The article focuses on developing an effective method for reclaiming anthropogenically disturbed areas through optimization of the composition of technosol substrates that incorporate industrial mineral waste and sewage sludge. The relevance of the study stems from the need to eliminate the negative consequences of mineral extraction and processing, which lead to the formation of vast tailings storage areas that adversely affect the environmental situation in the region. We investigated the physicochemical properties of dressing tailings and the differences in their properties upon addition of sewage sludge from three mining enterprises in the Murmansk Region: the loparite tailings storage facilities Karnasurt-1 and Umbozero (Revda settlement), and the apatite-nepheline tailings storage facility ANOF-3 (Kirovsk). Under laboratory conditions, we determined the component proportions in the technosol substrate, providing a reduction of pH to neutral values, an increase in the moisture-holding capacity of the substrates, and an improvement in the availability of essential plant nutrients. Phytotoxicity test confirmed the high biological activity of the formulated soil substrates and the positive effect of the introduced additive on the development of the test crops: radish (Raphanus sativus L.) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). The study identified the optimal balance between mineral tailings and sewage sludge, ensuring the best plant adaptation and the maximum reclamation efficiency for disturbed areas. The results obtained hold significant practical importance for land reclamation in areas with high load from the mining industry, contributing to the minimization of environmental risks, substrate stabilization, the formation of a sustainable vegetation cover, and the sustainable use of industrial and municipal waste. We noted the need to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed approach under long-term experimental conditions. The practical implementation of this technology will ensure environmentally sustainable economic activities in regions with intensive exploitation of raw material reserves, including the northern regions of Russia.
The problem of waste disposal in the mining industry is urgent for the Arctic zone of Russia. Significant volumes of overburden rocks from the Kovdor phlogopite deposit, represented by poor vermiculite-sungulite ores, require the development of environmentally safe methods for their integration into economic circulation. The aim of the study is to assess the potential of vermiculite-serpentine concentrate (VSC) obtained from overburden rocks for the remediation of anthropogenically disturbed soils. The prospect of using VSC for improving soil properties is due to its favourable mineral composition (serpentine 30-35, vermiculite 28-31 wt.%). Laboratory experiments prepared mixtures of VSC with agrosoil (10-60 wt.%) and samples of urban soils from three cities in the Murmansk Region (Apatity, Kirovsk, and Monchegorsk) (20 wt.%), differing in the level of anthropogenic impact. The content of chemical elements in two mobile fractions was studied, phytotesting was carried out with French marigolds (Tagetes patula). VSC has an alkaline reaction (рНН2О 8.9) due to the presence of minerals in the composition capable of concentrating Ni; the gross content of this component is 730 mg/kg. It was found that the introduction of VSC increases the alkalinity of soil mixtures and the content of mobile forms of Ca and Mg. In slightly contaminated agrosoil, the content of mobile nickel when adding 10-50 % VSC increases from 1.5 to 2.5 mg/kg, with a content of more than 60 % it decreases below background values. Phytotesting showed that in the range of 10-60 % VSC, the root mass increased from 0.09-0.1 to 0.13-0.18 g/plant, there were no signs of phytotoxicity. For soils of Monchegorsk, characterized by a high level of anthropogenic contamination with nickel and copper, the introduction of concentrate, on the contrary, led to a steady decrease in the content of mobile forms of both metals. Vermiculite-serpentine concentrate can be recommended as a meliorant for soil remediation, poor in macroelements and contaminated with heavy metals.
