1Department of Biotechnology, Periyar University, Salem-636 011, Tamil Nadu, India
2Assistant Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Periyar University, Salem, Tamil Nadu
*Email: mathimicro@gmail.com
Online published on 26 November, 2013.
The aim of this study was to assess the physicochemical properties of mine soil. The waste dumps of magnesite (pH 8.19) and bauxite (5.41) contains almost even type of texture (SCL), EC (0.1) & NPK. High amount of Cd (1811.66; 1246.66 & 911.53; 728.33 mg/kg−1), Pb (428.33; 323.66 & 802.66; 755 mg/kg−1) and Zn (1097.33; 922.33 & 728.8; 510.66 mg/kg−1), were noticed in summer and rainy season on waste dumps of magnesite and bauxite mine respectively. It followed by Cr (55.22; 32.38 & 377.5, 226 mg/kg−1), Cu (59; 24.37 & 80.96; 47.72 mg/kg−1), Fe (2207.33; 1590.33 & 2207.33; 1354.33 mg/kg−1), Ca (4548; 2732 & 64.99; 31.75 mg/kg−1), Mg (5338.66; 3984.66 & 2305.33; 1624.66 mg/kg−1) and Mn (3139.66, 3091.66 & 7111, 6828.33 mg/kg−1). The bauxite wastes only contain trace amount (16.6 mg/kg−1) of Hg. Bauxite waste dumps have high water holding efficiency up to 77.6% for two days than magnesite (55%) waste soil. The PLI for Cd, Zn and Pb were (54.50 & 27.90; 1.730 & 1.255; 1.780 & 1.941) higher in summer and rainy season of both mines correspondingly. This investigation will be very helpful to carry out the further research on both mine soil effectively.
Magnesite, Bauxite, Mine, Waste dump, Heavy metals, Environment
