The results of remote monitoring of changes in natural resources in the steppe zone of the Southern Urals under anthropogenic influence from mining activities

Abstract

This study focuses on the results of monitoring changes in natural resource components in the steppe zone of the Southern Ural region under the technogenic influence of copper ore extraction and processing, using Earth remote sensing data. A comprehensive analysis was conducted on Landsat satellite images acquired in 2014 and 2023. The application of vegetation indices, particularly the NDVI, revealed a decline in vegetation levels around the mining and processing plant over the study period. Further analysis utilizing the Ferrous Minerals Ratio index and the “false color” method confirmed the expansion of areas occupied by waste dumps and tailings, as well as an increase in soil iron concentration. Chemical analyses confirmed the presence of elevated metal concentrations at the tailings storage facility. The findings highlight the environmental impact of the mining and processing plant and underscore the need for systematic monitoring of the situation.