[Soil microflora over the closed Donbas mines].

Composition of soil air and microflora in different soil horizons (to 30 cm depth) over some closed Donbas coal mines has been studied. The intensive methane leakages have been found in some soil zones over the closed coal mines. This results in formation of explosive and inflammable gas mixtures. Methane content in soil gas mixtures could vary from trace amounts to 34 %. The essential decrease of oxygen (to 3-4%) and increasing (up to 5 %) of CO2 concentrations that evidences for active microbiological processes in such soils is marked in the latter case. Methanotrophic bacteria involving methane into biogenic cycle are widespread (up to 106 cells per 1 g) in methane-containing soils over the closed coal mines. Microorganisms of different physiological groups in the community with methanotrophic bacteria were found in the given technogenic econiche.