Technogenic Soils Research Articles

Reduction of negative impact on the geoenvironment using silica sol in road construction

Consumption and pollution of natural resources must be constantly compensated by their conservation, saving and restoration to create a balance in the ecosystem between man and nature. To solve this problem any construction process must be accompanied by geoecoprotective measures. The authors of the article suggest to use silica sol in the soils stabilization and reinforcement technology. Silica sol is a pure mineral product that has binding properties and neutralizing properties against some pollutants. This makes it suitable for soils reinforcement and also soils neutralization from pollutants such as heavy metals ions. The stabilization technology using technogenic soils and silica sol will conserve natural resources, improves the soil strength properties and neutralize them from pollutants.

Composition, state and properties of the dikes’ technogenic soils of the Baikal PPM sludge collectors

The composition, state and properties of the dispersed technogenic soils of the sludge collectors’ dikes at the Baikal pulp and paper mill (BPPM) have been studied using standard and specific methods. As a result, a specific technogenic formation has been defined, i.e. clayey pulverescent sands. The sands have been studied for the first time, the study concerning the sands’ chemical and microelement composition and the toxicant pollution degree. It has been found that the sands are potentially running, have low plasticity due to the joint influence of the clayey and pulverescent fractions, and a capacity for physical-chemical activity. The examined wells have practically no dangerous zones of fluid consistency.

Динаміка регуляторних екосистемних сервісів протягом техногенного ґрунтогенезу в техноземах Нікопольського марганцеворудного басейну

Динаміка регуляторних екосистемних сервісів протягом техногенного ґрунтогенезу в техноземах Нікопольського марганцеворудного басейну

Dye Tracer Visualization of Infiltration Patterns in Soils on Relict Charcoal Hearths

Anthropogenically modified soils are often characterized by a high heterogeneity of substrates and show unique patterns of water infiltration. Such effects are not limited to intensively used or disturbed agricultural and technogenic soils, but can also occur as legacies of former land use in forested areas. The remains of historic charcoal hearths represent a widespread legacy of historic land use. Soils at relict charcoal hearths (RCHs) are most prominently altered by the deposition of a layer of charcoal-rich substrate on top of the natural soil surface. The presence of such a technogenic layer can considerably influence infiltration and soil wetness patterns on the sites. This study describes the spatial patterns of infiltration and soil wetness at charcoal hearth sites compared with undisturbed sandy forest soils for a historic charcoal production area north of Cottbus, Germany. We characterized six plots on RCH and reference soils under pine, oak and mixed forest by visualizing preferential flow patterns of infiltrating water in dye tracer experiments. Additionally, we characterized bulk density, soil organic matter contents and water repellency, using water drop penetration time (wdpt) tests, of the RCH and reference soil horizons. The results reflect that the persistence of water repellency of both the technogenic substrates and the natural topsoils is extremely high under dry conditions, but is drastically reduced after wet antecedent conditions. The dye tracer experiments reflect increased preferential flow on the RCHs for dry soil conditions, for which infiltration is limited to very few flow paths in the technogenic substrate layer. Differences between RCH and reference soils are less clear for higher antecedent soil wetness, for which the results indicate more uniform wetting of the technogenic substrates. We conclude that the structural properties of the additional technogenic substrate layer of RCHs have characteristic effects on water infiltration, causing a high temporal variation of preferential flow in relation to antecedent soil moisture conditions. These effects can result in high heterogeneity of soil moisture for dry conditions, and generally in a high temporal variation of soil wetness in RCHs soils.

Mobile fractions of heavy metals in the soils of Kuzbass (Western Siberia)

Kuzbass is an industrial conglomerate of the Western Siberia with a developed coal mining industry, which creates a powerful techno-genic impact on the components of the environment, in particular, on the soil cover. This study considers the ecological state of soil ecosystems (natural and techno-genic), associated with the coal industries facilities in the Kuzbass. Comparative characteristics of the content of mobile fractions of heavy metals (HM) (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Mn, Ni, Co, Cr) in soils of natural and man-made landscapes are given. It has been established that the degree of the mobile fractions of heavy metals in soils of the natural ecosystems is determined by coarseness of grading, oxidation reduction potential (ORP), acidbase properties, organic matter content. Unlike natural soils, the abiotic conditions of soil formation (mineralogical composition, the ratio of coarse earth and fine earth in the soil mass) and the degree of severity of organic-accumulative processes are main factors that determine level content of the mobile fractions of heavy metals in the soils of the techno-genic systems. A comparative assessment of the inactivating ability of soils with respect to pollutants was carried out. It is established that the soils of the natural and techno-genic ecosystems with respect to heavy metals are characterized by different buffer capacity. The soils of techno-genic landscapes have smaller indicators of inactivating ability. Among the techno-genic soils, the minimum values of the buffer capacity are noted for the initial embryo earth. The information obtained can be used in the monitoring research to monitor the level of the man-caused impact on soil ecosystems in Kuzbass and to prevent negative processes in land use.

