Role of Plants Rumex Pulcher and Verbascum Songaricum in Accumulation of some Heavy Metals in Sarcheshmeh Copper Mine, Iran

Sarcheshmeh copper mine, is located in south-west of Kerman, is one of a large open mine in the world and is one the important mineral and industrial site of Iran. The soil of the area naturally contains some heavy metals. Mining activities has also caused accumulation of polluting metals into the soil. Different methods are applied to reduce water and soil pollutants. Most of the methods are expensive and time consuming. Using suitable plants for remediation of the polluted soils, which is because of low cost and minimum environmental hazardous effects has accelerated in recent years. In this study, plants Rumex pulcher and Verbascum songaricum were collected from three sites around the Sarcheshmeh copper mine, and plant roots, shoots and the soils of the rhizosphere were analyzed for Cu, Zn and Pb in spring and summer 2007. The plant and soil samples were sent to Amdel laboratory in Australia were analyses for their metals contents using ICP. The results showed higher ranges of metals in sites accumulated in plants. Accumulation of these metals of plants in summer was more than spring. According to results it is indicated that the plants have high potential of accumulating of these metals.