Ecological monitoring of territories of liquidated mines of the Arctic zone of Russia

This study is devoted to assessing the environmental impacts of coal mine liquidation in the Arctic zone of Russia, with a special emphasis on the Pechora coal basin. In the context of accelerating industrial development of the North and growing anthropogenic impact, the problem of restoring disturbed territories is becoming extremely relevant. Numerous environmental threats are recorded: flooding of mine workings, pollution of surface and groundwater by mine waters, release of methane and carbon dioxide, deformation of the earth's surface, as well as soil pollution with heavy metals and oil products. All this creates risks not only for the environment, but also for the lives of the population of former mining settlements. The study is aimed at forming scientifically based solutions to minimize the effects of man-made pollution, ensure environmental safety and sustainable nature management in the Arctic regions of Russia. The research methodology is based on complex environmental monitoring, including hydrogeological, gas geochemical and geodynamic analysis, remote sensing, water, soil and air sampling, as well as laboratory methods for determining pollutant concentrations. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the complex assessment of the state of the environment in the territories of liquidated coal mines in the Arctic, including the quantitative characteristics of pollution and natural deformations. Data were obtained on the degree of water pollution with heavy metals (Fe up to 75 mg/l, Mn up to 18 mg/l), the level of methane emissions (up to 8.5%) and the scale of disturbed lands (up to 7000 ha). It was established that the existing pollution poses a direct threat to public health and requires urgent environmental protection measures. As a result, a set of proposals was developed for reclamation, purification of mine waters, degassing of mine workings and the creation of an effective monitoring system. The practical significance of the study lies in the possibility of replicating the proposed solutions in other regions of the Arctic, which will ensure increased environmental sustainability and a reduction in man-made pressure in the conditions of the Far North.

Arctic zone, Pechora coal basin, mine liquidation, environmental monitoring, environmental pollution, mine water, land reclamation, gas monitoring, mine degassing, permafrost