Organic Amendments and Earthworm Addition Improve Properties of Nonacidic Mine Tailings
Table 1
Elemental composition of mine tailings, biosolids, pulp sludge, and sawdust used in this experiment.
Element
Units
Mine tailings
Biosolids
Pulp sludge
Sawdust
Si
g 100 g−1
24.2
ND
ND
ND
Al
g 100 g−1
8.92
1.7
0.06
0.004
Fe
g 100 g−1
6.24
1.4
0.09
0.005
Ca
g 100 g−1
3.47
3.1
0.91
0.07
Mg
g 100 g−1
1.24
0.47
0.15
0.01
K
g 100 g−1
4.77
0.19
0.01
0.02
Na
g 100 g−1
2.97
ND
ND
ND
Mn
g 100 g−1
0.09
0.06
0.01
0.01
C
g 100 g−1
0.80
36.8
42.9
51.3
N
g 100 g−1
0.007
4.95
0.027
0.050
S
g 100 g−1
0.89
1.36
0.01
<0.01
P
g 100 g−1
0.17
2.31
0.01
<0.01
As
mg kg−1
20.9
5.2
<0.5
<0.5
Cd
mg kg−1
0.53
2.8
<0.5
<0.5
Co
mg kg−1
18.5
4.0
<2.0
<2.0
Cr
mg kg−1
10
35
4
<2
Cu
mg kg−1
660
2.3
3.8
3.0
Pb
mg kg−1
7
62
<30
<30
Hg
mg kg−1
0.157
6.73
0.011
0.079
Mo
mg kg−1
8
15
<4
<4
Ni
mg kg−1
7
25
<5
<5
Se
mg kg−1
3
10
<2
<2
Zn
mg kg−1
8
790
8
8
Concentrations are presented on an oven-dry equivalent (mass) basis. ND: not determined. Hg concentrations in biosolids from this facility are usually less than 1 mg kg−1 .