The Ecological Functions and Ecosystem Services of Urban and Technogenic Soils: from Theory to Practice (A Review)

A review of Russian and foreign approaches to analyze and assess the ecological and socioeconomic role of urban and technogenic soils is made in the context of the two popular concepts: the ecological functions of soils and ecosystem services. The modern definitions, classification, and evaluation of ecosystem services and their relationships with soil functions are considered both in general and in relation to urban and technogenic soils. Despite some methodological differences, the work shows that the concepts are closely related, and their joint use is highly promising. Three practical examples for the cities of Moscow, Hangzhou, and Hong Kong show a consistent transition from the analysis of soil properties and functions to the assessment of ecosystem services and decision making in engineering, urban improvement, and sustainable urban development.

Ecological–Geochemical Studies of Technogenic Soils in the Flood Plain Landscapes of the Seversky Donets, Lower Don Basin

Abstract—The paper presents the ecological-geochemical studies of soils confined to the impact zone of industrial waste water storage and sludge reservoirs of former Lake Atamanskoe in the Seversky Donets River flood plain. These soils show hundreds time increase of Zn, tens times increase of Cu and Pb, and few times increase of Cu, Ni, and Cr as compared to the average lithosphere values. The coefficients of technogenic concentration of elements (Kc) and the total indicator of soil pollution (Zc) are calculated. In terms of Zc, the studied soils are ascribed to the extremely dangerous category of pollution. Using predominant pollutant metal, Zn, as an example, it is shown that an increase in the metal pollution level of soil leads to a change of interaction mechanism with organic matter and Fe oxides, and, subsequently, to the prevalence of Zn forms loosely bound with the given components. The metal is mainly confined to the silicate-related fraction, which is confirmed by the mineralogical study and chemical fractionation. Owing to the limitation period and long duration of pollution, the mineral phase of technogenically polluted soils revealed the high degree of transformation changes, which led to the formation of authigenic minerals, mainly sulfates.

Qualitative assessment of souls in technogenic landscapes of Gorlovskiy anthracitous deposit

The paper highlights the results of Morphological studies of soils formed on the outer 30year dumps of overburden and host rocks of the Gorlovskiy deposit and leached chernozem soil. The authors found out that soil covering contains initial, organic accumulative and sod types of embryosimes. Comparative morphological characteristics of soils indicates differences between chernozems and technogenic landscape soils. The results show that soil formation increases concentration of pedogenic organic matter in the soils which is almost equal to that in the black soil. The paper represents qualitative assessment of the soils. The authors calculate the index of specific features which reveals significant differences in the contribution to total variation of different soil properties. The article shows that embryosimes formed on loose sediments are the most fertile. It is established that the level of quality value in rocky soils is determined by concentration of physical clay; in the soils formed on loose rocks it is explained by humus concentration.. The ecosystem is not in a meta-stable climax state; it is developing dynamically, being at the stage of forming sod embryosimes. Therefore, the soil and environmental condition of tailings is satisfactory, as the embryosimes have not been formed after 31 years later the initial phase of technogenesis started. Humus accumulating embryosimes are expected to be formed in the soil covering as well as dry steppe souls on technogenic eluvium and neogenic clays.

Assessment of the Antioxidant Potential of Plants in Urban Ecosystems under Conditions of Anthropogenic Pollution of Soils

The leaves of 22 woody and herbaceous plant species growing in urban ecosystems of Kalinigrad were analyzed for the total contents of water-soluble antioxidants (TAC) and polyphenol contents. The soils of test plots were assayed for lead contents in the accumulative horizon. A significant excess over the background Pb level was revealed in soil samples from residential and industrial/utility areas (42% of the city territory), and TAC in plant tissues was found to decrease with an increase in Pb concentration in the soil. The role of polyphenols in forming the antioxidant potential of urban plants growing under conditions of technogenic soil pollution was evaluated. Based on cluster analysis of the water-soluble antioxidant and polyphenol accumulation patterns, the plants were classified into four groups. The results of this study may be used for comprehensive assessment of the resilience of urban plants to anthropogenic impact and improvement of the approaches and methods for monitoring industrial pollution in urban areas.

