Technosols and Human Impact on Soil

Introduction

Human activities are responsible for the disruption of the geographical nature of the lands. Urban development and mining are key examples of activities that can cause disruptions in the soil structure and restructuring of the composition and layering of the soil. Some of these activities result in technosols, a class of anthropogenic soils. Anthropogenic soils are a result of not only human-induced transformation but also portray the nature of a variety of human activities and the accompanying effects. This report focuses on technosols in Tyndrum, Scotland and exposes the context, history, and analysis of the technosols by also utilizing the laboratory observations of technosols.

Definition of technosols

Technosols were introduced in 2006 in the world reference base for soil resources which then classified technosols as soils whose properties and pedogenesis are dominated by their technic origin of human influence (IUSS working group WRB, 2007). Human activities play a crucial role in the formation of technosols and according to the reports, technosols are largely concentrated in areas of urban and industrial activities as well as mining areas (Mills et al., 2014; MacKenzie and Pulford, 2002). Technosols result from soil classifications which is the process of grouping individual soils into more homogenous groups depending on the shared soil characteristics. The characteristics of technosols from laboratory analysis have been examined and will be presented in detail in the discussions of this report. Urban soils which are one of the sources of technosols have been defined by Rossiter (2007) as soils in the urban and industrial areas. These soils are largely shaped by human activities since most of these soils are intensely used by human activities. These soils are largely contaminated from activities such as road and chemical contamination as well as soils from technical materials such as industrial wastes.

The historic context of technosols

The classifications of Technosols in WRB occurred in 2006. This followed the realization of unique features of technosols soils warranting their recognition as a type of urban soils. Technosols are also present from mining activities. According to Rossiter (2007), technosols from urban activities are formed out of human activities of industrial and artisan manufacturing process and the soils are continuously impermeable with a constructed geomembrane and from technic hard rock such as pavement. These activities are evidence for the formation of technosols in urban activities. Mining activities are also responsible for the formation of technosols which are fostered by the engineering regulations on the management of post-mining land reclamation, with landscaping being one of the main approaches of land reclamation (Echevarria and Morrel 2015). As a result of landscaping, technosols are created on large scale at these post-mining sites. However, Rossiter (2007) classifies technosols into sub-groups such as Ekranic (sealed), Linic (lined), Urbic (Rubbly) Spolic (industrial wastes) and Garbic (organic matters).

Tyndrum mining sites have a long history that has accompanying technosols deposits. This report focuses on technosols formed from mining activities in Tyndrum, Scotland. While it is documented that technosols were registered in the WRB in 2006, in Tyndrum Scotland, technosols existed long before. Tyndrum's mine survey by Pickin (2013) exposes that mining activities in Tyndrum existed as early as 1730s pointing to the long history of technosols in the area. The table below details the historic mining activities in Tyndrum and subsequent ore production from the activities.

Tyndrum mining hill presents a host of archaeological sites with the deposits of ore and soils from the mining. The sources of technosols are urban activities and mining activities. However, Tyndrum technosols covered in this report are solely from mining sites. Reports from fieldwork and laboratory observations Fieldwork assessments and laboratory evaluations discovered crucial evidence of technosols in Tyndrum. From the fieldwork, maps of the mining areas were obtained that present the geological activities and geographical distribution of mining activity in Tyndrum. On the other hand, laboratory examinations present findings of the components of technosol soils observed in the experiments. These results are presented below.

Field map

Resulovic and Custovic (2007) identify cr4iteria for the classification of technogenic soils. This explains that technosols are classified in different categories depending on the nature and content of the soils. In their article, Resulovic and Custovic (2007) explain that there are key factors for technogenic formation. Technogenic substratum, factors, and processes are main ways for the formation of technosols soils. Technogenic substrates are particularly distinguished in the soils through the specific sub-systemic units. On the other hand, technogenic factors responsible for technogenic formation include climate, relief, age of the terrain, and water. These factors shape the distribution and restructuring of the soils. Resulovic and Custovic (2007) further point out that fire was later listed as one of the factors of technogenic formation. Technogenic processes account for technosols formation which undergoes a process similar to that in the natural and anthropogenic soils but are affected by other additional factors such as oxidation, intensive acidification, settling due to lack of structure, and change in PH values which occur more frequently in technosol soils. Furthermore, Resulovic and Custovic (2007) identify key principles in the classification of technogenic formations. These principles are; mixing of several natural geological substrates, complete loss of natural properties in the soils, the formation of soils from various waste materials both community and industrial wastes. Other principles are introduction of various materials such as wood, plastic and construction rubbles in the natural soils, and soils in the urban areas including examination of the land use which involves both environmental and technical functions of soil (Resulovic and Custovic 2007). This essay identified the technogenic soil formation classification of the UK. The figure below details the findings.

