Publisher: CRC Press , Уear of publication: 2025

The soils surrounding the Ursk tailings dumps are used for agricultural purposes. To assess their composition and concentrations of heavy metals, samples of soils were collected at different distances (0-350 m) from the dumps and analyzed for their metals and metalloids content and distribution. The maximum content (ppm) of As (350), Sb (300), Cu (470), Zn (530), Cd (1.6), and Pb (2,200) in the soils exceeded their maximum permissible concentrations for soils. The assessment based on the values of various indices indicates large-scale contamination with As, Sb, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and Ba. Areas with high levels of Fe, Pb, Cd, As, Sb, and Zn in soils were revealed beside the mine tailings, in the northeast direction and southern direction. Geochemical associations of elements were obtained: As-Pb-Ba, As-Sb-Pb, and Se-Pb. The Ursk tailings dumps are the source of soil pollution even at significant distance from the tailings.