped in dumps.
Most of the waste is disposed off at the surface which occupies considerable land area and requires extensive planning and control to minimize the environmental impact of mining.
Manufactured Sand (M-Sand) from overburden of coal mines is more cost-effective than using natural sand, as it can be produced in large quantities at a lower cost.
It can have a consistent grain size and shape, which can be beneficial for construction projects that require a specific type of sand.
Further, it can help to reduce the need for mining natural sand, which can have negative environmental impacts.
Additionally, using the overburden from coal mines can help to repurpose materials that would otherwise be considered waste.
Using manufactured sand can help to reduce the amount of water required for construction projects, as it does not require washing before use.
The land occupied by OB dumps can be freed for alternative useful purposes, while the commercial sale of produced sand can generate additional revenue for coal companies
Lesser sand extraction from rivers will reduce erosion of channel bed and banks and protect water habitat and helps maintaining water table.
