Soil Contamination at the Historical Zn-Pb Ore Mining Sites (Southern Poland)

U Aleksander-Kwaterczak,D Ciszewski

doi:10.1051/e3sconf/20130119001

Abstract

Results of metals analyses in soil profiles sampled at two 18/19 th century mine shafts of the Trzebinia lead-zinc ore mining region in southern Poland are presented. Waste dump sites located at these shafts exhibit initial pedogenesis with clear differences in zinc and cadmium content between soil horizons which changes in depth across each of the investigated dump. The highest metal concentrations occur in horizons containing excavated ore-bearing Triassic dolomites, soils buried beneath are less polluted whereas, initial A0 soil horizons are virtually unpolluted. Relatively low downward metal migration in profiles to the horizons underlying the dumps is related to alkaline pH of soils. Migration appear to be important in the more acidic soils of outer zones in the two dump sites overgrown either with coniferous and deciduous trees.

Highlights

The lead-zinc ore mining in Lgota at Trzebinia region in southern Poland is known since Middle ages the most intensive exploitation took place at the break of 18th and in the 19th century
Results of metals analyses in soil profiles sampled at two 18/19th century mine shafts of the Trzebinia lead-zinc ore mining region in southern Poland are presented
Waste dump sites located at these shafts exhibit initial pedogenesis with clear differences in zinc and cadmium content between soil horizons which changes in depth across each of the investigated dump

Summary

Introduction

The lead-zinc ore mining in Lgota at Trzebinia region in southern Poland is known since Middle ages the most intensive exploitation took place at the break of 18th and in the 19th century. Exploitation introduced far-reaching geomorphological changes to the environment because of numerous shallow shafts accompanied by several-meters high dumps of waste material surrounding each shaft. Old shafts form holes several meters deep and several tens of meters in diameter with a distinct bunding of rock overburden. About 400 of these forms in Lgota occupy the forested area of approximately 8 km. The paper describes variability of zinc and cadmium concentrations in soil profiles sampled from two dumps in this area

Materials and Methods

Findings

Conclusions