Environmental Quality of the Boula-Nuasahi Chromite Mine Area in India

Abstract

Chromite mining can create hostile conditions for organisms in the surrounding environment. Overburden soil and mine water samples were collected and analyzed for their microbial diversity, nutrient content, and water quality at the Boula-Nuasahi Mine. Most of the water parameters that were measured exceed national/international standards. The microbial population was low (soil: 45 ± 0.06 9 105 bacteria, 20 ± 0.03 9 105 fungus) and the overburden soils have a low nutrient (N, P, K) content. The metal ions were found to have leached to nearby agriculture lands, making them less fertile for crop production.Overburden dumps and seepage water were found to be the main sources of chromium pollution.