The objective of this work was to propose a procedure to fabricate topsoils from coal mine wastes. It comprises the following steps: gravity processing, comminution and classification, amendments (pH adjustment and addition of active organic matter), soil analysis, and plant growth (macro- and micro-nutrients and metals concentration). Validation was conducted with a coal mine waste amended with steel slag and sewage sludge, which was successfully applied for Sorghum bicolor growth. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.