Mining is a common industrial activity and significant source of soil heavy metal (HM) pollution. However, nearly all studies on the effects of mining activities on soil environmental quality have entailed field monitoring of small regions or bibliometric analyses. This study therefore investigated the pollution of surface soils surrounding 135 large opencast coal mining pits in China. A total of 1772 surface soil samples were collected, and the concentrations of eight major HMs were determined. The HM concentrations in this study were relatively lower than the published HM concentrations of coal mine soils from 50 typical Chinese coal mines. However, pollution assessments indicated that Cd, Cu, and As concentrations were concerning. Significant correlations existed between all of the HMs and mining pit area (p < 0.01), as well as between the Pb and Zn concentrations and direction (p < 0.05). Climate conditions had large influences on the HM concentrations. The concentrations of all studied HMs, except for Ni, were highest in Anthrosols and lowest in hydromorphic soils. The concentrations of all HMs, except for Hg, in land use types showed a descending trend of cultivated land > garden plot > grassland. Significantly negative correlations (p < 0.01) between all HM concentrations and elevation were observed. Cr, Zn, and Ni were significantly and positively correlated with the slope, and no HMs, except Cr, showed significant correlations with the parcel area. This paper provides insights for the policymakers regarding soil pollution control and management strategies near coal mine pits.
Keywords: Coal mine soil; Heavy metal; Large opencast coal mine; Mine pit; National scale.
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