Rock Dumps Research Articles

Application of coal mining waste in civil and road construction

Aim: This study analyzes the potential for processing coal mining waste in civil and road construction. Materials and Methods. The research focused on rock dumps from eight mines in the Lugansk People’s Republic. According to current methods, samples of dump rock were collected and analyzed in the laboratory for various properties, including Al2O3 content (up to 22%), total sulfur (up to 4%) in rock samples of varying degrees of metamorphism, indicators of its plasticity, and radiation characteristics (up to 220 Bq/kg). Results. This study addresses the processing of rock dumps from coal mines in the Lugansk People’s Republic as a source of raw materials for building materials. A brief analysis of existing methods for obtaining various building materials from waste rocks was carried out. The laboratory tests on waste rock samples from several mines demonstrated their potential use in civil, industrial, and road construction. Conclusion. The research provides a detailed analysis of various indicators and properties of coal mining waste in the Lugansk People’s Republic, including specific effective activity and evaporation coefficient. Findings suggest that the waste rock can be effectively used as raw material in the construction industry, supporting the production of materials for industrial, civil, and road construction.

Geochemical characterization of waste rock dump and its potential to predict acid mine drainage

Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) is an environmental phenomenon that is being experienced by mining companies in Ghana. High levels of heavy metals have been reported in mining areas especially in Obuasi over the years; however, as to whether these heavy metals are being released from the mine wastes (waste rocks) is of concern. Therefore, this paper evaluates the potential of the abandoned Anyankyirem waste rock dump located in Obuasi to cause AMD. Twenty rock samples were collected from various locations of the dump site and their elemental and physicochemical compositions were examined. XRD analysis was conducted to assess the mineralogy of the samples. Acid Base Accounting (ABA) test was used to ascertain the AMD potential of the dump. The ABA test comprises calculating the Acid Neutralization Capacity (ANC) and Maximum Potential Acidity (MPA) of the various samples. The MPA and ANC values were used to compute the rock samples' Net Neutralization Potential (NNP). A column leaching test was carried out. Leachates were collected over a period of 20 weeks. From the column leaching experiment, the rate of weathering of calcium carbonate throughout the 20-week leaching experiment was 3.6 %. Leachates from the column test showed a circumneutral pH (7.1–8.0). The sulphate concentrations from the leachates decreased over the entire period from 96.60 to 3.70 mg/L. Iron recorded the highest concentration of 7783.65 mg kg-1 and the lowest of 0.645 mg kg-1 was recorded in Bi. From ABA test and the column leaching test results, Anyankyirem waste rock dump is not acid generating and therefore can serve as buffer for high pyrite waste rocks. However, significant levels of some heavy metals (As, Fe, Zn, Cr, Mn and Se) were recorded in the leachates even though the leachates’ pH were circumneutral. The results suggest that not only acidic conditions can leach out heavy metals.

Investigation of temperature and gas release in spontaneous fires at rock dumps

Investigation of temperature and gas release in spontaneous fires at rock dumps

Diagnostics of Acid Sulfate Soils in a Coal Mining Area of the Taiga Zone

Technogenic soils result from the oxidation and hydrolysis of minerals in rocks extracted from mining areas and brought to the surface. Diagnostics of such soils involve a set of detailed tests, which can be both time-consuming and costly. In this study, the pH of sulfate soils in the Kizel Coal Basin (Perm krai, Russia) was determined using hydrogen peroxide. Particularly, the soils affected by runoff from rock dumps, outflow, and mine water discharge were examined. The findings showed pH-H2O2 below 2.5 in certain horizons, indicating the presence of sulfides. Additionally, the soils exhibited significantly higher levels of mobile sulfur and iron, total sulfur, and sulfates, ranging from tens to hundreds of times above the background content. XRD analysis revealed that the soils contained goethite and jarosite, thereby confirming the efficacy of pH determination with hydrogen peroxide for the prompt diagnostics of acid sulfate soils.

