Restoration of High Zinc and Lead Tailings with Municipal Biosolids and Lime: A Field Study.

The article presents a study which aims to test soil pH increase, subsoil acidity neutralization and vegetative cover restoration abilities of both biosoil and different types of lime for alluvial mine tailings located in Leadville, Colorado. Lime types used comprised of sugar beet lime (SBL), agricultural lime (AL), and lime kiln dust (LKD), and all were applied at 224 Mg ha^-1 calcium carbonate equivalence. The plots were then established in 200 and monitored through to 2007. pH increase was then found in both surface and subsurface depths for all amendmends with those of LKD, LKD + BS and SBL + BS being shown to be most effective. Plant growth was also observed and appeared to be sparse on all treatments and were related to higher electrical conductivity (EC).