Analysis of the Environmental Impact of Open-Pit Mining of Mineral Resources and Soil Contamination with Heavy Metals

Soil degradation in mining-affected regions – characterized by nutrient depletion, in-creased salinization, and heavy metal accumulation–poses serious risks to ecosystem stability and agricultural productivity. We conducted a comprehensive field study analyzing soil profiles using chemical, agrochemical, granulometric, and salinization assessments, along with heavy metal analysis. The aim of this work is to characterize the vertical distribution of nutrients and contaminants in these soils and to provide recommendations for effective remediation and sustainable land management. Our results show that the upper organic-rich layers exhibit significantly higher nutrient levels that sharply decline with depth, while heavy metals such as lead and copper are markedly elevated in certain profiles–especially in tailings soils, where contamination exceeds permissible limits by multiple folds. Additionally, granulometric analysis revealed a predominance of medium sand, which enhances permeability but limits water retention, and salinization increases with depth due to mineral weathering processes. Overall, our work provides critical insights necessary for developing targeted remediation strategies and sustainable practices to restore degraded ecosystems in mining regions.