Перспектива переработки отвальной породы угольных шахт с последующим применением в строительстве

Objective: research and justification of the prospects for processing waste rock from coal mines of the Lugansk People’s Republic with its further use in the construction industry. Methods: sampling of the dump rock was carried out, followed by laboratory resear ch: Al2O3 content (up to 22 %) and total sulfur (up to 4 %) in rock samples of varying degrees of metamorphism, indicators of its plasticity and radiation characteristics (up to 220 Bk/kg). Results: the issues of processing rock dumps from coal mines of the Lugansk People’s Republic as raw materials for the production of building materials are considered. A brief analysis of the currently existing methods for obtaining various building materials from waste rocks has been carried out. The laboratory data obtained, after studies of samples of waste rock from a number of mines, prove the possibility of using coal waste in civil, industrial and road construction. Practical importance: the research and detailed analysis of various indicators and properties of coal mining waste in the Lugansk People’s Republic, including specific effective activity and evaporation coefficient, make it possible to use waste rock as raw material in the construction industry in the production of materials for industrial, civil and road construction.

О классификации и обусловленности факторов самонагревания углепородного отвала Донбасса

A classification of self-heating factors of the Donbass coal dump and a schematic model of their interrelation-ships are proposed in relation to the analysis of search criteria and signs of a man-made coal-type object suit-able for long-term heat extraction. The presented classification makes it possible to distinguish between simple, complex and particularly complex, spatial, temporal and spatio-temporal, external and internal, accelerating and slowing factors of self-heating of dump masses, as well as to systematize the specified factors by the levels of their influence on the thermal state of coal rock dump. The classification is useful in establishing simultaneously acting dominant self-heating factors inherent in the warm, burning and extremely hot states of the coal dump. In the course of study, it was established that factors of self-heating are determined by the mining-geological, mining-technical and natural-climatic conditions of mining and also often mutually agreed. The greatest degree of mutual agreement is possessed by meso-level factors, which include the vital activity of thionic bacteria, oxidative reactions and unsolved heat of coal mining waste. The presented schematic model of the relationships and relationships of the self-heating factors will be useful for analyzing the thermal state of the dump and predicting the dynamics of the geological and ecological situation around the dump, potentially suitable for long-term heat extraction.

Assessment of the state of forest vegetation of waste dumps of coal mines in Ukraine

The aim of the work was to assess the current state of protective vegetation cover formed as a result of forest reclamation and natural overgrowth of all rock dumps of coal mines in Ukraine. The relevance of the research is conditioned by the important role of taking into account the degree of forest cover on the surface of dumps when assessing their ecological hazard to the environment. Forest plantations reduce the intensity of deflation and erosion of the surface of dumps, so the intensity of pollutants entering the adjacent territory is also sharply reduced. The main research method was the analysis of space images. The scientific novelty of the research results consists in the estimation of the average afforestation of the surface of dumps of the Lviv-Volynsky coal basin, Western and Central Donbass and in the established dependence of the afforestation of dumps slopes on their exposure and insolation coefficient proposed by the authors. Differences in afforestation of dumps of the above-mentioned basins (50.6%, 5.6% and 10.6%, respectively) testify both to the role of differences in climatic conditions and to the low level of dump reclamation in the Donetsk coal basin. Almost 1,900 ha or 79.5% of the dump surface in the north-eastern part of the Central Donbas is not forested and is a source of intensive environmental pollution. The afforestation of southern slopes in the Central Donbas is 4.7 times lower than that of northern slopes. However, a part of dumps is characterised by almost complete afforestation of southern slopes. This important fact proves the possibility of growing plantations under conditions of unstable moisture inherent in Donbas, even on such slopes. The practical significance of the work consists in the presented low-cost reclamation technology and the results of its use by the authors in forest reclamation of two rock dumps of PJSC ‘Lisichanskvugillia’. The given results of the survey of forest plantations more than 30 years after their creation by the authors prove the possibility of mass afforestation of rock dumps in Ukraine and, as a consequence, the reduction of the area of agricultural lands polluted by dumps and the intensity of their pollution.

The ecological and sanitary-hygienic assessment of the river systems located in the technogenic polluted zone of the Caucasus

