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357055 
Journal Article 
Environmental disturbance caused by the extraction of lead-zinc ore 
Banov, M; Misheva, L 
2007 
6 
1 
32-35 
The extraction of lead-zinc ore in Bulgaria is done using the indoor method - using horizontal mine corridors. A lot of geological materials from the upper horizons pile up during the excavation process in the form of over burdens. The over-burdens take up large territories and are built from sterile geological materials, which can be characterized with low natural fertility. In most cases they are toxic for the direct growth of agricultural plants. This leads to their precise mapping, characterizing and application of system of events for the reclamation of the components of the environment. Samples from the over burdens, built during the underground extraction of lead-zinc ore have been investigated. The brown forest soil in the areas affected by the extracting activities has also been examined. The samples have been analyzed using a number of criteria. A number of disturbances in the components of the environment have been found as a result of the obtained data and the outdoors observations. They can be summarized with the following: 1. Serious disturbance in the landscape in the area of the mine. 2. The over burdens built during the extraction of lead-zinc ore are an active pollutant of the components of the environment, because of the ongoing erosion and the toxic substances that are contained in the geological materials, combined with the low pH in the area. 3. The investigated areas are hard to reach and their reclamation and recultivation should be done using optimal methods. As a result the technogenous effects on the environment will be overcome and the landscape of the environment in the area will be improved. 
brown forest soils; disturbed soils; ecological disturbance; environmental impact; extraction; landscape; lead; mining; polluted soils; reclamation; soil pollution; soil types; zinc; Bulgaria; Balkans; Southern Europe; Europe; Developed Countries; environmental effects; Soil Chemistry and Mineralogy (JJ200); Soil Fertility (JJ600); Erosion; Soil and Water Conservation (PP400); Pollution and Degradation (PP600); Industrial Wastes and Effluents (XX400)