Environmental Transformations in the Area of the Kuźnica Warężyńska Sand Mine, Southern Poland

Różkowski, Jacek; Rahmonov, Oimahmad; Szymczyk, Artur

doi:10.3390/land9040116

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…The artificially lowered groundwater level influenced the shrinkage of meadows of the Molinion union in the western and northern parts of the study area (Figure 3C). A similar phenomenon was found in other areas influenced by mines leading to lower groundwater levels [64][65][66][67][68].…”

Section: Changes In Vegetation Cover As a Results Of Impact Of Zn And...supporting

confidence: 84%

The Historical Aspect of the Impact of Zn and Pb Ore Mining and Land Use on Ecohydrological Changes in the Area of the Biała Przemsza Valley (Southern Poland)

Różkowski

Rahmonov

2023

Land

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The article presents the impact of Zn and Pb ore mining and land use on ecohydrological changes in the area of the Biała Przemsza valley in the historical aspect, with particular emphasis on the period 1941–2021. GIS was used to analyse the maps to identify spatial and temporal changes in land use. The following trends could be observed in the spatial development of the Biała Przemsza valley: rapid urbanisation and industrialisation in the 21st century, marked reduction in the surface area of arable land and sands, and dynamics of the increase in the surface area occupied by forests. Notable changes occurred in the plant ecosystems between 1941 and 2021 due to land management. Groundwater level lowering due to mining activity resulted in the change from wet meadows to fresh or dry xerothermic grasslands, while forest cover increased by 4% within the catchment area. The hydrographic network evolved. After the commissioning of the Zn-Pb ore mines Olkusz and Pomorzany in the 1960s and 1970s, a regional depression cone with an area of 400 km2 was formed, while the maximum groundwater inflows to the mines reached 360 m3/min. Changes in the hydrodynamic conditions have resulted in changes in the hydrogeochemical regime of the Triassic aquifer manifested by increased levels of, e.g., SO4 and Cl. Wastewater with lignosulphonate compounds from the paper factory caused periodic degradation of some of the water flowing into the Pomorzany mine. As a result of mining activity, the character of some sections of the Biała Przemsza river changed to an infiltrating one, the quantitative depletion of groundwater resources within the range of the mine drainage cone occurred, river springs disappeared, and the flow in the river decreased. At the same time, mine water was discharged to the tributaries of the Biała Przemsza. A radical reduction in the flow of the Biała Przemsza and its tributaries occurred after the decommissioning of the Zn-Pb ore mines at the turn of 2021 and 2022.

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Section: Changes In Vegetation Cover As a Results Of Impact Of Zn And...supporting

confidence: 84%

The Historical Aspect of the Impact of Zn and Pb Ore Mining and Land Use on Ecohydrological Changes in the Area of the Biała Przemsza Valley (Southern Poland)

Różkowski

Rahmonov

2023

Land

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“…Screen digitization was combined with the creation of a database of land development. Data included in each series of maps were aggregated to make them comparable [ 59 , 60 , 61 ]. As a result, vector maps were created that allowed for the comparison of land development in particular time sections to be carried out.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vegetation- and Environmental Changes on Non-Reclaimed Spoil Heaps in Southern Poland

Rahmonov

Krzysztofik

Środek

et al. 2020

Biology

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The study focused on the changes in vegetation and soils on an undeveloped area of coal mine spoil heaps. The process of vegetation changes was evaluated on the basis of historical cartographic materials and fieldwork. Changes of vegetation in nearly 200 years are presented herein. The main purpose of this study is to present an analysis of spatio-temporal changes in vegetation and their influence on soil features. The diversity of ecological species in terms of habitat requirements, tendency of hornbeam communities formation, and the relationship between forest communities and soil features was found. The basic soil properties were examined under selected plant communities (pH, Corg, Nt), available forms of elements (P, K, Mg), and as plant nutrients and heavy metal occurrence (Fe, Zn, Mn, Co, Cd, Pb, Sr, Cr, Cu). The soil organic carbon (Corg) content varied from 3.17 ± 0.007% to 17.7 ± 0.21% and significant differences were observed between sites. The highest total nitrogen (Nt) content was recorded in the soils of the sites that were represented by Populus-Betula stands (0.60 ± 0.01%). Soil acidity (pH) varied greatly, ranging from acidic (pH = 4.1) to weakly acidic (pH = 5.9). The highest value for Mgavail (205.43 ± 0.5 mg·kg−1) was noted in the soils under Calamagrostis epegijos (L.) Roth community and for Pavail (184.07 ± 3.77) and Kavail (346.19 ± 2.92 mg·kg−1) under the Quercus-Pinus stand. On all sites, Zn was a dominant element and its concentration ranged from 526.1 to 1060.4 mg·kg−1. Obtained results show how important it is to study the issue of vegetation changes and the formation of the landscape within an industrial city. The described results are important for the management of urban greening issues. Human influence on the disintegration and development of the natural environment is clearly visible. Due to the diversity of former mining areas and their time of creation, the studied area is one of the most important experimental areas for the determination link between vegetation and soil.

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“…One of the key problems in the field of spatial management and environmental protection is the degradation of land surfaces as a result of mining activity using underground and opencast mining methods. Consequently, brownfield sites account for a significant percentage of the land use structure [1][2][3][4]. A post-industrial area is a degraded, unused or partially used area originally intended for economic activity [5][6][7], where industrial production took place.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental Transformation and the Current State of Hydrogeological Condition in the Wojkowice Area—Southern Poland

et al. 2021

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Based on the analysis and interpretation of maps, remote sensing data published in the literature, and environmental reconnaissance, this article discusses environmental transformations in the Wojkowice area in southern Poland (up to the year 2020). A comprehensive analysis was carried out concerning spatial development, mining activity, hydrogeological conditions and the biotic environment. The current state of the hydrogeological conditions was also characterized. Mining activity in the vicinity of the studied town caused significant changes in its relief, which contributed to its area dropping by about 5 m. In fact, these terrain forms are overgrown by various forms of vegetation that colonized these areas both naturally and as a result of forest reclamation. The contemporary vegetation of Wojkowice differs from the potential natural vegetation, which is an indicator of the complete anthropogenization of the natural environment. Over 100 years of industrial activity in Wojkowice has also contributed to a strong transformation of the groundwater. There has been a quantitative depletion of usable groundwater in the Triassic and Carboniferous formations. With inflows to the ore mines of up to 17 m3/min, the groundwater table has dropped by more than 60 m. The aquifer of Muschelkalk has been practically drained. At present, wells extract the waters from the Röth aquifer. There has been a major transformation of groundwater chemistry. The waters of the Triassic carbonate complex are anthropogenically transformated and are characterized by increased mineralization, multi-ionic types and usually with a quality class III and IV, and, therefore, they require some treatment.

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Environmental Transformations in the Area of the Kuźnica Warężyńska Sand Mine, Southern Poland

Cited by 7 publications

References 19 publications

The Historical Aspect of the Impact of Zn and Pb Ore Mining and Land Use on Ecohydrological Changes in the Area of the Biała Przemsza Valley (Southern Poland)

The Historical Aspect of the Impact of Zn and Pb Ore Mining and Land Use on Ecohydrological Changes in the Area of the Biała Przemsza Valley (Southern Poland)

Vegetation- and Environmental Changes on Non-Reclaimed Spoil Heaps in Southern Poland

Environmental Transformation and the Current State of Hydrogeological Condition in the Wojkowice Area—Southern Poland

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