ABSTRACT

The Lousal mine rehabilitation project proactively planned strategic milestones around key local geomorphic landforms and geochemical characteristics. GeoFluv™ method was used to design a rehabilitation topography mimicking natural landforms, on which a built-up soil cover with chemical buffering capabilities and open limestone channels were implemented across the intervention areas. Once these landform restoration works were completed, positive effects are observed in March 2022, with the native vegetation cover (the third main component of the restoration plan) established in most of the recovered area and a visible water quality improvement to the AMD treatment system water. Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) concentrations have reduced significantly after the reclamation actions, especially Fe (404 to 34 mg L⁻¹), Zn (65.7 to 15.8 mg L⁻¹) and Cd (122 to 0.8 µg L⁻¹) concentrations. Minor problems detected have been processes of rill erosion associated with the inflow of adjacent watersheds, and the creation of ephemeral reducing conditions resulting from the leaching of the organic amendment of the topsoil. The Lousal mine reclamation project is the first built example in Europe where the concept of geomorphic reclamation has been combined with geochemical remediation in an area with intense acid mine drainage formation. Detailed monitoring of this project’s restorative progression throughout 2024 and beyond, should offer learning opportunities and innovations which will benefit future rehabilitation projects, with comparable underlying features.

摘要

Lousal矿山修复项目围绕当地关键地貌地貌和地球化学特征积极规划战略里程碑。GeoFluv™方法用于设计模仿自然地貌的恢复地形，在干预区域内采用具有化学缓冲能力的组合土壤覆盖物和开放的石灰石通道。这些地貌恢复工程完成后，将于 2022 年 3 月观察到积极效果，大部分恢复区域恢复了原生植被覆盖（恢复计划的第三个主要组成部分），AMD 处理系统水的水质明显改善。填海行动后，潜在有毒元素（PTE）浓度显着降低，尤其是铁（404 至 34 mg L ^-1）、Zn（65.7 至 15.8 mg L ^-1）和 Cd（122 至 0.8 µg L ^-1）浓度。检测到的小问题是与邻近流域流入相关的细沟侵蚀过程，以及表土有机改良剂浸出造成的短暂还原条件。Lousal矿山复垦项目是欧洲第一个在强酸性矿山排水形成地区将地貌复垦概念与地球化学修复相结合的范例。对该项目在 2024 年及以后的恢复进展进行详细监测，应该会提供学习机会和创新，这将有利于未来具有可比基本特征的康复项目。