Monitoring of Soil Contamination by Heavy Metals in the Impact Zone of Copper-Nickel Smelter on the Kola Peninsula

The results of landscape monitoring of the concentrations of acid-extractable Ni, Cu, Co, Mn, and Zn in soils of the local impact zone of the Severonikel industrial complex on the Kola Peninsula are discussed. The aim of monitoring studies was to reveal the spatial and temporal regularities of variation in the degree of soil contamination by heavy metals. In 2001–2011, the concentrations of acid-extractable compounds of the elements in the upper part of organic soil horizons around this plant exceeded their background concentrations by two orders of magnitude for Cu and Co and by three orders of magnitude for Ni. The degree of topsoil contamination with Ni, Cu, and Co generally corresponded to the distance of the plots from the contamination source and to the modern technogenic load. However, because of the long period of the emissions, their extreme amounts, and complex composition, indirect factors—the degree of technogenic soil degradation, the loss of soil organic matter, saturation of the surface soil layers by the contaminating metals, and competitive relationships between the elements—also affect soil contamination level. The concentrations of all the studied metals in the topsoil are characterized by considerable (1.5 to 7 times) variability in their long-term dynamics. The most important factors of this variability for Ni, Cu, and Co are the organic matter content of the samples and the amount of atmospheric precipitation in the year preceding the sampling. An inverse relationship between element concentrations in the soils and the amount of atmospheric precipitation attests to the dynamic nature and reversible character of the accumulation of heavy metals in the soils.

Biological parameters in technogenic soils of a former sulphur mine

AbstractThis study was conducted on the soils originating from a reclamation area of the former sulphur mine in Tarnobrzeg, Poland. Soil was sampled 16 years after the completion of mining works with the open-pit method at Machów, as well as 7 years after sulphur mining via the ‘smelting’ method in the Jeziórko mine was abandoned. Several biological parameters were examined: soil respiration, soil microbial biomass and the activity of rhodanese and arylsulphatase enzymes taking part in sulphur transformation within the site’s soils. The soils showed a high total sulphur and sulphates content. The SO42-constituted a large fraction of total sulphur, in some cases, exceeding 80% or even 95% of total sulphur. The soil pH decreased due to the degrading effects of sulphur mining. In the soils studied from the locations with the lowest soil pH value, no activity of arylsulphatase was reported and the activity of rhodanese was lowest. The highest soil respiration values were recorded from the 0-5 cm layer in the areas covered with forest vegetation. A high soil respiration value at the waste heap at Machów wherein a very high concentration of Stot and SO42-was observed can be due to the ability of fungi to produce hyphal strands and to survive unfavourable conditions.

Geochemistry and mineralogy of technogenic soils developed on old mine heaps of abandoned iron ore mines in the Ławęczna area (Holy Cross Mountains, south-central Poland)

Abstract The article presents the results of preliminary geochemical and mineralogical studies of technogenic soils (Technosols) of abandoned iron ore mines on the Ławęczna Hill near Miedziana Góra in the Holy Cross (Świętokrzyskie) Mountains, southcentral Poland. The results of chemical analyses (XRF) were used to calculate the soil enrichment factors of arsenic, copper, iron, lead and zinc, and compare the element concentrations to their levels in uncontaminated soils across Poland and in the city of Kielce. The highest values of soil enrichment factors of metals (As 27.699, Ni 26.455, Cu 9.353, Zn 3.344, Pb 0.62) were recorded for the sand fraction composed of iron oxyhydroxides and hematite, whereas the lowest (Ni 0.22, Cu 0.069, Zn 0.007, Pb 0.028) for the clay–silt and sand fractions, which were primarily composed of calcite and quartz as well as for gravel fraction. The clay-silt fraction shows the highest enrichment in arsenic (27.69). The examined metals and arsenic show positive geochemical anomalies.

