IDENTIFICATION OF SOURCES OF POTENTIALLY TOXIC ELEMENTS IN SOILS IN SOILS DURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRIMARY DIAMOND DEPOSITS

Abstract

Eight potentially toxic elements (Mn, Ni, Co, Cr, Cr, Pb, Zn, Cd, As) in soils formed on the territory of the industrial site of the Udachny Mining and Processing Division were considered in this study. The Potential Environmental Risk (RI) was calculated to determine environmental risks of soil contamination. The concentrations of potentially toxic elements decreased in the following order Mn > Ni > Zn > Co > Pb > Cr > As > Cd. 19.51% of the sites in the study area exhibited a high potential environmental risk for Mn and Ni, while only 4.87% exhibited a low potential environmental risk for other potentially toxic elements. The greatest impact on soils contamination are exerted by the areas of the "Udachny" and "Zarnitsa" pipes, tailings ponds and the areas highly mineralized water outlet. The five main diverse sources of PTEs in this study area's soils were natural, mining activities, transportation, industrialisation, as well as highly mineralized waters.