Waste resulting from coal and mineral mining, such as Au-As, Sb-Au, and W, deposited in tailings ponds, represents a source of pollutants. Particles released into the atmosphere by wind, as well as the mobilization and leaching of potentially hazardous, phytotoxic, and zootoxic elements, affect the quality of air, soil, surface water, and groundwater, causing environmental pollution and impacts on biodiversity and human health.
This project follows the SHS project: Soil Health Surrounding Former Mining Areas: Characterization, Risk Analysis, and Intervention, which brought together the same consortium with excellent results. Thus, RESTAURA aims to investigate new case studies and compare the data with that obtained in the SHS project, expanding knowledge on soil health in former mining areas. The information generated will be essential to support decision-makers in implementing appropriate remediation strategies. In addition, the project focuses on innovation through the smart reuse of mining waste, both in soil remediation via ozonation and in the production of geopolymers from burned and unburned coal waste. This approach aims to transform an environmental liability into a valuable resource, promoting the circular economy and recycling.