Indicators of pedogenesis of Technosols developed in an ash settling pond at the Bełchatów thermal power station (central Poland)

Abstract Technogenic soils (Technosols) developed in an ash settling pond at the Bełchatów thermal power station, central Poland, were studied in order to identify soil property transformations over 30 years of pedogenesis. Standard pedological methods were applied in order to determine the properties of the studied samples. All investigated soils were classified according to WRB as Spolic Technosols with various supplementary qualifiers (Alcalic/Hypereutric, Arenic/Loamic, Protocalcic, Hyperartefactic, Immisic, Laxic, Ochric, and Protosalic). The studied materials can be arranged into a chronosequence starting from fresh (unweathered) ashes, by young Technosol BE1 (age: several months), up to older Technosols BE2 (about 20 years) and BE3 (about 30 years). The studies showed that weathering and soil-forming processes changed properties of ash in soil environment. Fresh ash was characterized by high pH (11.0 – fly ash, 8.7 – bottom ash), low content of carbonates (1.5% in both samples), variable concentrations of TOC (1.2% – fly ash, 6.9% – bottom ash), and very low total nitrogen content (0.04%). Electrical conductivity (ECe) was 2.6 and 2.1 dS·m−1 in fly ash and bottom ash respectively. Young Technosol BE1 had the pH 9.2–10.0, contents of carbonates were in the range 2.4–3.3%, TOC 1.3–1.7%, and total nitrogen less than 0.03%. ECe in young Technosol was in the range 2.7–4.0 dS·m−1. There was no plant cover present on that soil and no well-developed genetic horizons were distinguished in the profile. Finally, old Technosols BE2 and BE3 had lower pH (from 7.9 up to 9.1), and, in general, higher contents of carbonates (from 1.5 to 7.9%) than fresh ash and young Technosol BE1. Old Technosols contained high concentrations of TOC (up to about 38% in Oi horizon) and total nitrogen (up to 0.9%) in the topsoil, where O and A horizons developed due to accumulation of soil organic matter. ECe in old Technosols was in the range 0.8–1.5 dS·m−1. All studied ashes and soils were characterized by very low or even absence of total potential acidity. Base cations predominated in the sorption complex of the investigated ash and soils and can be arranged in the following order according to the abundance: Ca>Mg>K>Na. Base saturation (BS) of fresh ashes and Technosols was nearly 100%. The study shows that the first indicators of pedogenesis of the studied technogenic soils within the first 30 years of formation are: (1) changes of consistence of ash material from firm to friable/very friable due to root action, (2) accumulation of soil organic matter in the topsoil and formation of O and A horizons, (3) decrease of pH, (4) formation of pedogenic carbonates in soils and (5) decrease in soil salinity.

Suitability of soils developed on the basis of black coal ash as a forest habitat

The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness as a forest habitat, the technogenic soils developed by applying overlays containing organic matter in the waste substances, onto the layer of black coal ash. Properties of these soils, located in the power plant “Dolna Odra” in Nowe Czarnowo (West-Pomeranian province), were studied in 2015, i.e. 13 years after founding the experiment upon the use of waste materials in soilless land reclamation. Analysis required samples from the ash overlays and bottoms of the soils, in which applying methods commonly used in soil science, following properties were determined to enable calculation of the indicators used in the evaluation: forest soil trophism index (FSTI), soil site index (SSI), and mine soil quality index (MSQI). Values of FSTI allowed for classify studied soils as forest habitats, values of SSI as mixed forests and forest habitats, and values of MSQI as mixed forest habitats.

Issues related to classification of garden soils from the urban area of Toruń, Poland

ABSTRACT Nowadays, the city area of Toruń is dominated by anthropogenic and technogenic soils – developed by humans or significantly altered, mainly disturbed in terms of morphology and chemical and physical properties. This study is a continuation of research on the soil cover of the city. The aim of the presented study is to assess extent of garden soils in the city and characterize its properties on the base of five soil profiles in four exemplary gardens in Toruń and evaluate if they meet the classification criteria for Hortic Anthrosols according to World Reference Base (WRB) for Soil Resources. Within the administrative boundaries of the city, 66 allotment gardens are located which totally cover an area of more than 300 ha. They occupy 3% of the city area. None of the studied mineral surface horizons meets the criteria for hortic horizon according to WRB 2015, due to too low phosphorus content. Other hortic criteria were fulfilled. The research on classification issues of garden soils should be continued on larger scale to evaluate if WRB criteria are not too strict taking into account the features of most typical, few decade-old garden soils.

