Environmental Security of Solid Wastes in the Western Donbas Coal Mining Region, Ukraine

摘要

The chemical reactions of hydrolysis, oxidation, ion exchange, and carbonization, which accompany the weathering of rock from coal mines, are pre-sented. The environmental safety of the wastes that are exposed during storage on the surface is defined by the processes of leaching and pollutant transfer. Data were obtained related to the contents and changes of the water-soluble form of heavy metals in the rock heaps after weathering on the surface. It was established that, unlike rock freshly taken to the surface that is rated as class IV hazardous material, weathered rock is rated as class II and III hazardous material. The rock heaps in the Western Donbas coal mining region become environmentally hazardous during weathering. Land reclamation technology can be applied to these mining sites as a preventive measure to decrease weathering and leaching processes.