The purpose of this project is to improve soil conditions and promote long term re-vegetative success in northern mine impacted soils using soil amendments and native species. Due to the lack of organic matter, low pH and high metal content (Zn, Cd, Pb, As) of these soils, re-vegetation success is often limited. We will examine soil amendments that include biochar, a product that results from the oxygen limited heating of various biological ingredients, such as wood, fish or animal bone, calcium bentonite, a clay that can retain Zinc through bonding on surfaces and a wood mulch to provide organic matter. We will also investigate the potential for using local native nitrogen-fixing herb species in seed mixes and Biological Soil Crusts (BSC), which are communities of algae, lichens, mosses, fungi and bacteria, as soil amendments.
In summer 2012 we initiated a germination and growth trial with a native grasses seed mix and nine different soil amendments on the Elsa Valley Tailings in the Keno Hill Silver District. In the greenhouse at the YRC, we are currently exploring the use of four local native nitrogen-fixing species herbs (Dryas drummonii, Hedysarum alpinum, Oxytropis campestris and Lupinus arcticus) to help improve plant species diversity and nitrogen availability in mine impacted soils. We are also currently evaluating if BSCs can be established on mine tailings and soils used as cover materials. Biological Soil Crusts are found to occur naturally on-site and these nitrogen-fixing crusts may act as keystone communities in establishing primary sucessional processes and returning disturbed ecosystems to a desirable trajectory.
Access Consulting Group is involved with the ongoing reclamation and closure of the historical United Hill Keno Mining facilities in the Keno Hill Silver District, YT. Developing a closure plan for the historic mining area in the Keno Hill district presents unique challenges. Re-vegetation is considered key in sustaining ecosystem development and promoting the development of a more functional ecosystem. Determining the most appropriate closure and reclamation option is heavily dependent on site characteristics; however, development of soil amendments and native species seed mixes that are effective on both tailings and soil covers could significantly increase re-vegetation success.
- This is a University of Saskatchewan M.Sc. project that is being completed at the Yukon Research Centre (YRC) with support from the Cold Climate Innovation program and in partnership with Access Consulting Group.
- Investigators: Steven Siciliano, Professor, Department of Soil Science, University of Saskatchewan; and Katherine Stewart, Research Associate, Yukon Research Centre, Yukon College