Slope evolution on coal–mine disturbed land

Discovering the parameters of a coal–spoil derived landform which will not suffer accelerated erosion remains a fundamental problem in reclamation research. This study examines patterns of erosion and slope evolution on coal–mine disturbed lands in Wales and North America. The evolution of raw technogenetic slopes is effected by the mid–slope–ward migration of two zones of accelerated erosion, one originating on and extending the upper convexity, the other located at the upper limits of the lower concavity of the slope. On the mature profile, maximum erosion occurs at the midslope. The speed of erosion is affected by the presence of vegetation and by the slope aspect but only the activities of the basal control seriously affect the pattern of erosion. Large–scale basal deposition may suppress the development of the lower–slope erosion peak. The pattern of erosion on the slope profile may be predictable as exponential functions of two morphological parameters; distance from the crest, and average slope angle.