GTK offers a reliable and cost-effective service for the identification of areas of black shale formations, related risk assessments and environmental management. The surveys ensure environmentally sound and safe land use and construction in areas where the soil and bedrock contain sulfur.
Environmental surveys form a service where areas with black shale are identified and taken into account in all land use: peat production, wetland construction, infrastructure construction, and forestry measures such as ditch cleaning, supplementary ditching, and reclamation.
As a rule, environmental surveys in black shale areas include the following
The recommended measures include the planning of preventive measures. Geophysical field surveys are also often associated with the more accurate identification of areas where black shale is present.
GTK’s environmental surveys of black shale areas are based on the latest research data and guidelines. Our experts carry out long-term development of methods related to black shale and are involved in research and development projects on the environmental effects of black shale.
GTK`s service supports the objective of the EU Water Framework Directive and the national river basin management plans to improve the chemical and ecological status of surface waters. We are also preparing customer-specific solutions for the proposed EU directive on soil monitoring and resilience, which was published in the summer of 2023.
Our service also responds to the need to consider soil and bedrock containing high amounts of sulfur in construction. Black shale areas can be a harsh corrosion environment for various structures, steel, and concrete.
Based on the GTK surveys, the management and utilisation of the construction by-product, soil that contains sulphur, can be planned ecologically and carbon-neutrally while reducing the volume of deposited soil and planning the naturalisation of masses with minimal emissions. The emissions can be reduced by alternative implementation methods, by calculating the lime volume or by replacing lime with industrial side-stream materials.
The aim of the service is to improve the quality of surface waters and groundwater in areas where black shale is present. By planning risk management measures, the acidity and metal load from black shale on watercourses can be effectively reduced.
Explore the topic in depth through scientific publications, articles, research reports, and research projects.
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