Assessment of tree vitality, biomass and morphology of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) root systems growing on reclaimed landfill waste after zinc and lead flotation

Abstract The stability of introduced stands depends not only on aboveground but also on the belowground biomass. Results from reclaimed sites often indicate good growth of the aboveground part of stands, but data on the development of root systems are still lacking. Our aim was to assess the vitality of trees, their biomass and the morphology of the root systems of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) introduced on reclaimed landfill waste after zinc and lead flotation in Bukowno (southern Poland). The landfill site was reclaimed 20 years ago and reclamation treatments involved isolation and covering with mineral substrate layers (110–150 cm thickness) which formed a technogenic soil profile. Four research plots (10 m × 10 m) were set up in pure pine stands where soil profiles consisted entirely of flotation waste. Trees on the plots were assayed according to the Kraft and IUFRO classification system. In total, 15 trees of average growth parameters and bio-sociological position (I and II Kraft class) were selected for biomass and root system analyses and the root systems were excavated, washed, measured, weighed and photographed. Our results support pine as a useful species in reforestation of post-mining areas. However, although pine trees were characterised by good vitality, their root systems were shallow and their depth reduced by up to 60 cm due to strong skeletal loamy substrate. Individual root biomass ranged from 1.2 to 9.1 kg and was comparable to pine root biomass on other reclaimed mining sites. This indicates that during restoration, the thickness of the substrate covering the flotation waste should be increased or the amount of skeletal substrate in the top layers of technosol reduced.

Technogenic soils (Technosols) developed from fly ash and bottom ash from thermal power stations combusting bituminous coal and lignite. Part II. Mineral transformations and soil evolution

Fly ash and bottom ash from thermal power stations are industrial wastes which are susceptible to weathering in the environment. First manifestations of transformations occur immediately after deposition of ashes in a disposal site and they continue in technogenic soils (Technosols) developing from the ashes on surfaces of such sites. Technosols developed from bituminous coal and lignite ashes in Poland were studied in order (a) to identify the most important mineral transformations during the first several decades of soil development, and (b) to discuss the evolution of these soils. Mineral transformations can serve as good indicators of pedogenesis in the studied Technosols. Quantitative X-ray diffraction analyses, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, optical microscopy, and scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive spectroscopy studies showed that the mineral transformations proceeded more dynamically in Technosols developed from lignite ashes, whereas they were less expressed in soils formed from bituminous coal ashes. Technosols developed from bituminous coal ashes contained mineral phases inherited from ashes (aluminosilicate glass, mullite, quartz, magnetite, hematite, and traces of maghemite and barite) as predominating constituents. Small contents of pedogenic calcite, iron oxyhydroxides, and most likely short-range order Si- and Al-containing phases originated within ~60years of pedogenesis. Technosols developed from lignite ashes contained aluminosilicate glass, quartz, hematite inherited from fly ash, as well as a variety of secondary minerals (vaterite, calcite, bassanite, gypsum, ettringite, hydrotalcite, and brucite) which were formed as an effect of rapid mineral transformations after ash deposition. After about 40years, pedogenesis (accelerated by reclamation and a few years of intense cultivation) led to the formation of a new mineral assemblage with the predomination of calcite, gypsum, and hydrotalcite. A concept of evolution of the studied Technosols comprising four stages of evolution was proposed: I – formation of ash during combustion of fuel (coal or lignite) in a thermal power station, II – transport and deposition of ash in a disposal site accompanied by the first weathering alterations, III – early pedogenesis, and IV – further (predicted) evolution.

Assessment of the ecological risk of technogenic soil pollution on the basis of the statistical distribution of the occurrence of micromycete species

A methodology of substantiating the ecological risk of technogenic soil pollution has been described according to the results of bioindication using microfungal communities. At the first state, the values of the factors under which the frequency of each species is maximal were estimated using ordination methods. The statistical distribution of the species sensitivity was simulated according to these data. The methodology was illustrated using the results of analysis of the toxicity of soil samples from uranium mine dumps (the village of Kadzhi-Sai, Kyrgyzstan). The preliminary estimates of the critical values of six soil pollution indices that provide the defined allowable probability of the ecological risk have been given.

