Boron in mine soils and rehabilitation plant species at selected surface coal mines in western United States

Journal Article · · J. Environ. Qual.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6399488

Severson, R C; Gough, L P

Boron (B) content in mine soils and plants was assessed at 11 strip mines in the northern Great Plains, Powder River basin, and Green River coal regions. Except for unusually high B levels at one Wyoming mine, B levels in both mine soils and plants indicate that deficiency or toxicity conditions are minimal over this large geographic area. Relationships among mine-soil pH, organic-matter content, and hot-water soluble B, and B in plants are typical of those commonly reported in the literature. In addition, electrical conductivity (EC) of a water saturation extract of mine soil was positively correlated with B in mine soils. Regulations that suggest routine analysis for B to determine allowable levels in mine soils and rehabilitation plant species may be simplified. The more common measurements of pH and EC of mine soils should provide sufficient information to indicate potential B problem areas, where plant and mine soil analyses for B could then be performed.

• Research Organization: Geological Survey, Denver, CO
• OSTI ID: 6399488
• Journal Information: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States), Vol. 12:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BORON
TOXICITY
ALFALFA
COAL MINES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
GREAT PLAINS
GREEN RIVER FORMATION
LAND RECLAMATION
SOILS
SURFACE MINING
WHEAT
WYOMING
CEREALS
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION VIII
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GRASS
LEGUMINOSAE
MINES
MINING
NORTH AMERICA
PLANTS
SEMIMETALS
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
USA
010900* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Environmental Aspects
510200 - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
560303 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Plants- (-1987)