Data on physico-chemical characteristics and elemental composition of gray forest soils (Greyzemic Phaeozems) in natural-technogenic landscapes of Moscow brown coal basin

Abstract

Waste rocks material and acid mine drainage (AMD) in sulfur coal mining areas of Moscow brown coal basin lead to significant transformation of landscape components (soils, surface, and groundwaters). Most of the abandoned sulfide-bearing spoil heaps have not been reclaimed and toxic products of their weathering cause the risk of long-term soil contamination. In this article, we report original data on some physico-chemical properties and elemental composition of liquid and solid soil phases, waste dumps and AMD from twо abandoned spoil heaps of the Moscow basin and adjacent territories (the Tula region, Central Russia). Soil samples were collected from each genetic horizon of soil depth profile at sites affected by waste dumps and mine subsidence, as well as at natural sites. Waste material was sampled from the different parts of the spoil heaps. Sampling of AMD was performed in technogenic reservoirs near waste dumps. In displaced liquid phases (by ethanol) from soils and waste dump material, natural superficial waters and AMD pH-value, electrical conductivity (EC), the content and composition of readily soluble salts (by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)), as well as titratable acidity (H+and Al3+) and, water-soluble Fe (using UV/Vis spectrophotometry) were measured. In bulk soil samples organic carbon (Corg), exchangeable cations (Cа2+, Mg2+, H+, Al3+ in KCl-extracts) and hydrolytic acidity (in CH3COONa-extracts) were determined. The obtained data can be used to understand the behavior of сhemical elements in soil profiles polluted by coal mining; the negative impact of mine wastes on soil salinity; when identifying pollution levels of potentially hazardous elements in soils affected by coal mining and for complex remediation of spoil heaps in Moscow brown coal basin.