On the left is a typical long parallel overburden spoil piles produced by dragline operation in a Central Queensland open cut coal mine[2] and a close-up view of the spoil-piles that can reach 50 to 60 m high [1].

<p>Note that the working pit (left photo) is flanked by the high wall on one side and fresh spoil piles on the other side.</p

Storm event erosion rates (t/ha) from Curragh sandstone overburdens at a slope of 60% and a slope length of 60 m under different consolidation and vegetation cover.

<p>The average recurrence intervals used was for the Emerald region of central Queensland.</p

The flowchart of MINErosion 2 and 3.4 models.

<p>The flowchart of MINErosion 2 and 3.4 models.</p

Comparison of predicted and measured annual soil loss using MINErosion 3 from three field trials in Central Queensland.

<p>Data for Curragh is an average of 6 years and Oakey Creek is an average of 4 years [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0194230#pone.0194230.ref003" target="_blank">3</a>] and the data for Kidston is for one year only (bare soil and vegetated plots of 3 and 9 years).</p

The selected storm events for spoil’s covered plots used to validate MINErosion 3.1.

<p>[<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0194230#pone.0194230.ref025" target="_blank">25</a>]. Treatments were SpBa: Bare plots covered with spoil; SpTr: Plots covered with spoil and with trees as a vegetation cover; SpPa: Plots covered with spoil and with pastures as a vegetation cover, S %: Slope %.</p

Effect of consolidation on decreasing soil erodibility (K_MUSLE).

<p>Consolidation were a result of repeated wetting and drying and the presence of roots but not the above ground vegetation. (adapted from [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0194230#pone.0194230.ref017" target="_blank">17</a>, <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0194230#pone.0194230.ref018" target="_blank">18</a>]).</p

The selected storm events for soil’s covered plots used to validate MINErosion 3.1.

<p>[<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0194230#pone.0194230.ref025" target="_blank">25</a>] Treatments were SoBa: Bare plots covered with soil; SoTr: Plots covered with soil and with trees as a vegetation cover; SoPa: Plots covered with soil and with pastures as a vegetation cover, S %: slope %.</p

Relative soil loss as affected by vegetation type (tussocky Rhodes vs stoloniferous Sabi grasses) [13].

<p>Relative soil loss as affected by vegetation type (tussocky Rhodes vs stoloniferous Sabi grasses) [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0194230#pone.0194230.ref013" target="_blank">13</a>].</p

Predicted annual erosion rates for a rehabilitated and vegetated postmining hillslope covered with Curragh soil.

<p>Vegetation options are tussocky or stoloniferous grasses. Shaded cells have less than 12.5 t/ha/y.</p

The experimental plots at Curragh mine [20].

<p>The experimental plots at Curragh mine [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0194230#pone.0194230.ref020" target="_blank">20</a>].</p