Effects of open‐cast sulphur mining on sediment transfers and toxification of riparian forests

Abstract

The spoil heaps of the sulphur mines of the egoiul omânesc volcanic cone are intensely reworked by mass movement processes which not only lead to severe sedimentation in downstream rivers, but also to the toxification of riparian orway spruce (icea abies (.) arst.) forests. Along the lateral borders of the Dumitrelul retention basin, recent sedimentation has covered . abies trees with up to 160 cm of toxic, sulphur‐rich material originating from the spoil heaps deposits. This study documents the deposition of toxic sediments and illustrates the effects that these sulphur‐rich sediments have on tree growth. The results show that trees affected by sedimentation reacted with severe growth suppression and the formation of tangential rows of traumatic resin ducts, and that the intensity and persistence of growth anomalies in trees are positively correlated with local depths and granulometry of sediments.

Key words:

• Norway spruce forest
• tree‐rings
• growth anomalies
• Călimani Massif (Romania)

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Iulia PANDIA for performing the granulometric analysis presented in this study. The Associate Editor Armelle DECAULNE and the two other anonymous referees are warmly acknowledged for their comments on the manuscripts that improve the presentation of this work. Fieldworks were financially supported by the Research Fund of the Faculty of Geography, Babeş‐Bolyai University.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Olimpiu Pop

Olimpiu Pop, Ştefan Buimagă‐Iarinca, Titu Anghel, Faculty of Geography, Babeş‐Bolyai University, 5‐7 Clinicilor Street, 400006 Cluj‐Napoca, Romania

E‐mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

Markus Stoffel

Markus Stoffel, Laboratory of Dendrogeomorphology, Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 1+3, CH‐3012 Bern, and Climatic Change, and Climate Impacts Group (C3i), Institute of Environmental, Sciences, University of Geneva, 7 route, de Drize, CH‐1227 Carouge‐Geneva, Switzerland

E‐mail: [email protected]