THE PROBLEM WITH TAILING DUMPS OF TYRNYAUZ TUNGSTEN-MOLYBDENUM MINING AND PROCESSING COMPLEX AND THEIR POTENTIAL EFFECT ON BIO- AND GEOCHEMICAL CONDITION OF WATER AND SOILS IN ELBRUS REGION

Рассмотрен вопрос об утилизации отходов обогащения руд вольфрама и молибдена Тырныаузского вольфрамомолибденого комбината, которые складируются в двух "хвостохранилищах" объемом 120 млн. м3. По оценке автора, в отходах обогащения аккумулировано 7,2 млрд. кВт·ч электроэнергии, затраченной в прежние годы на измельчение руды. Если эти отходы использовать для производства строительных материалов можно сэкономить огромное количество электроэнергии. Ожидание подходящих экономических условий для переработки отходов связано с уносом высокодисперсных частиц ветром и водой из "хвостохранилищ". Это приводит к негативным изменениям в сложившиеся тысячи лет назад био- геохимическое состояние воды и почвы в долине реки Баксан. The issue of recycling tungsten and molybdenum ores from TTMM, which are stored in two waste dumps with a volume of 120 million m3, is discussed. According to the author, 7,2 billion kWh of electric power spent in previous years on ore grinding was accumulated in the processing waste. If that waste is used for the production of building materials, huge amounts of energy can be saved. Waiting for suitable economic conditions for waste recycling results in the dissemination of fine particles by wind and water from the dumps. This leads to negative changes in the biogeochemical state of water and soil in the Baksan river valley, which developed thousands of years ago.

Geochemical Features of the Distribution of Ore Elements in the Polymetal Ores of Mehmanian Deposit (Azerbaijan Part of the Lesser Caucasus)

By using the results of geochemical research methods, the geochemical features of distribution of basic ore elements in Mehmanian polimetal deposit ores have been considered in the article. The definition features of main ore elements were given, close positive and negative relations between elements pairs were defined by correlation analysis according to the selected elements. On the basis of analysis of current analytical information results complexity has been studied, geochemical condition of localization of productive sulphide mineralization in the generation stage of ore formation has been analyzed. Behaviour features of elements have been investigated, the interaction between them has been clarified and based on their statistical analysis of geochemical features of the deposit has been made. The dependence features of one ore element from the other were determined in various types of ores of the deposit.

Digital ultraviolet petrography: approaches and applications

Integrated data on the approaches and applications of the rock fluorescent macro- and micropetrography is presented. Fluorescence in minerals is caused not by the major chemical elements but a wide range of chemical impurities (activators). As a result, fluorescence cannot be used for the mineral identification in the different deposits because of the different activators prevailing in the different localities. Nevertheless, fluorescence is the reliable typomorphic feature because the minerals with specific fluorescence forms in the same geochemical condition. This methodical approach is based on the combination of the epifluorescent microscopy and multifocal petrography of the rocks. Ultraviolet (UV) investigations by the reflectance microscopy method reveal some advantages, mostly in the sedimentary rocks studying – improving an optical resolution of the images, avoiding the microparticles overlapping inside the thin sections. On the contrary to the classical petrography which uses light source, fluorescent minerals are the source of light themselves, and this feature improves the optical resolution of this method as well. Ultraviolet investigations of the samples of Starobin UpperDevonian bed reveal polygenic processes of their forming. Silt-sized minerals with the different fluorescence features, small and high quantum yields, have been brought from the different sources. Prevailing marls, consisting of the clay minerals and dispersed calcite reveal invisible for the other methods structures – colloform aggregates, metasomatic replacement of the marls in the fracture zones of the rocks. Fluorescent features let to define hydrothermal and chemogenic minerals in the sedimentary rocks. For example, fluorescent borates in the salt formations of the evaporates. Nevertheless, complex methodical approach, such as XRD and XRF, needs for the accurate mineral definition.

Soils of abandoned industrial wastes disposal sites: properties, processes, functioning

<p>Soils formed at once abandoned and recultivated industrial waste dumping sites are key research objects both as models of soil-forming processes in underdeveloped soils and indicators of persistent or potential environmental hazards of dumps themselves. Our studies of technogenic surface-like soil formations (TSF) and soils were conducted on a closed landfill and two abandoned filtration fields from sugar factories  in Kursk region, central part of European Russia.</p><p>Key properties of TSF and soils were defined with the assessments of their ecological, microbiological state and gas-geochemical condition. Set of methods (mesomorphological and micromorphological analysis, soil chemical and physico-chemical analysis, comparatively geographical method) was used for the detection of current elementary soil processes. Seasonal dynamics of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide emissions from soils to the atmosphere was also under consideration. Main used methodology is a research of sustainable properties of soil solid-phase (“soil memory”) together with soil functioning.</p><p>Long-term time series of high-detailed remote sensing data (from archive aerial photos of 1950s to actual satellite images and UAV optical photogrammetry) provided the possibility for the retrospective remote monitoring of the all abandoned dumps in study and reconstruction of their life cycles and land cover patterns.</p><p>As a result for the three industrial waste dumping sites of different types and the varying age of abandonment and recultivation history there were elaborated schemes of chrono-functional zoning. Each chrono-functional zone is characterized by the specific set of TSF and soils. Among them, it was described technogenic surface-like soil formations of closed landfill, calcareous technosols with several thick organic layers at the bottom of abandoned field filtration cells, calcic anthrosols of field filtration cells spontaneously used for agriculture after the abandonment of sugar factories.</p><p>The study is financially supported by RFBR project № 19–29–05025–mk.</p>

