Processes of natural soil and vegetation recovery on a worked-out open pit coal mine (Bol’shezemel’skaya tundra)

The processes of soil and vegetation recovery after cessation of surface coal mining operations have been studied for the first time in the far north of Europe. Three stages of primary succession—from primitive algal groups to closed plant communities—have been identified, with the main role being played by soil algae at the zero stage, by herbs at the first stage, and by grasses at the second stage. A close relationship between the early stages in the development of phytocenoses and the stages of posttechnogenic soil formation is demonstrated.