Abstract
In this work inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) method was used to determine content of harmful to human health heavy elements such as As, Cd, Cr, Pb, Th, U, and other essential elements Zn, Cu, Ni in soil samples collected around fence of two largest in Asia copper (Oyu Tolgoi) and coal (Tavan Tolgoi) deposits. The analyses revealed average content of arsenic in the examined soil samples is exceeding 1.4 times the maximum permissible limit. It is consistent with many previous studies emphasizing on a high occurrence of arsenic in soils, well waters of North and Central Mongolia. But the contents of copper in soil samples collected from three leeward locations of the copper mine Oyu Tolgoi are up to 2.18 times higher than the maximum permitted content established by the government standard of Mongolia. The contents of Cd, Ni, Pb, U, and Zn in soil probes collected from leeward locations of Ukhaa Khudag open pit mine of Tavan Tolgoi coal deposit are higher than that of in probes collected from the windward side of that by factor ranging from 1.34 to 1.64. These facts indicate possible transport and spread of heavy elements by wind from these intense operating open pit mines into adjacent dry and windy deserted region of Mongolia.
Highlights
Since mining is a major industry in the economy of Mongolia, it is very important to monitor negative influences of mining industry on environment, inhabitant, living creatures and society
In the past decade, mining industry intensively developed in Umnugobi province of Mongolia, where located biggest in Asia Oyu Tolgoi and Tavan Tolgoi mines
Soil samples were collected from 20 locations positioned on the outer perimeters of the fences of Oyu Tolgoi mining, and Ukhaa Hudag open pit mine of the Tavan Tolgoi deposit, and from two locations situated in 20 km away from these deposits
Summary
Since mining is a major industry in the economy of Mongolia, it is very important to monitor negative influences of mining industry on environment, inhabitant, living creatures and society. In framework of the “Oyu Tolgoi mining project”, Updated Assessment of the Impact on the Environment carried out regularly to determine a content of lead, copper, zinc, cadmium, nickel, and iron in soils around of Oyu Tolgoi mining deposit [4]. According to this assessment, the content of copper and lead in soils around of Oyu Tolgoi mining are one level higher than their contents in soils of the capital city Ulaanbaatar and municipal center of Umnugobi province – the Dalanzadgad town. This work dedicated to the investigation of arsenic and heavy metal contamination of soils in surrounding area of Oyu Tolgoi and Tavan Tolgoi minings
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