Monitoring of soil and vegetation cover for reclamation of the ecological disaster zones of JSC Severonickel

Abstract

Severonickel Combine is one of the largest enterprises in the Kola Peninsula, processing Cu-Ni raw materials to produce non-ferrous metals and precious metal concentrates as end products. The industrial activities of the Severonickel Combine have a noticeable negative impact on the vast territory of the Murmansk Region, and the area characterized by a very high level of soil pollution occupies 1400 km 2 . During the expedition to the Murmansk Region in summer 2005, control samples were collected from the upper soil horizons in the areas exposed to the direct atmospheric impact of JSC Severonickel, at various distances from the Combine and in the background areas. This will make it possible to determine the overall degree of soil contamination at different distances from the enterprise, as well as the distribution of accumulated heavy metals in different horizons. Sample areas of vegetation in the form of phytomass of woody, shrub-grass and moss-lichen circles were sampled. The conducted studies will allow to give a comprehensive assessment of the negative impact on soil cover and different types of vegetation.