Soil salinization during the development of primary diamond deposits in the cryolithozone (Western Yakutia (Russia))
At a Glance
Section titled âAt a Glanceâ| Metadata | Details |
|---|---|
| Publication Date | 2025-09-26 |
| Journal | Bulletin of the Tomsk Polytechnic University Geo Assets Engineering |
| Authors | Olesya Shadrinova, Yana Legostaeva |
| Analysis | Full AI Review Included |
Executive Summary
Section titled âExecutive SummaryâThis research investigates the extent and mechanisms of technogenic soil salinization resulting from primary diamond mining operations (AMPP) in the continuous permafrost zone of Western Yakutia.
- Core Problem: Diamond mining activities, specifically waste rock dumps and tailings storage facilities, are the primary sources of secondary salinization, leading to widespread land degradation in the North Taiga landscape.
- Salinization Type (Waste Dumps): Soils affected by waste rock dumps exhibit predominantly sulfate-type salinization, characterized by high concentrations of toxic salts, primarily Sodium Sulfate (Na2SO4).
- Salinization Type (Tailings Dumps): Soils near tailings dumps show chloride-sulfate or chloride-type salinization, marked by significant levels of Sodium Chloride (NaCl) and Magnesium Chloride (MgCl2), linked to the disposal of highly mineralized brines (rasols).
- Geochemical Barriers: The permafrost environment creates unique geochemical barriers (evaporative, biogenic, and permafrost) that prevent deep leaching, causing salts to accumulate dynamically in the upper soil profile.
- Climate Influence: The extremely continental and arid climate (Evaporation > Precipitation) exacerbates the problem by promoting the upward migration and surface crusting of toxic salts during dry periods.
- Engineering Implication: The areal and chemical complexity of the contamination requires specialized remediation strategies that account for the permafrost barrier and the specific composition of the toxic salts (sulfates vs. chlorides).
Technical Specifications
Section titled âTechnical Specificationsâ| Parameter | Value | Unit | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Annual Air Temperature | 12.2 | °C | AMPP area (1985-2019) |
| Average Annual Precipitation (R) | 300.1 | mm | AMPP area (1985-2019) |
| Average Annual Evaporation (Eo) | 346.1 | mm | AMPP area (1985-2019) |
| Aridity Index (IA) | 0.19 | - | Indicates highly arid climate (Eo > R) |
| Active Layer Depth (Min) | 10-50 | cm | Flat relief, terraces, watersheds |
| Active Layer Depth (Max) | 100-250 | cm | Well-drained slopes, alluvial deposits |
| Brine Mineralization (Mine Water) | Up to 60 | g/L | Water discharged into tailings storage facilities |
| Average Total Toxic Salts (Waste Dumps) | 0.14 | % | Soils affected by waste rock dumps |
| Average Total Toxic Salts (Tailings Dumps) | 0.18 | % | Soils affected by tailings dumps |
| Na2SO4 Concentration (Waste Dumps) | 3.04 | cmol(eq)/kg | Highest concentration in waste dump affected soils |
| NaCl Concentration (Tailings Dumps) | 2.43 | cmol(eq)/kg | High concentration in tailings affected soils |
| MgCl2 Concentration (Tailings Dumps) | 1.54 | cmol(eq)/kg | Average in tailings dump affected soils |
| Salinization Prevalence (Waste Dumps) | 94 | % | Percentage of samples showing salinization |
| Salinization Prevalence (Tailings Dumps) | 95 | % | Percentage of samples showing salinization |
Key Methodologies
Section titled âKey MethodologiesâThe study utilized standard soil science and geochemical analytical techniques adapted for the cryolithozone environment:
- Soil Sampling: Soil profiles and technogenic surface formations (TPO: Litostrats and Toxilitostrats) were sampled across the industrial site (2019-2024).
- Water Extract Preparation: Soil samples were analyzed using a standard water extract at a 1:5 ratio to determine soluble ion content.
- Ion Determination: Major cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+) and anions (HCO3-, Cl-, SO42-) were quantified in the water extract.
- pH Measurement: Soil reaction (pH) was determined in the water extract. Soils generally ranged from neutral (natural) to slightly alkaline (technogenic).
- Organic Matter Analysis: Soil Organic Matter (Corg) was determined using the photoelectric colorimetric method.
- Toxic Salt Calculation: The total amount of toxic salts (Stox) was calculated based on the concentrations of specific soluble ions.
- Statistical Analysis: Statistical relationships, including the correlation between Stox and individual toxic ions, were analyzed using the Statistica10 program and the non-parametric Spearman correlation coefficient.
- Spatial Mapping: Spatial distribution maps of salinization degree and Stox totals were generated using the Surfer-13 program with the kriging interpolation method.
Commercial Applications
Section titled âCommercial ApplicationsâThe findings are critical for environmental engineering and management within the mining sector, particularly in permafrost regions:
- Environmental Risk Management: Providing quantitative data for Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and long-term risk modeling related to soil and water contamination in cryolithozones.
- Mine Waste Management: Informing the design and construction of stable, chemically inert waste rock dumps and Tailings Storage Facilities (TSFs) to minimize leaching of Na2SO4, MgSO4, and chlorides (NaCl, MgCl2).
- Water Resource Protection: Developing protocols for the handling, treatment, or deep injection of highly mineralized mine drainage brines (rasols) to prevent surface water and soil contamination.
- Land Remediation Engineering: Guiding the selection of effective remediation techniques (e.g., phytoremediation using salt-tolerant species, or specialized soil washing) tailored to the specific sulfate/chloride contamination types found in cryosols.
- Infrastructure Durability: Assessing the corrosive potential of salt-contaminated soils and surface runoff on mining infrastructure (pipelines, roads, foundations) in the permafrost environment.
- Cryo-Geochemical Modeling: Utilizing the identified geochemical barriers (evaporative, biogenic, permafrost) to refine predictive models of contaminant transport under scenarios of climate change and permafrost thaw.
View Original Abstract
Relevance. Soil salinization is one of the major contributors to land degradation, which leads to changes in microbial and biochemical properties of soil, loss of biological diversity, desertification and disruption of ecosystem functioning in general. This article presents the results of studying the processes of technogenic salinization of soil cover in the north taiga landscape province within the continuous permafrost zone based on the example of mining area of the primary diamond deposits in Western Yakutia in the Yakutsk diamondiferous province (Alakit-Markha kimberlite field). Aim. Study of soil salinization processes in diamond mining within the continuous permafrost zone and identification of the causes for technogenic pedohalogenesis development. Methods. Major cations and anions, pH were determined in water extract (1:5), soil organic matter was determined using photoelectric colorimetric method. The total of toxic salts was calculated. Statistical analysis was conducted in Statistica10 program. Map-schemes of area distribution of soil salinization and totals of toxic salts were plotted using Surfer-13 program by kriging interpolation method. Result and conclusions. It was established that the processes of technogenic soil salinization due to diamond mining have acquired an areal character, being confined to the mining and processing facilities of the processing plant. In the impact area of waste dumps, predominantly sulfate type of salinization is observed, with the prevalence of toxic salts such as Na2SO4, MgSO4 and MgCl2. A marker of tailing dumps impact includes occurrence of chloride type of salinization and toxic salts, such as Na2SO4, MgSO4 and MgCl2, NaCl. Soil profile of technogenically salinized soils is distinguished by the presence of evaporative, biogenic or permafrost geochemical barriers, which displays the specific nature of salinization processes.