Impacts of Mining Activities on Vegetation and Soil Surface: A Case Study in Morad-Beygloo Rangelands, Buin Zahra

Mining activities can have detrimental effects on natural ecosystems, particularly rangelands. This study investigates the impacts of mining operations on the structure and function of vegetation and soil in Morad-Beygloo rangelands, Buin Zahra County, Qazvin province, using Landscape Function Analysis (LFA) and soil surface assessment.

Control areas were selected both adjacent to mines and at a distance of more than 500 meters from mines. Transects were established in each region, and various indicators, including ecological patch dimensions and soil surface characteristics, were measured. Landscape function indices (stability, infiltration, and nutrient cycling) and structural indices (number of patch zones, total patch area, etc.) were calculated. Soil samples were collected and analyzed for various attributes, and statistical tests were conducted to compare mine-adjacent areas with control areas.

Structural indices, such as total patch length and landscape organization index, showed significant differences between mine-adjacent and control areas. Function indices, including stability, infiltration, and nutrient cycling, were significantly reduced in mine-adjacent areas. Soil characteristics, such as organic matter, absorbable phosphorus, absorbable potassium, and nitrogen, were significantly lower in mine-adjacent areas. Additionally, variations in soil pH, texture, and moisture content were observed.

The study revealed considerable damage to the physical and chemical attributes of the soil surface in mine-adjacent areas, indicating low soil quality conditions. Continued mining activities pose a serious threat to the ecological functions of the area, leading to potential desertification. This emphasizes the need for informed policymaking to mitigate the destructive impacts of mining on the environment.