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CONCENTRATIONS OF TOXIC ELEMENTS IN PLANT SPECIES IN THE AREA OF THE KAZAK-KLYUCHEVSKY GOLD ORE DEPOSIT (TRANSBAIKALIA)

V. P. Makarov, G. A. Yurgenson

Institute of Natural Resources, Ecology and Cryology SB RAS, Chita, Russia

The content of As, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, Hg, Pb, Sb, and Tl, which have toxic properties, was studied in the soil and 13 plant species at eight test plots in the area of the Kazak-Klyuchevsky gold ore deposit (Transbaikalia). It has been established that the bulk content of As and Bi in the soil significantly exceeded the lithosphere clarke value by 4–96 and 2–30 times, respectively, in all test plots; Hg by 1.5–7.0 times (mainly in technogenic test plots); and Sb by 1.1–11.0 times (in most plots). The excess of the maximum permissible concentrations was documented for As (in all test plots), Sb (in one technogenic site), and for mobile forms of Pb (two plots). Concentrations of toxic elements in plants varied by 65–208 times. The average biogeochemical mobility coefficients calculated for the technogenic test plots were 1.2–24.8 times higher (except for As and Tl). The extent of utilization efficiency of available elements from soil varied significantly for the studied plant species.

Keywords: toxic elements, soil, wild plants, gold deposit, Transbaikalia.

DOI 10.20403/2078-0575-2025-4a-68-77

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