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Wednesday, 31 March 2010 08:39 |
GalleryNature of the Olkusz Ore-bearing Region
Olkusz Ore-bearing Region is a place of occurrence of calamine vegetation (developing on metalliferous soils). It is currently an object of our research.
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Tuesday, 30 March 2010 21:59 |
ResearchExperimental studies on vegetation establishment on bare Zn/Pb mine tailings (flotation slag piles) in southern Poland
Period of performance:2008-2011
Research leader:Grażyna Szarek-Łukaszewska
Funding:Grant KBN
Keywords:plant colonisation, soil seed bank, mycorrhizae, soil microbial activity, heavy metals, tailings, restoration, southern Poland
Development of a durable plant cover on mine spoils which result from processing of heavy-metal ores especially flotation of material containing zinc and lead, represents a very difficult issue, and has not so far been satisfactorily solved from ecological point of view. Understanding and use of natural mechanisms operating during plant colonisation of these extreme habitats is a key element in attempts at the creation of suitable ecosystems in post-industrial areas. Continue reading...
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Friday, 26 March 2010 11:28 |
ResearchVegetation of calamine soils and its importance for biodiversity and landscape conservation in post-mining areas
Period of performance:2008-2011
Research leader:Barbara Godzik
Funding:EEA Financial Mechanism - project PL0265
International cooperation:Norway
Keywords:calamine vegetation, heavy metals, Olkusz Ore-bearing Region, opencast mining, post-mining areas, biodiversity, plant species richness, succession, soil fauna, soil microbial activity, physical and chemical properties of soil, recultivation, rehabilitation, spatial pattern, GIS, multidimensional analysis, geostatistics
Rich deposits of zinc and lead ores (calamine and galena) were discovered in the environs of Olkusz (Silesian-Kraków Upland) in the Middle Ages and exploited till the end of the 20th century. Several hundred years of mining activity has resulted in the destruction of the landscape. The vast area of the Olkusz Ore-bearing Region (OOR) is now covered by excavations and mine spoils. There the soil is nutrient-poor and contains considerable amounts of heavy metals (mostly Zn and Pb).
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