Different spontaneous plant communities in Sanmen Pb/Zn mine tailing and their effects on mine tailing physico-chemical properties

摘要

Different plant communities have established spontaneously on Sanmen Pb/Zn mine tailing. The site was inspected and four different plant communities were identified according to their species composition. To understand the effects of different communities on mine tailing physico-chemical properties, a community survey was carried out in Sanmen Pb/Zn mine tailing, and the physico-chemical properties and heavy metal (Cu, Pb, Cd and Zn) distribution of mine tailings were determined. Results showed that there were four types of communities (I, II, III and IV) in Sanmen Pb/Zn mine tailing. From community I to IV, the number of plant species and community characteristics (aboveground biomass, underground biomass, coverage and height) consistently increased. Moreover, the nutrient pool and physico-chemical properties of mine tailing consistently reestablished from community I to IV, while the total heavy metal content consistently decreased. The contents of residual fractions, Fe–Mn oxide fractions for Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd and exchangeable fractions for Pb and Zn also consistently decreased. However, the contents of organically bound fraction had no obvious change from community I to IV. Moreover, the contents of Cu organically bound fraction reversely increased. Results demonstrate that communities I, II, III and IV should be a progressive community succession. Moreover, along with the progressive community succession, phytostabilization and phytoextraction of mine tailings are more and more effective.