Mobility and phytoavailability of antimony in an area impacted by a former stibnite mine exploitation.

A mining area affected by the abandoned mine exploitation of a stibnite deposit was studied to establish the current and eventual environmental risks and to propose possible remediation practices. Soil and plant samples were collected at different places in this area and analyzed for their Sb content and distribution. Critical soil total concentrations of Sb were found, with values ranging from 585 to 3184 mg kg(-1) dry weight in the uppermost soil layer, and decreasing progressively with soil depth.

Antimony, arsenic and lead distribution in soils and plants of an agricultural area impacted by former mining activities.

An agricultural area impacted by the former exploitation of an arsenical lead-antimony deposit was studied in order to assess the current and eventual environmental and health impacts. Samples of soils and cultivated (wheat) and spontaneously growing plants were collected at different distances from the mine pits and analyzed for the toxic element content and distribution. The soil total concentrations of Sb, As and Pb found in the uppermost soil layer (14.

Mercury in soils and plants in an abandoned cinnabar mining area (SW Spain).

An abandoned cinnabar mining area located in the South-West of Spain has been studied with the aim of assessing its mercury pollution level and enhancing the knowledge about the Hg soil/plant relationship. To do so, soils and plants were sampled near an inactive smelter and around two mining sites present in this area. Critical total Hg concentrations were found in the close environs of pollutant sources.

Plant species diversity as a driver of early succession in abandoned fields: a multi-site approach.

Succession is one of the most studied processes in ecology and succession theory provides strong predictability. However, few attempts have been made to influence the course of succession thereby testing the hypothesis that passing through one stage is essential before entering the next one. At each stage of succession ecosystem processes may be affected by the diversity of species present, but there is little empirical evidence showing that plant species diversity may affect succession.