Research Article

Assessment of heavy metal content in Paliurus spina-christi leaves and soils near an abandoned gold mine: A case study from Erzincan, Türkiye

Volume: 10 Number: 2 October 9, 2026
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Assessment of heavy metal content in Paliurus spina-christi leaves and soils near an abandoned gold mine: A case study from Erzincan, Türkiye

Abstract

This study was conducted in an abandoned gold-mining area, located in the İliç district of Erzincan Province, in eastern Türkiye. Three localities were selected from areas close to mining area. The highest Zn, Cu, and Pb concentrations in both soil and leaf tissues were found at locality 3, the nearest site to the mine tailing pond. So, Zn, Cu and Pb concentrations in all soil and leaf samples of Paliurus spina-christi were mainly from tailing releases. Statistical analysis showed that the concentrations of Zn, Mn, Cu, and Pb in soil and leaf samples varied depending on both the group factor (soil vs. leaf) and the locality factor (localities 1, 2, and 3). Negative Igeo values in the present study indicate the absence of contamination by the studied heavy metals. For all elements, the concentrations measured in leaf samples were many times higher than those in soil. In particular, Mn concentration in the leaves of P. spina-christi collected from locality 3 exceeded the threshold value and reached toxic levels. Very high BAC values for Zn and Mn (BAC>10), and high BAC values for Cu (from 1 to 10) suggest that P. spina-christi can be used as a bioindicator species for monitoring pollution by these elements in local mining areas.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Ecology (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

October 9, 2026

Submission Date

June 2, 2026

Acceptance Date

September 15, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 10 Number: 2

APA
Maralı, R., & Cüce, M. (2026). Assessment of heavy metal content in Paliurus spina-christi leaves and soils near an abandoned gold mine: A case study from Erzincan, Türkiye. Anatolian Journal of Botany, 10(2), 229-236. https://doi.org/10.30616/ajb.1962212
AMA
1.Maralı R, Cüce M. Assessment of heavy metal content in Paliurus spina-christi leaves and soils near an abandoned gold mine: A case study from Erzincan, Türkiye. Ant J Bot. 2026;10(2):229-236. doi:10.30616/ajb.1962212
Chicago
Maralı, Rena, and Mustafa Cüce. 2026. “Assessment of Heavy Metal Content in Paliurus Spina-Christi Leaves and Soils Near an Abandoned Gold Mine: A Case Study from Erzincan, Türkiye”. Anatolian Journal of Botany 10 (2): 229-36. https://doi.org/10.30616/ajb.1962212.
EndNote
Maralı R, Cüce M (October 1, 2026) Assessment of heavy metal content in Paliurus spina-christi leaves and soils near an abandoned gold mine: A case study from Erzincan, Türkiye. Anatolian Journal of Botany 10 2 229–236.
IEEE
[1]R. Maralı and M. Cüce, “Assessment of heavy metal content in Paliurus spina-christi leaves and soils near an abandoned gold mine: A case study from Erzincan, Türkiye”, Ant J Bot, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 229–236, Oct. 2026, doi: 10.30616/ajb.1962212.
ISNAD
Maralı, Rena - Cüce, Mustafa. “Assessment of Heavy Metal Content in Paliurus Spina-Christi Leaves and Soils Near an Abandoned Gold Mine: A Case Study from Erzincan, Türkiye”. Anatolian Journal of Botany 10/2 (October 1, 2026): 229-236. https://doi.org/10.30616/ajb.1962212.
JAMA
1.Maralı R, Cüce M. Assessment of heavy metal content in Paliurus spina-christi leaves and soils near an abandoned gold mine: A case study from Erzincan, Türkiye. Ant J Bot. 2026;10:229–236.
MLA
Maralı, Rena, and Mustafa Cüce. “Assessment of Heavy Metal Content in Paliurus Spina-Christi Leaves and Soils Near an Abandoned Gold Mine: A Case Study from Erzincan, Türkiye”. Anatolian Journal of Botany, vol. 10, no. 2, Oct. 2026, pp. 229-36, doi:10.30616/ajb.1962212.
Vancouver
1.Rena Maralı, Mustafa Cüce. Assessment of heavy metal content in Paliurus spina-christi leaves and soils near an abandoned gold mine: A case study from Erzincan, Türkiye. Ant J Bot. 2026 Oct. 1;10(2):229-36. doi:10.30616/ajb.1962212

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