The extraction and processing of mineral resources, including oil sands, coal, and metal mining, generate large volumes of mine wastes and long-lasting disturbances to geological, hydrological, and ecological systems. Mine tailings, waste rock, and other by-products may contain fine-grained materials, processing chemicals, residual hydrocarbons, sulfide minerals, and trace metals that pose persistent environmental risks. Following mine closure, these impacts often continue through surface subsidence, slope instability, contamination of air, soil, and water, and ecosystem degradation, making post-mining management a critical global challenge.

Post-mining landscapes are expected to constitute significant portions of closure environments worldwide, and restoring these sites to stable, sustainable conditions is a major priority for industry, regulators, and society. Reclamation efforts focus on reconstructing functioning landscapes that achieve long-term geotechnical, hydrological, and ecological stability. Success depends on advances in mine waste characterization, landform and soil cover design, water and contaminant management, and the development of resilient ecosystems. Addressing these challenges requires interdisciplinary collaboration across mining engineering, geology, geochemistry, geophysics, soil science, hydrology, ecology, and environmental sciences.

This session aims to highlight recent research and practical advances in understanding and managing post-mining geo-environmental issues across diverse mining contexts and regions. Topics include mine-induced subsidence and instability, soil and water contamination and remediation, air quality impacts, land and ground-space utilization, reclamation strategies, and integrated approaches to long-term post-mining risk control. By sharing global perspectives and interdisciplinary insights, this session seeks to advance sustainable solutions for post-mining landscapes.