Forms of heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Cd) occuring in rhizospheres from the areas of former and contemporary Zn-Pb ore mining

Abstract

The research areas were selected in the regions heavily polluted by wastes from the former washing plant, flotation waste dump and by non-sulphide Zn-Pb ores from open pit mining in the Olkusz region. The submicroscopic phases occurring in the surface of plant roots and in the rhizospheres were investigated by XRD and SEM/EDS methods. Morphology of submicroscopic metalliferous phases and their manner of occurrence were the subject of study. The analysis of EDS spectra enabled to identify phases and mineral aggregates including Zn, Pb, Fe, Mn, Cd in their structure. The soils from the washing plant and areas of open pit exploitation are contaminated by diverse complexes of minerals. The occurrence of unstable Fe, Pb, Ca sulphates indicate that these wastes are still intensively geochemically active.