Imagine heaps of mining waste. They rose slowly next to the coal mines. This is Terril 98. It is not just a hill. It represents the coal mining industry. It shaped the region for two centuries.
Terril 98 is a slag heap. These heaps are mounds of geological spoil. Coal mining activity created them. They mainly contain shale. There is also carbonaceous sandstone. Other industrial waste makes up the heaps. Over time, these materials formed hills. These hills are near the coal mines.
The word “terrill” has an interesting story. In Walloon, “tèrri” meant a mound of stone. Miners extracted it from a mine. The spelling changed in France. This happened around 1906. The Courrières disaster occurred then. A journalist asked how to spell the word. A miner said it ended with an “l”. This anecdote explains the “l” in terril.
Around 340 terrils existed. They were counted in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais area in the 1970s. People wanted to exploit them. Terrils can be conical heaps. Or they can be flat platforms. The shape depends on how the spoil was dumped.
Terril 98 and other terrils mark the landscape. They symbolize the coal industry. This industry shaped the region’s economy. It also influenced society. The “Pays Noir” or “Coal Country” left a mark on the heritage.
Terrils have unique ecologies. They consist of specific materials. Neo-soils form on the surface. Bacteria and fungi live there. Plants and animals follow. Some are foreign to the region. Others are extremophiles. This is due to unusual temperatures. Also, acidification affects the land.
Miners once threw apple cores into coal wagons. Today, terrils host forgotten fruit tree types. Seeds came in the wood used in mines. This led to the growth of sorrel. Terrils’ dark sides get hotter. This adds to the ecological diversity.
Some terrils even have vineyards. One produces 3000 liters of wine each year. Other terrils host native trees. These include beech and oak. Exotic trees grow there too. The term “stériles” means lacking minerals. It does not mean lacking life.
The oldest coal terrils could combust. This was a slow oxidation reaction. One study found a third of terrils burned. This happened in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais. That’s 74 terrils. Often, this is not visible. But infrared imaging shows it.
Internal combustion is expensive to stop. So, people wait for it to end naturally. This can take decades. High temperatures change the rocks. Schist and sandstone turn red. These red schists are useful. They are good for road construction.
Terril combustion causes problems. It can make the ground unstable. Plants die and slopes can collapse. Explosive gases may form. Landslides become more likely. The combustion also releases greenhouse gases. This includes CO2.
The future of terrils is important. They impact urban planning. People don’t want them removed. They are part of the landscape. They are part of heritage. Spontaneous vegetation covers them. Should they stay as they are? Or can they be repurposed?
Some terrils contain unwanted substances. These are harmful to the environment. Studies show terrils erode easily. Erosion harms ecosystems. Managed vegetation can reduce the risks.
Some terrils are used for recreation. One has a synthetic ski slope. Paragliding happens on others. Races go up and down the slopes. These events honor the region’s history.
Terril 98 is more than a pile of waste. It tells a story. It speaks of industry. It speaks of nature. It speaks of the people.