1. Chemico-mineralogical changes of ultramafic topsoil during stockpiling: implications for post-mining restoration
- Author
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Liane-Clarisse Mouchon, Emmanuelle Montargès-Pelletier, Laurent L'Huillier, Guillaume Echevarria, Celestino Quintela-Sabarís, Laboratoire Sols et Environnement (LSE), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Université de Lorraine (UL), Institut Agronomique Néo-Calédonien (IAC), Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire des Environnements Continentaux (LIEC), Université de Lorraine (UL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), ANR-10-LABX-0021/10-LABX-0021,RESSOURCES21,Strategic metal resources of the 21st century(2010), Institut Ecologie et Environnement (INEE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire Terre et Environnement de Lorraine (OTELo), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université de Lorraine (UL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université de Lorraine (UL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), ANR-10-LABX-21-01/LABEX RESSOURCES21, and ANR-10-LABX-0021,RESSOURCES21,Strategic metal resources of the 21st century(2010)
- Subjects
010501 environmental sciences ,010502 geochemistry & geophysics ,01 natural sciences ,Nutrient ,New Caledonia ,Ultramafic rock ,Cation-exchange capacity ,Organic matter ,[SDU.ENVI]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Continental interfaces, environment ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,ComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUS ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,chemistry.chemical_classification ,Topsoil ,[SDE.IE]Environmental Sciences/Environmental Engineering ,Laterites ,15. Life on land ,Cation exchange capacity ,chemistry ,Agronomy ,[SDE]Environmental Sciences ,Soil horizon ,Environmental science ,[SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology ,Topsoil stockpiling - Abstract
International audience; Lateritic topsoils, which are usually removed and stored apart before mining operations take place, play an essential role in the success of post-mining restoration. They contain elements to recover chemical (organic matter, nutrients) and biological (seed and bud banks, microorganisms) fertility of the soil. Conserving topsoil fertility during storage time is essential for a successful use of topsoil during restoration. In this study, different chemico-mineralogical properties of a lateritic topsoil from the Goro nickel mine (New Caledonia) were monitored from its original in situ emplacement on the soil profile, immediately after its stockpiling and after 24 months of storage. Our analyses show that topsoil experienced noticeable changes immediately after storage, mostly produced by mixing of different soil profiles. Cation Exchange Capacities and concentrations of most elements did not vary even after 24 months of storage. However, a slight reduction of Ni, Cr, K, Na and of the C:N ratio, and an increase of Ca have been observed. Stockpiling has not affected negatively the chemical fertility of the topsoil, although biological parameters should be considered to have a complete view of stockpiling sustainability.
- Published
- 2018
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