Hazardous elements in soil and coal from the Oltu coal mine district, Turkey

Coal mining activities represent significant environmental concerns due to their potential influence on soils of the surrounding areas. This study was carried out to characterize the soil of Oltu Coal Mine, Erzurum with regard to potential pollutants associated with coal mining. Four different sites were selected for this study. Leaching potential of hazardous elements in coal samples was investigated. Samples were taken from each site to determine the hazardous elements in mine soils and the results were evaluated. Concentrations of hazardous elements in coal samples were found to be below world coal average range except Cr and Ni. Although Cr, Ni and Hg concentrations in soil samples were above the limit values, only Cr contamination of the soil was related to coal mine as observed in the results of the leachate derived from coal samples.