ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Technogenic Soils Developed on Mine Spoils
Containing Iron Sulfides in Select Abandoned
Industrial Sites: Environmental Hazards and
Reclamation Possibilities
Łukasz Uzarowicz
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Faculty of Geodesy and Cartography, Warsaw University of Technology,
Pl. Politechniki 1, 00-661 Warszawa, Poland
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2011;20(3):771-782
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ABSTRACT
Environmental hazards related to the weathering of iron sulfides in technogenic soils (Technosols) developed
on sulfide-bearing mine wastes were investigated. The soil profiles studied were located on mine spoils
of three abandoned industrial sites in Poland: the “Siersza” hard coal mine in Trzebinia, the “Staszic” pyrite
mine in Rudki, and pyrite mines in Wieściszowice. The soils investigated were weakly developed and strongly
acidic, unless neutralizing agents were present, and they contained large amounts of total sulfur, also in the
form of sulfides. In some horizons of young soils from Trzebinia and Rudki, sulfide sulfur was the predominant
form of sulfur. Iron sulfides in these soils were relatively poorly weathered, whereas in old soils from
Wieściszowice sulfides were almost entirely weathered. The presence and weathering of sulfides in all of the
soils investigated causes a risk of long-term acidification process. The study revealed the occurrence of high
amounts of heavy metals and radioactive elements in investigated soils. Such properties of soils like strong
acidity, as well as high contents of trace elements and sulfur (also occurring as sulfides), should be considered
during reclamation and management of mine spoils containing iron sulfides.