The Caucasus is characterized by the large and at the same time increasing load from exploited metal and non-metallic mines. The sanitary-hygienic and toxic danger to people and the environment is quite high. There are 44 metal ores in the Syunik Region, and more than 90 non-metal deposits. In 2018, 12 metal and 29 non-metallic deposits were granted with the use rights for the purpose of mineral extraction. Also, geological survey permission was granted for 12 metal deposits. Currently, there are 12 operating and conserved tailings filled with about 400 million m3 of tailings, which are equipped with many heavy metals and other dangerous substances, as the result of the exploitation of the metal mines in Syunik. The present study focuses on the ecological assessment of the waters of the Voghji and the Khalaj Rivers that are located in the technogenic polluted zone of the Caucasus. The research revealed that along with the increase of the volumes of the Kapan-Qajaran copper-molybdenum mines, as well as the increase of the rock dumps and tailings, the organoleptic-chemical indicators of the waters of the Voghji and the Khalaj Rivers had increased. The quantity of the suspended particles and the heavy metals in the waters of these rivers had increased 1.5 and 2.0 times or by 58–100 % and 19.5 − 29.8 %, respectively, in the last 10 years. The trends are also observed in the values of the sulfates, the total dissolved salts, and the electrical conductivity, which are due to the chemical composition of the ores and the improper management of the acid drainage. The content of the heavy metals in the waters of the mentioned rivers is 9 − 20 times higher than the permissible limit density, and the degree of the mineralization is above the permissible limit. Thus, the waters of these rivers, after mixing with the effluent from the mining industry, are not guaranteed to be used for irrigation. Considering that the mobility of the heavy metals decreases several times in the alkaline environment (pH 8.5 − 9.0), it is recommended that the mining industry constantly adds lime (CaO) to the acid drainage of the mines so that the pH of the water become lower: from acid to alkaline (pH 8.5 − 9.0) and only after that, the water could be used for irrigation of the agricultural crops. This is possible for many types of heavy metals, including when using other wastewater treatment measures: engineering, physicochemical and biological.

The use of Groasis Waterboxx devices to improve mineland reclamation efforts by increasing transplant survival and growth of five native woody species

The reclamation of disturbed lands worldwide is a difficult and increasing problem. In the Mountain West region of the United States, mining activities commonly occur in zones dominated by native woody plants. The restoration of woody plants in these areas is challenging, and direct seeding efforts result in poor seedling emergence and establishment. Therefore, seedling transplants are often used, but they frequently experience high mortality during the first year, particularly due to summer stresses. We evaluated if the Groasis Waterboxx device could be used to mitigate drought stress on seedling transplants and improve their establishment on a reclaimed waste rock dump. The Waterboxx device collects precipitation into a polypropylene reservoir and slowly dispenses water onto the soil next to the seedling. To test such a hypothesis, 400 seedlings from five native woody plants (Atriplex canescens, Cercocarpus ledifolius, Pinus edulis, Purshia tridentata, and Rhus glabra) were planted with and without a Waterboxx. The Waterboxx device improved soil water potential, at 40 cm, it took 1 month longer to go below −1 MPa under a Waterboxx. Survival increased 30–65% in four of the five species, and seedling vigor increased for three of the five species. Vigor was higher with all plant species at both planting times and was significantly better in 50% of comparisons. Results support the use of the Waterboxx for improving seedling establishment on mineland overburden sites in the semiarid mountain west. The effectiveness of the Waterboxx device provides merit for future testing where drought challenges seedling establishment.

Prompt determination of predictive parameters for mining-technogenic landscape objects

The presented research is aimed at developing tools for quickly determining the geometric parameters of mining-technogenic landscape objects to solve various geotechnical and engineering problems, such as reclamation of lands disturbed by mining operations, as well as accumulated industrial waste utilization. The task of quickly determining the geometric parameters of the mining-technogenic landscape forms is proposed to be performed using the Blender software product for 3D-modeling and the Blender GIS Addon. The 3D models for mining-technogenic landscape objects have been constructed. In addition, the volumes of mined-out space at the granite quarry, the earth’s surface failure zone at the iron-ore mine and the mine waste rock dump have been determined. As a result, the values obtained were compared with actual data. It has been found that with the correct display of mining-technogenic landscape objects in the Google geospatial system, the proposed tools based on the Blender GIS Addon achieve high accuracy in determining parameters. The proposed method is predictive and cannot be independent, and it must be used in synthesis with surveying measurements of the parameters for mining-technogenic landscape objects and is a kind of a certain addition. However, it allows solving large-scale strategic problems in geoengineering.

The Plant Cover of Rock Dumps of the Cool Cut "Kholbol’dzhinsky" (Republic of Buryatia)

The technogenic vegetation of overburden dumps of the Kholboldzhinsky coal mine is considered, represented by one association, three communities, which belong to four 4 unions and orders of the classes Stellarietea mediae, Artemisietea vulgaris, Thero-Salicornietea. An indirect ordination analysis was performed using the principal component method, which made it possible to determine the leading environmental factors of differentiation of syntaxa: moisture and salinity richness.