The Content of Mobile Forms of Heavy Metals in Soils in the Territory of the Recreation Zone «Victory Park» (Saratov)

The soil cover in the territory of the large recreational zone «Victory Park», which performs environmental, memorial and educational functions, was studied. According to the analysis results of mobile forms of heavy metals concentrations the assessment of the current sanitaryhygienic and ecologic-geochemical condition of soils was carried out. An excess of the maximum permissible concentrations in most of the samples for nickel, lead, and copper was found.

THE ELEMENTAL CONTENT OF HAIR AS AN INDICATOR FOR NATURAL AND TECHNOGENIC CONDITION OF TASHKENT REGION

The samples of soils, drinking water and hair of habitants of 15 districts in Tashkent region studied using the method of neutron activation analysis. The results obtained from soil and drinking water analyses indicated that contents of Zn, Co, Cu and other elements in a number of districts are higher in comparison with average values throughout the region. This is related to developed industry in these regions. The analysis of the habitants' hair also indicated increased values, which are caused by environmental contamination and working conditions. For generalized assessment of environmental condition it was suggested to use the logarithm of multiplication of the lithophylic elements (Ba, Ca, K, La, Na, Rb, Sc, Sr) content, characterizing the geochemical condition. And similarly, the logarithm of multiplication of potential pollutants, typical for this area, such as Br, Co, Cr, Sb, U, Zn content in soil, water and hair was used as conditional index of overall pollution. It was demonstrated, that fluctuations of lithophylic elements content logarithm value throughout the districts of the region are insignificant and fall within range of 3941, while logarithm values for the potential pollutants vary from 3.1 to 9.3. The distribution of a hypothetical integral pollutant is presented in the cartogram. The correlation analysis conducted has established a relationship between the content of elements in environmental objects and some diseases, indicating that increased or decreased content of elements in the hair is highly likely one of the signs of a particular disease, especially in environmentally disadvantaged districts of the region.

GEOCHEMICAL CONDITION OF NATURAL WATERS OF THE SOUTH OF KUZBASS FOR EXAMPLE TUTUYASSKAYA AREA

The results of the chemical composition study of natural waters on the Mutuashi square of the Tom-Usinsk area of the Kuznetsk Basin are presented. It is shown that the observed changes in mineralization and pH values are natural. The studied waters are of infiltration Genesis, and their source is precipitation penetrating into the system from the areas of nutrition.

Assessment of ecological and geochemical condition of soils and dust content of atmospheric air in the residential zone of the mining industry center

The research studies the content of heavy metals (HM) in soils of residential zones of Sibay - the mining industry center of the South-East of the Republic of Bashkortostan. It is shown that in soils under herbaceous vegetation there is an increased content of a number of HMS, such as copper, zinc and cadmium. At the same time the areas located under the crown of Betula pendula Roth. are less contaminated with HM compared to open areas. Reduced content of a number of metals (iron, cadmium, cobalt and mobile forms of Nickel) in soils under the crown of the Roth confirms the barrier role of woody plants that protect the soil from airborne toxicants. The study showed the prospects of using a birch as a type of accumulator-phytoremediant in the greening of the mining region urban areas of the Republic of Bashkortostan. Studies of TM content in organs and tissues have shown that representatives of the species growing in Sibay can accumulate a significant amount of phytotoxicants, especially zinc, the content of which ranged 1041-1855 mg/kg. One of the sources of the increased TM content in the leaves and the bark of trees is dust. The paper presents a comparative study of the dustiness of birch leaves growing in the Central part of the city with heavy traffic and in the vicinity of the Sibay quarry, developing a Deposit of copper-zinc ore. The amount of dust on the leaves collected near the dumps of the Sibay quarry was 3,53 0,64 g/m, which is less than in the Central part of the city, where this figure reached 41,04 10,38 g/m. Obviously, this is due to the fact that the dumps of the Sibay quarry are located in an open and intensively ventilated area, which explains the strong dispersion of dust. At the same time dust particles near the quarry dumps are much more contaminated with manganese, cobalt and cadmium than in the Central part of the city.