An integrated geochemical and mineralogical investigation on soil-plant system of <i>Pinus halepensis</i> pioneer tree growing on heavy metal polluted mine tailing

The plant species Pinus halepensis grows spontaneously on heavily polluted mine tailings dumps of Campo Pisano (Sardinia, southwestern Italy). area is characterized mainly by Zn, Pb, and Cd. Sampling campaign was done, related to soils materials (roots, barks, wood, needles), aimed at evaluating the main mineralogical characteristics, metal content, accumulation, translocation behavior. substrates were composed pyrite, dolomite, calcite, quartz, gypsum, barite with iron sulfate, oxide. Zn ore minerals (smithsonite) muscovite detected mostly in deeper soil layers. most abundant substrate as well tissues. Roots accumulated high concentrations (664.65–2710 58.39–735.88 4.86–11.02 mg kg−1 Cd) reflecting contamination soil. biological accumulation values reported below one for all Cd Translocation Factor (TF) needles ranged 0.03–0.32, 0.03–0.19, 0.04–0.14. Biological Concentration (BCF) estimated up 0.17, 0.18, 0.19, respectively. results indicate that P. an excluder, tolerates concentrations, restricts their aerial parts may be applied long-term phytostabilization revegetation processes abandoned tailing sites.