Особенности изменения гранулометрического состава мело-мергельных техногенных субстратов в районе Курской магнитной аномалии

As a result of mining of minerals by open method, formation of technogenic broken lands takes place. In the sediments of iron ore mines of Kursk magnetic anomaly (KMA), about 60-80 % of overburden rocks are sands and chalk. These rocks during mining and stripping operations is transported and stacked in piles. Chalk and chalk-marly rocks of KMA are extremely unfavorable on water-physical and agrochemical properties for growing woody and shrub vegetation. One of the ways to increase forest potential of edaphotopic layer of chalk and chalk-marly piles is formation of technogenic substrates by applying and blending chalk-marl with a variety of more fertile reclamation layers of varying thickness. Granulometric composition of technogenic substrates is an important genetic and isotopologues characteristic of habitat conditions of plants. The object of the study was reclaimed in 1974, chalk-marl phosphorite Schigrovsky mine, Kursk region. Particle size distribution was determined by pipette method by Kaczynski. Positive changes of granulometric composition of technogenic substrates on reclaimed area at the time of establishment and after 40 years of growth on them of forest plantations are shown. Application of drainage layer from 10 to 50 cm promotes the formation of lighter granulometric composition of technogenic soil. Over the 40 year period in the embodiments, when applying a layer of sandy deposits, technogenic substrate is transferred from the category of light clay to sandy loam, clay loam layer from the category of light clay to medium loam, and when applying the layer of humus soil in medium loam and sandy loam.

THE COMPARATIVE CHARACTERISTIC OF MYCOLOGICAL STRUCTURE OF TECHNOGENIC TERRITORIES OF SULFURIC QUARRIES IN LVIV REGION

The largest technogenic territories in Western Ukraine were formed during mining of native sulfur in the Carpathian sulfur pool. Posttechnogenic landscapes have appeared on site of mining complexes. Mining was accompanied by a number of negative environmental consequences: pollution hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, sulfur dust; withdrawal from economic use of thousands of hectares of land; discharging mineral waters into rivers; depletion of drinking water; activation of karst processes; landslides near settlements; flooding, accumulation of waste. Therefore, after the close of quarry the main task was to eliminate existing negative processes in this area and restore degraded lands, by technical and biological reclamation. This scheme of dumps reclamation system is the basis for phytomeliorative activities for landscaping areas and improves soil fertility. So, our study aims at conducting a comparative analysis of the impact of generated in different parts technogenic soils of mycological complexes on reproduction of devastated land within Podorozhne, Yavoriv and Novoyavoriv sulfur quarries. Our study has revealed that soil fungal complexes actively interact with roots of higher plants, bacteria, and help speed up the process of destruction of organic matter in the surface layers of technogenic soils, contributing to strengthening the stability of plant communities to the impact of various negative factors, which creates favourable conditions for the implementation of important plant phytomeliorative functions. Furthermore, the analysis of similarity in species composition of micobiota at Sorensa-Czekanowski rate shows that the greatest similarity of species of fungi is recorded between edafotop of Yavoriv sulfur quarry (II) and Novyj Rozdil sulfur quarry (III) – S = 1,92. The greatest difference in species composition between micobiota is found in edafotop in Podorozhne sulfur quarry (I) and Novyj Rozdil sulfur quarry – S = 1,11. In this case quite different microassociations are formed. Indices of species diversity of micromycetes confirm that the most diverse species composition of micobiota is characterised by edafotop of Novyj Rozdil sulfur quarry (III) – H = 3.12, and the most simplified species composition was edafotop of Podorozhne sulfur quarry (I) – N = 1.47. Shannon ratio is quite low in all variants except edafotop III, indicating that the recovery and enrichment of micromycetes composition of soils on experimental plots of Novyj Rozdil sulfur quarry. To summarise, the results of correlation analysis of micromycetes biota in every research facility during three growing season (2014-2016) showed that in areas within Novyj Rozdil and Yavoriv sulfur quarries had formed highly organized complex of soil micromycetes compared to Podorozhne sulfur quarry that differ by structural types due to the different stages of succession. It should be also noted that in Novyj Rozdil sulfur quarry territories formed highly organized complex of soil micromycetes. Group similarity dendrogram described in the case of Yavoriv sulfur quarry showed strong correlation between species, forming clusters of 3-5 species.