Bedeutung geogener Ursachen für die Schwermetallbelastung von Böden im Mansfelder Land

Abstract

In various investigations it has been claimed, that the natural outcrop of the Kupferschiefer on theeastern boundary of the Harz mountains is the most important cause beside the former emissions ofcopper industries for the soil and plant pollution with heavy metals in the Mansfeld region. Presentaerial pictures, field Observations and chemical analysis of soil show a great number of smallKupferschiefer waste piles, which were buried at the end of the 19th century. The deposited, humusenriched soil is eroded especially as a result of deep ploughing and natural erosion, so thatKupferschiefer stones of the buried waste piles has mixed with the soil of the Ap-horizon. Highheavy meta! pollution, bad soil water properties and limited root conditions are characteristic forthese locations, resulting in darnage of cultural plants, loss of yield and partly considerable pollutionof the harvest.These phenomena are characteristic for a !arge area in the Mansfeld region. In future the pollution ofsoil with heavy metals will be higher as a result of erosion, weathering and drawing out of the wastepiles material. The examination of these processes should be carried out and necessary measures ofsoil protection undertaken.