Study of geochemical features of soils on the territory of an abandoned coal mining area using geoinformation technologies.

Abstract

The article describes the results of a study of the geochemical features of soils on the territory of an abandoned mining area. The Kizel coal basin (Russia) is of particular interest for studying the consequences of technogenic and post-technogenic transformation of the natural environment. The study of the soil as a deposit medium made it possible to identify geochemical indicators of the negative impact. Such a detailed study of the distribution of chemical elements in this area was conducted for the first time. Geoinformation system and maps with interpolation were created to study the spatial distribution of metals and metalloids in soils. Umbric Retisols Abruptic and Haplic Retisols Abruptic soils are common in the territory. Sampling for geochemical testing was carried out from two horizons: humus and podzolic. Sampling from two depths made it possible to identify elements that continue to be contaminated at the time of the study. A total of 103 sample plots were established in the study area. The results obtained were compared with the background of the natural region of the Western Urals to identify the contribution of technogenesis. As a result, the coefficients of concentration and dispersion of chemical elements were calculated. Due to this, elements were identified, the accumulation of which occurs on the territory of the Kizelovsky coal basin. To identify the current and accumulated pollution, the ratio between the humus and podzolic horizons was calculated. As a result, it was found that at the moment in the humus horizon in some areas there is a high accumulation of Co, Mn, Ni and Sr. The geochemical series of the territory for the humus and podzolic horizons was obtained: Fe > Ti > Mn > Sr > Cr > V > Zn > Ni > Co > Pb > As. Data on the geochemical specificity of the territory of the Kizel coal basin have been obtained. The created geoinformation database reflects the physical and chemical properties of soils, metals and metalloids content, dispersion and accumulation coefficients, coefficients of the ratio of the humus and podzolic horizon. Based on it, it is possible to obtain data on the geochemical features of the territory, geoecological characteristics, spatial distribution of metals and metalloids and identification of pollution sources. Co (24 ± 2.8mg/kg), Mn (1100 ± 155mg/kg), Ni (69 ± 9.3mg/kg), As (10 ± 3.5mg/kg), Cr (178 ± 20mg/kg), Zn (80 ± 7.8mg/kg) and Sr (221 ± 26mg/kg) accumulate in the humus horizon. Co (24 ± 1.8mg/kg), Mn (1000 ± 103mg/kg), Ni (60 ± 6.4mg/kg) and Cr (153 ± 15.2mg/kg) accumulate in the podzolic horizon.