Natural analog system for reducing permeability of ground

Abstract

A method of chemically and physically treating unconsolidated soils, overburden, fill and certain waste materials (the “ground”), or partly consolidated materials that can be excavated and broken up by normal earth moving and soil mixing equipment. This treatment results in the reduction of permeability in the ground, and as a result permits the prevention or control of contaminant migration from a site containing ground wastes of various types, thereby isolating these wastes.

Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims: 
     
         1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for introducing a calcium carbonate matrix into a waste zone via application techniques, comprising:
 admixing solid CaCl 2  and Na 2 CO 3  with the waste zone, which subsequently react in the presence of water.   
     
     
         22 . A method for introducing a calcium carbonate matrix into a waste zone via application techniques, comprising:
 admixing a finely particulate solid selected from the group consisting of CaCO 3  as calcite or aragonite, Ca(OH) 2 -hydrated lime, and CaO-lime that subsequently crystallize, react, or bond with waste/soil in the waste zone.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , comprising:
 adding matrix materials selected from the group consisting of fly ash, incinerator ash, cement kiln slag, and cement kiln ash to fill larger void spaces when the waste/soil is coarse ground/waste materials.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the coarse ground/waste materials are selected from the group consisting of gravels, coarse sands, and waste debris. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the coarse ground/waste materials are found in abandoned mine workings.