Contaminant-reactive gabion and method of manufacture and use

Reactive gabion/geocomposite articles, and their methods of manufacture, for controlling contaminants in soil, sediment or water that allow the passage of essentially non-contaminated water therethrough. The articles and methods described herein utilize gabions, which are box shaped cages or grids (see FIG. ) made of either steel wire mesh or plastic. In one embodiment, the reactive geotextile mats are lined on the top major surface with a gabion cage or grid. In other embodiments, the cages or grids surround a geocomposite containing reactive material. The gabion/geocomposite articles can be constructed in-situ (at the site of deployment) or remotely (on land or barge) and set in place. They are typically placed side-by-side and, in a preferred embodiment, are configured to cover a target sediment area, underwater. The gabion/geocomposite articles may be filled with clean sediment, silt, sand and/or concrete block or rock to hold the reactive geocomposite in place and for armoring.