The Survey and Analysis of Copper Contents in Two Species Plants Growing on the Copper Mining Spoils

A field survey and sampling for chemical analysis was carried out to investigate copper contents in Artemisia argyi and Rumex japonicus Houtt at Zhongtiaoshan nonferrous metal company,Shanxi province.Both species were found to grow vigorously on the copper mining spoils with comparatively large biomass.The rooting zone soils supporting both species con- taining high concentrations of copper.Study results showed that the copper contents of Artemisia argyi in root and leaves was 37.74～66.14 mg·kg~(-1) and 40.71～93.14 mg·kg~(-1).The copper contents of Rumex japonicus Houtt in root,leaves and spike was 37.49～49.90 mg·kg~(-1),56.55～131.81 mg·kg~(-1) and 43.21～76.51 mg·kg~(-1).Both species accumulated higher copper in leaves and spike than in root.These results may suggest that both species could survive on soils contamina- ted with copper by the same mechanism and had the potential to serve as pioneer species for phytoremediation of copper-con- taminated soils.