ECOLOGICAL AND GEOCHEMICAL FEATURES OF TRANSFORMING SLAG HEAPS IN ACIDIFICATION ZONE

The research carried out proved the necessity rease the class of hazard for solid wastes of the smelting process at the Severonikeb) plant, owing to the erosion and hypergenic processes. These processes are cause by water pollution with toxic metals and a sharp decrease of the pH level Formation of acid waters leads to transformation of surface sediment structures, superficial and underground water composition and an increase in the migration ability of polluting elements. Criteria of transformation dependences are established for mineral and chemical compounds of mining-metallurgical waste products. Ways are offered to decrease technogenic load on the terricolous and vegetation cover as well as natural waters in zones of negative acid water influence e.g. construction of a geochemical barrier for aged, already stored waste and change of the processing technology at the stage of waste formation and transportation.