Analysis of the results of studies of the thermal regime of natural and man-made kurums of the cryolithozone

The subject of research is natural and man-made kurums (blocky accumulations of rocks). The purpose of the work was to analyze the main literary sources, in which the results of research on the formation of the thermal regime of rock dumps (kurums) were published. The retrospective period of the research extends for more than 50 years. Domestic and foreign sources of information are considered. The most representative ones have been selected for analysis, in which the results of research with theoretical value and practical significance have been published. The analysis showed that on many important aspects of the formation of the thermal regime of natural and man-made kurums, all the authors of studies conducted in different regions and at different time periods, independently of each other, came to the same conclusions. This indicates the reliability and objectivity of the results obtained. An analytical review of scientific articles was used as a research method, in which research materials on the formation of the thermal regime of both the kurums themselves and their soil bases were published. The kurums of the permafrost and island permafrost zones are considered. An analytical review of literary sources containing theoretical and practical results of research on the formation of the thermal regime of natural and man-made kurums is carried out. The results of the analysis allow us to draw the following main conclusions. 1. Any types of natural and man-made kurums lead to progressive cooling of the base on which they are located. 2. When interacting with the rock base, the technogenic kurum works as an active thermal protection, changing its thermal resistance during the annual cycle. 3. When modeling the process of thermal interaction of technogenic kurum, it is quite acceptable to consider the kurum as a heat-protective layer, the thermal resistance of which depends on the effective coefficient of thermal conductivity, which changes its value when the sign of atmospheric air temperature changes. Based on the analysis of the results of the published works, conclusions are drawn about the possibility of a number of simplifications in the construction of computational models for forecasting and controlling the thermal regime of frozen bases of technogenic kurums.

Organization of processes for complex mining and processing of mineral raw materials from coal mines in the context of the concept of sustainable development

Purpose. The research purpose is to form the principles and procedures for developing an organizational concept of complex mining of minerals from coal mines using the example of a promising model of transition of the PJSC “DTEK Pavlohradvuhillia” mines to multi-product production of clean drinking water, utilization of methane, secondary coal from rock dumps and slurry reservoirs, low-grade thermal energy of mine groundwater and associated raw materials from desalination waste. Methods. The instrumental basis of the research is the methodology of the process approach to organizing multi-product activities of an enterprise. In addition, an integrated approach is used, including an analysis of existing experience and available complex coal mining and processing technologies. Findings. The paper presents the research results of the prerequisites for the development of innovative technological solutions related to the integrated use of mineral raw materials formed in the process of coal mining and processing. It has been revealed that at the present stage the technological, environmental and economic aspects of such innovations have been sufficiently developed, while the organizational issues regarding the balanced interaction of multi-product production units have poorly been studied. The necessity has been substantiated, as well as the content and sequence of actions have been determined for the development of an organizational concept of complex mining and processing of mineral raw materials in the conditions of PJSC “DTEK Pavlohradvuhillia”. Originality. The principles and procedures for developing an organizational concept of a multi-product enterprise, formed in the research process, provide further development of a methodological basis for searching and substantiating innovative solutions for complex mining of mineral resources from coal mines. They can be used to assess the efficiency and identify weaknesses in current processes for mining and utilization of coal, thermal energy, methane gas, groundwater, dry residue chemicals from desalination and coal mining waste, and to analyse and make changes to improve performance and reduce costs. Practical implications. The proposed complex of organizational solutions based on the process approach tools to ensure the effective implementation of a promising production model for mining and processing of mineral resources in PJSC “DTEK Pavlohradvuhillia” coal mines provides an opportunity to predict the results and develop development strategies based on various scenarios, analyze the interaction of various factors and their influence on the results of the production complex functioning, while reducing costs for experiments and testing of various production technologies.