In relation to the five principles of the classification of technogenic formation, Resulovic and Custovic (2007) have identified the general characteristics of technosols and thus, for soils to be classified as technosols, these characteristics are examined. The morphology of the soils is the primary characteristic examined in technogenic soils. Resulovic and Custovic (2007) identify that technogenic soils have a special way of marking their strata and the morphology can be used to classify soils during research. Other characteristics include the presence of radioactive materials resulting from continuous soil contamination and the impact of the soils on the health conditions of humans and animals (Resulovic and Custovic 2007). However, there is difficulty in identifying some characteristics of the soils using conventional means due to the presence of brick, iron, plastics and other artefacts (Resulovic and Custovic 2007). Laboratory examination of the elements of the soils is usually performed to classify the technosols and the laboratory test results of the technosols samples have been presented above in the report. The practical identified the classification of technosols soils and the results are presented herein. To be classified as technosols, the soils should be 1.20 per cent or more (by volume, by weighted average) artefacts in the upper 100 cm from the soil surface or to continuous rock or a cemented or indurated layer, whichever is shallower; or a continuous, very slowly permeable to impermeable, constructed geomembrane of any thickness starting within 100 cm of the surface; or technic hard rock starting within 5 cm of the soil surface and covering 95 percent or more of the horizontal extent of the soil. Results from the practical further identified typical qualifications for technosols soils. The typical qualifiers of the soils are Ekranic soils that have technic hard rock starting within 5 cm of the soil surface and covering ≥95% of the horizontal extent of soil. Garbic soils have a layer, ≥20 cm thick within 100 cm of the soil surface, with ≥20% (by volume, by weighted average) artefacts containing ≥35% (by volume) organic waste materials. Linic soils have a continuous, very slowly permeable to impermeable geomembrane of any thickness starting within 100 cm of the soil surface. Furthermore, Spolic soils have a layer, ≥20 cm thick within 100 cm of the soil surface, with ≥20% (by volume, by weighted average) artefacts containing ≥35% (by volume) of industrial waste. Finally, Urbic soils have a layer, ≥20 cm thick within 100 cm of the soil surface, with ≥20% (by volume, by weighted average) artefacts containing ≥35% (by volume) of rubble and refuse of human settlement. It is important to reiterate that the classification of technosols into Ekranic, Garbic, Linic, Spolic, and Urbic was equally presented in the study by Rossiter (2007).

Management of mining risks

The mining survey of Tyndrum mining sites by Pickin (2013) identified mining sites that could have potential harm and threat to safety and life. Some of these mining sites are tabulated below:

From these examples of mining sites, it is evident that the mining sites present risk to the safety and life of humans and animals. The hazards at the mining sites significantly increase the risks to health and safety (Pickin 2013). For instance in case the opencast areas pointed above to have the potential of subsidence and collapse actually collapse, there might be damage in the environment. Furthermore, presence of people at the site may further result in injuries to the people during the collapse of the site. In the fieldwork at Tyndrum mining sites, risk assessment findings were generated through the hazard identification and subsequent control measures. These are presented below: Use the Risk Matrix below (6) to assess the remaining risk level after control measures have been taken, as High (H), Medium (M), or Low (L). Please note: High-risk activities require Head of Faculty or Division authorisation.

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Conclusion

Tyndrum mining sites have a long history of activities resulting in ion technogenic soil formation from human activities. This has resulted in the formation of technosols soils. This extensive report has covered the nature and characteristics of technosols as well as potential risks in the Tyndrum mining sites and risk mitigation. It is evident that technosols, formed from human activities may present significant harm due to availability of deposits such as lead whose harm to the children has been documented. It is therefore crucial that effective management of the technosols be carried out and at mining sites vegetation cover can be used to protect excavation technosols from erosions. Technosols management can also be achieved through responsible human activities such as construction and waste management. The focus on environmental management can significantly help in managing soils formed from technogenic processes and enhance life.

References

IUSS Working Group WRB (2007). World Reference Base for Soil Resources 2006 first update 2007. World Soil Resources Reports No, 103. FAO, Rome.

MacKenzie A. B., & Pulford, I. D., 2002. ‘Investigation of contaminant metal dispersal from a disused mine site at Tyndrum, Scotland using concentration gradients and stable Pb isotope ratios’, Appl Geochem, 17, 1093–1103.

Mills, C, Simpson, I., and Adderley, W.P. (2014). The lead legacy: the relationship between historical mining, pollution, and the post-mining landscape. Landscape History 35, 47-72

Pickin J. 2013. Tyndrum Lead mine: archaeological survey, Forestry Commission Scotland.

Resulovic H and Custovic H. 2007. Technosols- development, classification, and use; review article. Agriculturae Conspectus Scientificus vol .72 (1)