Analysis of the prospects to use peat-based soil conditioners for reclamation of disturbed lands

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2025-2-124-130

Читать на русскоя языкеA.V. Mikhailov, V.Yu. Piirainen, E.M. Bobrova, A.I. Smirnov
Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation
Russian Mining Industry №2 / 2025 p.124-130

Abstract: One of the ways to reduce the negative impact of mining on the environment is reclamation of the disturbed lands. Unused overburden and host rocks are stored mainly in external dumps and occupy significant territories, being a source of such negative effects as emission of pollutants, development of erosion and spontaneous combustion. The use of traditional methods of biological land reclamation by covering the dump surface with a layer of fertile soil or potentially fertile rocks requires significant costs and is not always feasible in practice. The studies that aim at developing economically feasible ways to restore the biological productivity of soils in disturbed areas and help to avoid these labor-intensive operations are of particular importance. An analysis of peat resources and properties of peat raw materials has been carried out for production of soil conditioners. Due to its functional properties, low cost and widespread availability, peat as a raw material has a high potential for manufacturing soil conditioners characterized with a slow release of nutrients for the reclamation of land disturbed by mining activities.

Keywords: mining, disturbed lands, reclamation, peat resources, peat raw materials, peat-based soil conditioners

For citation: Mikhailov A.V., Piirainen V.Yu., Bobrova E.M., Smirnov A.I. Analysis of the prospects to use peat-based soil conditioners for reclamation of disturbed lands. Russian Mining Industry. 2025;(2):124–130. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2025-2-124-130

Article info

Received: 30.01.2025

Revised: 03.03.2025

Accepted: 13.03.2025

Information about the authors

Aleksandr V. Mikhailov – Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0516-7737; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Viktor Yu. Piirainen – Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, Department of Materials Science and Technology of Art Products, Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5767-3765; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Evgenia M. Bobrova – Postgraduate Student of the department of Materials Science and Technology of Art Products, Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5005-5565; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Andrey I. Smirnov – Postgraduate Student of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0009-0004-5609-9246; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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