Chemical pollution peculiarities of the Nadiya mine rock dumps in the Chervonohrad Mining District, Ukraine

Abstract

Purpose. The research purpose is to study the peculiarities of chemical pollution of the Nadiya mine rock dumps in the Chervonohrad Mining District, depending on the relief conditions and slope exposure, as well as to analyze the general trends in the distribution of chemical elements compared to the natural background. Methods. The chemical pollution differentiation of the Nadiya mine rock dumps at the level of ecotopes is studied on the basis of dispersion analysis; multidimensional ordination of ecotopes in the space of geochemical indicators – based on the Principle Component Analysis; a typological scheme of mine rock dump ecotopes is constructed based on discriminant analysis; statistical processing of chemical pollution parameters. Findings. It has been determined that the level of chemical pollution of the Nadiya mine rock dumps is characterized by significant heterogeneity even within the same slope exposure. Similarity in the distribution of chemical elements makes it possible to distinguish 6 of their associations, the main of which are I (Mg, Ca, S) and II (Al, Fe, K, Si). An analysis of the dependence between the chemical element concentrations indicates a close link between many parameters. It has been revealed that the closest dependence on the anthropogenic load intensity is demonstrated by such elements as Mg, Pb, Sn, Fe, Al, Cu, P, Ni, Zn. It has been determined that the difference between the ecotopes of different dump exposures is explained mainly by the level of Ca and Al concentration. Originality. It has been revealed for the first time that the Nadiya mine rock dumps of the Chervonohrad Mining District are characterized by an ecological space, which is assessed on the basis of the ordination of ecotopes on the axes of complex geochemical gradients of the environment. The typological scheme of mine rock dumps reflects the gradient of soil cover chemical pollution compared to the natural background. Practical implications. By determining the geochemical conditions of ecotopes in a certain period of time, it is possible to identify their position in the ecological-cenotic space of dump vegetation, as well as to predict the stability and possible changes in the vegetation cover as a result of various forms of anthropogenic impact.