Kroik A. Physical-chemical processes in natural-technogenic systems as the foundation for evaluation of geological environmental characteristics

The Dissertation presents theoretical generalization referring to the flow of physical-chemical processes both in natural and natural-technogenic systems, which serve as the foundation for creation of new geochemical methods of reducing and minimizing pollution with heavy metals. A new approach to the problem of pollution of environmental objects with heavy metals in conditions of technogenesis by means of evaluation of protective properties of geological environment has been proposed. Regularities of accumulation, migration and transformation of heavy metals under the influence of mining industry on the example of Western Donbass. In the following systems have been established: "mining refuse - surface waters", "mining refuse - grounds - plants", "mining waters - surface waters - bottom residue - water vegetation", "mining waters - refuse of airing zone - underground waters". It has been proven that hard refuse of mining industry being exposed to the surface at the expense of intensive processes of airing, turns into an object of high ecological danger. The level of danger changes from the 4th to the 3rd or 2nd depending on the type of airing defined in accordance with the mechanism proposed. Surface waters chemical composition formation in mining regions is determined by two factors: the process of pollutants lixiviation from the mining refuse and their appearance at the expense of mining waters discharge. Surface waters transformation of hydrochemical type is of regional character, it is manifested by the increase of their mineralization and pollution with heavy metals, the amount of which is partially reduced at the expense of absorption by bottom residue and water vegetation. Mining and quarry waters constitute the dominant factor of local metamorphization of underground waters, which is limited by the accumulation ponds zone of influence and wastes storages. The reduction of underground waters pollution with heavy metals is conditioned by the processes of their immobilization with the refuse of airing zones and water bearing horizons. The reduction of water, ground and vegetation pollution with heavy metals is connected with protective properties of geological environment, which are characterized by the notion of buffer. The latter is determined by the value of limited sorption volume and the number of tightly bound metal forms. These parameters were used as a geological criterion of ecological safety in relation to heavy metal pollution. Residual refuse is differentiated according to the buffer value and can be used as protective screen in accumulative ponds, wastes storages and for waste waters purification from heavy metals.