Lotta Sartz

Learning about the history of landscape use for the future : consequences for ecological and social systems in Swedish Bergslagen

Barriers and bridges to implement policies about sustainable development and sustainability commonly depend on the past development of social–ecological systems. Production of metals required integration of use of ore, streams for energy, and wood for bioenergy and construction, as well as of multiple societal actors. Focusing on the Swedish Bergslagen region as a case study we (1) describe the phases of natural resource use triggered by metallurgy, (2) the location and spatial extent of 22 definitions of Bergslagen divided into four zones as a proxy of cumulative pressure on landscapes, and (3) analyze the consequences for natural capital and society. We found clear gradients in industrial activity, stream alteration, and amount of natural forest from the core to the periphery of Bergslagen. Additionally, the legacy of top-down governance is linked to today’s poorly diversified business sector and thus municipal vulnerability. Comparing the Bergslagen case study with other similar regions in Russia and Germany, we discuss the usefulness of multiple case studies.

Uranium leaching from a burning black shale deposit – present conditions and future scenarios

During WW2 oil was produced through pyrolysis of alum shale giving rise to waste that was deposited in the open pits and in a waste deposit. The waste deposit still today has significantly elevated temperatures (above 500 °C). Remaining pyrite in the waste material has also led to ARD with elevated trace metal concentrations. The waste deposit is no great environmental problem today but as soon as the waste pile cools off both the volumes of drainage and concentration of uranium will increase significantly.

Removal of zinc and lead from a neutral mine water using iron tailings and iron oxyhydroxide coated iron tailings

Removal of zinc and lead from a neutral mine water using iron tailings and iron oxyhydroxide coated iron tailings

Applicability and suitability of different alkaline by-products in historic mine sites remediation

Applicability and suitability of different alkaline by-products in historic mine sites remediation

Alkaline by-products as amendments for stabilization and neutralization of oxidized sulphidic mine waste deposits

Stabilization of oxidized sulphidic mine waste deposits with alkaline by-products could be a way of controlling ARD. Mixtures of alkaline by-products (10% by volume) and oxidized waste rock have be ...

Flooding of oxidized waste rock amended with alkaline by-products

Leaching of trace elements (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) from oxidized waste rock amended with different alkaline by-products was studied during flooding. It has been argued that water covers for oxidized wa ...