Author 1:
Name & Surname: Petin A. N.
Company: Belgorod National Research University (Belgorod, Russia)
Work Position: Dean, Faculty of Mining and Nature Management
Scientific Degree: Professor, Doctor of Geographical Sciences
Contacts: petin@bsu.edu.ru

Author 2:
Name & Surname: Furmanova T. N.
Company: Belgorod National Research University (Belgorod, Russia)
Work Position: Senior Lecturer

Author 3:
Name & Surname: Petina M. A.
Company: Belgorod National Research University (Belgorod, Russia)
Work Position: Assistant Professor
Scientific Degree: Candidate of Geographical Sciences

Prevailing minerals are one of the most important components of the resource potential that sources residential, industrial and road construction in Belgorod Region. Open pit mining changes in a big way all constituents of geosystem, starting from lithogenous basis and finishing with biocenosis. Primary types of environmental impact of open pit mining are considerable withdrawal of lands being arable areas and diverse wildlife areas; pollution of air, soil and vegetation mantle of adjacent territories; variation of terrain and its hydrogeology; contamination of near-by water bodies with industrial effluents. Currently Belgorod Region operates 243 quarries of prevailing minerals: clay, sand and chalk. Overall reserves make some 1 billion cubic meters. Individually, quarries have small output: 50% of the quarries produce not more than 5000 t annually. Though low production, the numerous quarries exert aggravating effect on the natural environment, mainly, due to land retirement and elimination of forests and bushes. Furthermore, there are many mined-out voids left after previous open pit mining. Such places become, as a rule, unauthorized disposal sites for residential refuse and industrial waste. At the present time, the regional authorities and relevant control organizations work for improvement of production operation and ecological activity of the quarries and toward stimulation of land restoration. Many of the abandoned mined-out voids have been converted in recreation and water facilities.
The research has been done under support of the President grant МК-6142.2014.5.

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