STATE OF THE ART AND RESEARCH HOTSPOTS OF ECOLOGICAL REHABILITATION OF TAILINGS - A VISUAL ANALYSIS BASED ON KNOWLEDGE MAPPING

Tailings ecological restoration constitutes a pivotal element within China's green development strategy, exerting profound significance in mitigating land occupation and ecological degradation precipitated by mining activities.Utilizing bibliometric analysis, this study integrates CiteSpace and VOSviewer tools to conduct a systematic dissection of the evolutionary trajectory, research hotspots, and developmental trends characterizing tailings ecological restoration.A comprehensive dataset comprising 342 Chinese and English articles, sourced from CNKI and Web of Science databases and spanning the period from 2014 to 2024, was employed.The study's findings are encapsulated as follows: (1) Policy impetus emerges as the central driving force propelling tailings restoration.Through strategic policies such as the Action Plan for Carbon Dioxide Peaking Before 2030 and the Master Plan for Major Projects of Protection and Restoration of Important Ecological Systems, China has catalyzed a transformative shift in tailings restoration from pollution abatement to ecological reconstruction.(2) The technical framework exhibits a pronounced diversification.Phytoremediation, substrate amendment, and microbial synergistic technologies have ascended to the forefront.A dual-track technological paradigm has crystallized, juxtaposing heavy metal pollution management (e.g., Cd, Cu) with resource valorization (e.g., building materials, fertilizer production).(3) Research hotspots have traversed a tripartite evolutionary arc: an initial focus on the physical stability of tailings (2014)(2015)(2016)(2017), succeeded by an exploration of substrate improvement and heavy metal migration mechanisms (2018-2020), and culminating in a recent pivot towards a carbon neutrality-oriented ecological-economic synergy model (2021)(2022)(2023)(2024).(4) Interdisciplinary integration is markedly pronounced.The confluence of soil science, microbiology, and materials science has propelled cutting-edge advancements, epitomized by rhizosphere microenvironment regulation, biological soil crusts, and enzymatic antioxidant technologies.Future research endeavors must prioritize the fortification of long-term field validation, cross-scale technological integration, and mechanisms for social engagement to actualize the vision of tailings-free mines.This study furnishes a systematic visual foundation for the academic evolution and technological innovation of tailings restoration.