Использование биологических рабочих агентов для снижения углеродного следа

Introduction. Chemical compounds related to greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, N2O, some fluorinated F-gases), capturing the energy of the Sun and absorbing infrared radiation, create a greenhouse effect above the Earth’s surface. In order to assess the impact of humanity on the climate system, the carbon footprint indicator is used, which takes into account greenhouse gas emissions from anthropogenic human activities. This indicator is used to estimate direct emissions from technological processes that can be controlled and from indirect emissions that occur during the product lifecycle. One of the promising areas for reducing greenhouse gases can be considered the use of biological working agents. The purpose of the research. Conducting an assessment of the possibilities of using biological working agents to reduce the carbon footprint in mining enterprises. Methodology. The research was conducted on the basis of analyses of literary data from Russian and foreign sources, specific preventive and compensatory initiatives for the absorption of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere based on the participation of biological working agents were considered. Results and discussion. As a result of the research, various technologies for reducing the carbon footprint using biological working agents were considered. Dependences of the carbon footprint on changes in the natural gas content of coal seams for coalmines were obtained. The carbon footprint was calculated when obtaining energy resources for the extraction of 1 ton of coal using various types of fuels, during the burning of rock dumps. It is proposed to use biological working agents to reduce the carbon footprint using various technologies to reduce direct and indirect emissions, as well as to recycle greenhouse gases to obtain alternative energy. The results of the study of the applicability of biological working agents in mining enterprises in order to reduce the carbon footprint are shown. Conclusions. 1. Research has been conducted on the use of various technologies to reduce the carbon footprint using biological working agents in relation to mining enterprises. 2. It has been determined that biological working agents, when used in mining enterprises, can reduce the carbon footprint from direct greenhouse gas emissions by many times, as well as deposit carbon for many years by extracting CO2 and other gases directly from the air, growing trees and plants with high biological productivity capable of sequestering carbon dioxide. 3. It has been found, that biological working agents are able to process CO2 to produce various useful products, as well as utilize greenhouse gases to produce alternative energy.

To the selection of technology parameters for the use of renewable energy sources on man-made disturbed lands

Renewable energy sources (RES) have become widely used in many developed countries of the world. In the article, the use of RES is considered using the example of wind energy installations (WEI). For industrial scale volumes of electricity produced, wind energy installations of large capacities and designs are used. To choose a rational design of windmills, a classification of windmills of existing designs is provided. Known foreign types of efficient wind generators are considered. Most often, wind energy installations are used in places with a strong wind flow. Wind energy installations with a horizontal axis of rotation are usually used in these areas. For example, information is given on one of the largest wind farms in Ukraine - the Botiivskyi wind farm, which consists of 65 wind energy installations with a horizontal axis of rotation. The practice of using windmills, despite the great benefits of their use, has significant drawbacks. This problem consists in deriving large plots of land for use and having an impact on the surrounding environment. This, in turn, leads to negative consequences for the ecology of these regions. In connection with this, there was a need to use wind energy installations on land plots that have been decommissioned in the conditions of Kryvbas. These include sparsely populated regions, wastelands, and decommissioned plots of land on which the facilities of mining enterprises are located. It has been proven that the placement of WEI with a vertical axis of rotation of medium power on overburden dumps has its own characteristics. For most of the territory of Ukraine, the average wind speed is 3-5 m/s, so the use of wind turbines with a vertical axis of rotation is more appropriate. The starting speed of such wind energy installation is 0.5 m/s, and at a wind speed of 3 m/s, wind energy installations can reach their nominal power. The paper analyzes the possibility of using wind energy installations on man-made disturbed lands, namely on open rock dumps, and recommends their design features. The calculation of the wind energy potential for vertical and horizontal wind energy installations in the conditions of the city of Kryvyi Rih was made. A comparison of the use of vertical and horizontal wind energy installations was made. The effectiveness of the use of wind energy installations with a vertical axis of rotation in the conditions of Kryvbas is shown.

Identifying sources of acid mine drainage and major hydrogeochemical processes in abandoned mine adits (Southeast Shaanxi, China).

Acid mine drainage (AMD) has resulted in significant risks to both human health and the environment of the Han River watershed. In this study, water and sediment samples from typical mine adits were selected to investigate the hydrogeochemical characteristics and assess the environmental impacts of AMD. The interactions between coexisting chemical factors, geochemical processes in the mine adit, and the causes of AMD formation are discussed based on statistical analysis, mineralogical analysis, and geochemical modeling. The results showed that the hydrochemical types of AMD consisted of SO4-Ca-Mg, SO4-Ca, and SO4-Mg, with low pH and extremely high concentrations of Fe and SO42-. The release behaviors of most heavy metals are controlled by the oxidation of sulfide minerals (mainly pyrite) and the dissolution/precipitation of secondary minerals. Along the AMD pathway in the adit, the species of Fe-hydroxy secondary minerals tend to initially increase and later decrease. The inverse model results indicated that (1) oxidative dissolution of sulfide minerals, (2) interconversion of Fe-hydroxy secondary minerals, (3) precipitation of gypsum, and (4) neutralization by calcite are the main geochemical reactions in the adit, and chlorite might be the major neutralizing mineral of AMD with calcite. Furthermore, there were two sources of AMD in abandoned mine adits: oxidation of pyrite within the adits and infiltration of AMD from the overlying waste rock dumps. The findings can provide deeper insight into hydrogeochemical processes and the formation of AMD contamination produced in abandoned mine adits under similar mining and hydrogeological conditions.

