Ecological Systems and Devices Annotation << Back AN EVALUATION OF THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF SPOIL HEAPS ON THE ECOLOGICAL SITUATION IN COAL MINING AREAS AND WAYS TO REDUCE IT M.F. Gayday, Ya.I. Vaysman This article reviews an analysis of the negative impact of coal mining waste (spoil heaps) on the environment. It presents a chemical and mineral composition of them. For example, regarding the spoil heaps in the Kizel coal basin, survey data confi rms that pollution of adjoining areas and water bodies are caused by wind and water erosion, which spoil heaps are susceptible to. This article states basic directions for reduction of the negative ecological impact of spoil heaps on the environment. It describes spoil heap revegetation technology (technical and biological phases). It offers a method which provides a practical use for spoil heaps by means of the production of structural ceramics. This method requires partial replacement of clay with spoil heaps as a component of raw mixtures. It provides examples of the compositions of raw mixtures and basic physical and mechanical properties of structural ceramics obtained from them. Keywords: spoil heaps; structural ceramics; water and wind erosion; surface water contamination; revegetation. Contacts: E-mail: gaidaimaxim@yandex.ru Pp. 11-21.