Formation of Acid Sulfate Soils under the Influence of Acid Mine Waste in the Taiga Zone

The research focuses on the features of acid sulfate soils formed in southern taiga on the territory of the closed Kizel Coal Basin in Perm Krai. The studied soils are Technosols (Thionic, Gleyic, Toxic), formed in the area of acid mine water outflow from the pit, and Technosols (Thionic, Toxic), formed as a result of acid mine water runoff from a coal dump that contains sulfide minerals. The purpose of the research was to establish the degree of technogenic soil transformation in comparison to natural soils and to conduct an ecological and geochemical assessment of those soils. The research used both conventional and customized methods. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to determine the concentration of heavy metals, trace elements, and iron in soil. It has been established, that the morphological and chemical properties of Technosols (Thionic, Gleyic, Toxic) and Technosols (Thionic, Toxic) differ. The continuous inflow of acid mine water to the surface is a more important transformation factor than intermittent dump runoff. Thus, the formation of a new technogenic layer, the production of an iron-bearing crust on the surface, gleyzation, and acidity (pH(H2O) 2.3-4.6) are typical of Technosols (Thionic, Gleyic, Toxic). Technosols (Thionic, Toxic) retain the profile of the background raw-humified gray-humus soil while also exhibiting acidity (pH(H2O) 2.8-3.1), clay loss, and no evidence of gleyzation along the profile. There is no heavy metal or microelement pollution in the studied soils.