Needs and Options for Improving Gold Mining Waste Management Practices for Sustainable Development in Tanzania

The main objective of this study was to evaluate current mining waste management practices and their challenges. This study aimed to identify existing technologies and practices, and to present improvement needs and options for environmentally sustainable practices for mining operations. Other researchers have reported many practices and technologies for managing mining waste, but the efficiency, applicability, and need for customization were not specifically addressed for developing countries. This study used field observations, measurement methods, and laboratory analysis to collect data. This study showed a large amount of mine waste rock compared to the tailings wastewater from gold processing plant produced annually. This comprises approximately 5.2 million m3 of mine contaminated water generated by leaching from the waste rock dump (WRD) and 2.3 million m3 from the tailings storage facility (TSF). The study also identified the use of TSF cut-off trenches for seepage collection, the use of lime to treat acid mine drainage (AMD), the discharge of AMD into the TSF, and the recycling of TSF water as the best practices for managing mining waste. Furthermore, the study also found that the most common environmental problems were caused by TSF water and AMD water. However, mining waste management can be improved by modifying existing practices and adopting cost-effective technologies and practices to control and treat excess mining water.

MIGRATION OF HEAVY METALS FROM MINE WASTE ROCK DUMP END ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ON GROUNDWATERS AND SEDIMENTS

The environmental impact of mine waste rock dump, located in the region of Srednogorie, Bulgaria on groundwaters and sediments was studied. The acid mine drainage with low pH (2.43 - 3.53), high electrical conductivity (1500 - 4400 μS cm-1), content of Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Al, As and high concentration of sulfates (540 - 6905 mg L-1) are formed after heavy rainfall. The content of heavy metals, except manganese, in groundwater was significantly lower than that in the acid mine drainage, and the pH was in the range of 5.43 to 6.62. Sediments in the non-consequential vicinity of the mine waste rock dump had a pH in the range of 2.86 - 4.53 and contained heavy metals and As at concentrations higher than those in the mineral waste due to precipitation, co-precipitation and sorption reactions. An increase in the copper and zinc content in the exchangeable and organic matter fractions was found in the sediment sample. A relationship was found between arsenic and iron concentration in the sediments, which was mainly due to the retention of arsenic in the Fe and Mn oxides fraction. The concentration of total Mn in the sediments was lower than that in the mining waste due to the high mobility of manganese.

Fruiting characteristics of fungi of the genus Suillus in the artificial pine plantations of the Kedrovsky coal mine dump (Kemerovo region)

The study discusses the fruiting of fungi of the genus Suillus in artificial plantations of Pinus sylvestris L. on the rock dump at the Kedrovsky coal mine (experimental site) and in the pine forests of the Kuzbass Botanical Garden (control site), located on the territory of Kemerovo. The pine plantations at the experimental sites were distributed according to the degree of forest canopy closure. Three sites with different crown closure were identified: sparse closure (20–30%), moderate closure (50–60%), and high closure (80–90%). Within each site, three zones of crown projection were assigned (sub-crown, near-crown, and external). Field studies were carried out during the summer and autumn of 2019. Two species of macromycetes of the genus Suillus are found on the studied sites: Suillus granulatus (L.) Roussel and Suillus luteus (L.) Roussel. Mushrooms growing in pine plantations on reclaimed overburden dumps start fruiting earlier with longer fruiting than that in pine forests on zonal soils. The highest yields of mushrooms are found in pine stands with sparse closure. In the projection of the tree crown, the number of Suillus fungi increases in the direction from the trunk of the tree to the periphery of the crown and beyond (in sparse closures).

Dynamics of microorganism population in the soil of pine plantations under technogenic load

The degree of crown closure is an important parameter of tree plantations that determines the environmental conditions for all organisms in the ecosystem. Studies assess the effect of the degree of crown closure on the microorganism dynamics in the rock dump soil with and without a potentially fertile layer. It was found that the amount of soil microorganisms varies significantly during the period, which is associated with variations in the hydrothermal conditions of the soil. The activity of microorganisms decomposing mineral nitrogen and microscopic fungi varies depending on the degree of crown closure.