Mobility of the Major and Trace Elements in the Coal Mining Wastes

Domestic and foreign static tests are considered to assess the impact of mineral waste from coal mining and processing on water objects when waste is placed in dumps or used for reclamation purposes. The results of static tests according to GOST R 58914-2020 for three samples of mineral waste taken from hard and brown coal deposits are presented. The wastes differ significantly in mineral and chemical composition, including sulfur content. It is shown that the high content of sulfur in the waste, including it in a water-soluble form, determines the low pH value of the aqueous extract. This, in turn, leads to an increase in the yield of water-soluble substances and to an increase in the mobility of major and trace elements.