JME Journal of Mining & Environment, Vol.8, No.3, 2017, 419-431. DOI: 10.22044/jme.2017.897
Phytoextraction-based process of metal absorption from soil in mining areas (tailing dams) by Medicago sativa L. (Alfalfa) (Case study: Sarcheshmeh porphyry copper mine, SE of Iran) S. Tabasi, H. Hassani* and A.R. Azadmehr Mining and Metallurgical Engineering Department, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), Tehran, Iran Received 16 January 2017; received in revised form 1 March 2017; accepted 5 March 2017 *Corresponding author:
[email protected] (H. Hassani).
Abstract The present work was planned to evaluate the phytoextraction of metal mine tailings, Sarcheshmeh copper mine, SE of Iran, by the endemic plant species Medicago sativa L. (Alfalfa). In this pot experiment, we investigated the effects of seven amendments on the growth of alfalfa and uptaking metals from the mine tailings and stream sediment of tailing dam surface. The mean metal concentrations in both the tailing and stream sediment increased in the order of Hg < Te < Ag < Re < Ge < In < Ga