The main factors of adverse environmental impact of potash production and methods of environmental protection

Currently, an adverse environmental factor in the Soligorsk mining district is the effect of underground mining on the terrain and landscape. The remarkable thing is that flooding and waterlogging in the undermined territory of the potash mine fields is connected with specific natural conditions of the district. Clay-salt tailings are known to be stored in salt tailings piles. To prevent the filtration of brines and diffusive penetration of salts into underlying soil and groundwater and thereby prevent salinization of geological environment, in the areas where salt tailings piles are located and on the slopes of bund walls, an impervious screen is arranged. It was noted that in recent years, Belaruskali OJSC’s ore departments have been widely using high-altitude solid waste piling method, which reduces the area occupied by salt tailings piles. To prevent and eliminate excess brines, Belaruskali introduced a method for biological reclamation of spent salt tailings piles, which provides for creation of vegetation on the soil layer surface and the conditions for its self-regeneration...