Abstract
Conventional reclamation interventions of post-smelting slag dumps being undertaken so far either failed or produced poor results. Certain lichens, especially of the genus Cladonia , are known as effective colonisers of bare ground in anthropogenic habitats. The paper presents preliminary results of the experiment aimed at the evaluation of lichen usefulness in reclamation interventions. The cultivation in vivo involving transplantation of lichens directly on slag substrate was established in 2015. Five species, i.e. Cladonia rei, C. cariosa, C. pyxidata, C. subulata, C. macilenta , were transplanted into 32 cuvettes filled with sterilised slag substrate. The sample weight of 2 and 6 g were used and half of cuvettes were regularly supplied with 2% malt solution. The first important symptoms at the present stage of the experiment are as follow: the growth of thalli has appeared only in the case of first three species; C. rei shows the most effective development; cuvettes with 6 g sample weight are characterized by higher coverage of fresh lichen thalli; lichen biomass are visually higher in cuvettes treated with malt solution. The results give us reason to believe that lichens could be successfully used as an alternative element during planning of slag dumps reclamation in the future.
Highlights
1.1 Environmental problems of post-industrial dumpsMining and heavy industry have substantially transformed the landscape and contaminated the environment
According to the origin and chemical properties, the dumps associated with the extraction of zinc and lead ores can be generally divided into three main types [1, 2]: postmining dumps which constitute a mixture of dolomites, limestone, clays, sands and gravels, post-flotation dumps with a flotation sludge and finely ground dolomite, and post-smelting dumps consisting of slag from blast and muffle furnaces composed of dolomite crumbs, sinter slag, coke residue, Pb-rich and Zn-rich wastes
It has been already postulated that the natural lichen cover should be taken into account when reclamation activities at post-smelting dumps are planned [9]. In relation to this problem, the purpose of our experiment is to evaluate the possibility of practical use of lichens in reclamation interventions aimed at accelerate the process of spontaneous regeneration of dumps
Summary
1.1 Environmental problems of post-industrial dumpsMining and heavy industry have substantially transformed the landscape and contaminated the environment. According to the origin and chemical properties, the dumps associated with the extraction of zinc and lead ores can be generally divided into three main types [1, 2]: postmining dumps which constitute a mixture of dolomites, limestone, clays, sands and gravels, post-flotation dumps with a flotation sludge and finely ground dolomite, and post-smelting dumps consisting of slag from blast and muffle furnaces composed of dolomite crumbs, sinter slag, coke residue, Pb-rich and Zn-rich wastes The latter dumps represent completely artificial environment characterised by extreme concentrations of toxic elements and highly adverse habitat conditions [1, 3]. Previous efforts toward natural compensation either failed or produced poor results in case of dangerously toxic slag dumps
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