Abstract

ARAN, Diego et al. Closure strategy with Technosols for the environmental recovery of São Domingos mining area. Rev. de Ciências Agrárias [online]. 2022, vol.45, n.4, pp.811-820.  Epub Dec 01, 2022. ISSN 0871-018X.  https://doi.org/10.19084/rca.28634.

The existence of abandoned mines without management or environmental responsibility, mainly exploited before the 1980s, is an important problem for public administrations, whose strategic priority is to minimize the impacts generated. In this context, in the São Domingos minining area (Portugal), the EDM - Empresa de Desemvolvimento Mineiro developed a project of environmental rehabilitation with Technosols integrating the environmental rehabilitation interventions defined in the Master Plan for this large area. This project allowed the evaluation, in pilot assay with 1.5 ha and under field conditions, the long-term effectiveness (after 12 months) of this technology. A layer with 35 cm of Technosol, which was designed with alkaline and eutrophic properties due to the needs of the materials, was applied. After the Technosol application and herbaceous sowing, the physical-chemical quality of the Technosols, material from a control area (without Technosol application) and contaminated material located below the Technosol was evaluated. The results showed that Technosols are an effective alternative that allows the increasing of the pH and fertility, support a dense and stable plant cover as well as the diminution (more than 80 %) of the availability of contaminants from the contaminated materials, allowing future land uses (agricultural, forestry, etc.) without environmental risk.

Keywords : Alkaline and eutrophic properties; São Domingos Mine; Iberian Pyrite Belt; Environmental recovery.

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