Vol.: (0123456789) 1 3 Environ Geochem Health https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-023-01700-x REVIEW PAPER An overview of the impacts of coal mining and processing on soil: assessment, monitoring, and challenges in the Czech Republic Abdulmannan Rouhani  · Mariusz Z. Gusiatin  · Michal Hejcman Received: 27 May 2023 / Accepted: 17 July 2023 © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2023 impact of reclamation and coal mining on soil char- acteristics, including biological, chemical, and physi- cal properties. Additionally, the study has outlined the process of soil formation in reclamation areas in the Czech Republic. In nutshell, research gaps and future directions in understanding coal mining areas and their infuences on soils in the Czech Republic are identifed. Keywords Coal mining · Soil pollution · Heavy metals · Land reclamation · Czech Republic Introduction Energy is the lifeblood of economies. Coal, petro- leum, and natural gas are examples of energy-rich natural resources on which most of the countries rely (Jiskani et al., 2022). Coal has been mined con- tinuously from ancient times since it is the most abundant fossil fuel on the planet (Niu et al., 2017). Coal is the most well-known primary energy source, accounting for more than 41.1% of global electri- cal output (Habib et al., 2019). With the tremendous advancements in the last century, it has been one of the primary driving elements in the industrialization and economic development of societies (Ge & Lei, 2013). In the Czech Republic’s industrial growth as well as its previous and present energy mix, coal has played an essential role (Kavina et al., 2009; Vlček & Černoch, 2012). Due to the rising demand for energy, Abstract Coal mining activities are causing an extensive range of environmental issues at both operating and abandoned mine sites. It is one of the most environmentally destructive practices, with the capability to eliminate fauna and fora, impact the groundwater system, and pollute the soil, air, and water. The Czech Republic relies almost exclusively on coal as its primary domestic source of energy. The combined reserves of hard and brown coals in this country are 705 million tons. About 50 million tons of coal is produced annually, making it the 14th biggest producer in the world. Soil degradation is an inevitable outcome of the coal production from sur- face coal mining procedures in the Czech Republic. Signifcant changes have taken place in soil produc- tivity, hydraulic characteristics, horizon, and texture as a result of soil pollution, bioturbation, compaction, and weathering. The current review has evaluated the A. Rouhani (*) · M. Hejcman  Department of Environment, Faculty of Environment, The University of Jan Evangelista in Ústí nad Labem (UJEP), Pasteurova 3632/15, 400 96 Usti nad Labem, Czech Republic e-mail: a.rohani70@gmail.com M. Hejcman  e-mail: Michal.Hejcman@ujep.cz M. Z. Gusiatin  Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-720 Olsztyn, Poland e-mail: mariusz.gusiatin@uwm.edu.pl