scholarly journals Release of technology critical metals during sulfide oxidation processes: the case of the Poderosa sulfide mine (south-west Spain)

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Ruiz Cánovas ◽  
Francisco Macías ◽  
Manuel Olías ◽  
Maria Dolores Basallote ◽  
Rafael Pérez-López ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acid Mine Drainage ◽  
Chemical Weathering ◽  
Natural Waters ◽  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Sulfide Oxidation ◽  
Critical Metals ◽  
Critical Elements ◽  
Acid Mine ◽  
South West

Environmental contextNatural weathering of rocks may release technology critical elements (TCEs) to the environment, and anthropogenic activities can noticeably increase TCE release rates. We investigated acid mine drainage outflows from an underground sulfide mine in south-west Spain, reporting TCE concentrations orders of magnitude higher than those observed in natural waters. The findings improve our knowledge on mobility of TCEs in different geological settings. AbstractExtensive extraction of technology critical elements (TCEs) from the lithosphere and their use results in a growing dispersion and remobilisation of these elements within the environmental compartments. We investigated the concentration and mobility of different TCEs (rare earth elements (REEs), Sc, Y, Ga and Tl) in acid mine drainage (AMD) outflows from a massive sulfide underground mine in south-west Spain for around 2 years. High levels of TCEs were observed; average concentrations of 8.2mgL−1 of REEs, 1.5mgL−1 of Y, 80µgL−1 of Ga, 53µgL−1 of Sc and 42µgL−1 of Tl were reported, several orders of magnitude higher than those observed in natural waters. The TCEs source in the study site is primarily accessory minerals in the host rocks, although the contribution of Ga and Tl by sulfides cannot be discarded. A seasonal variability in TCEs is observed in AMD waters, although their maximum concentrations do not coincide with those of sulfide-related elements. TCEs seem not to be controlled by the precipitation of secondary minerals, but by the intensity of chemical weathering inside the mined zone. A positive correlation between REEs and the Si/Na+K ratio seems to indicate that these elements are linked to resistant minerals to weathering.

scholarly journals Extremely Acidic Eukaryotic (Micro) Organisms: Life in Acid Mine Drainage Polluted Environments—Mini-Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 376
Author(s):  
Ana Teresa Luís ◽  
Francisco Córdoba ◽  
Catarina Antunes ◽  
Raul Loayza-Muro ◽  
José Antonio Grande ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acid Mine Drainage ◽  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Sulfide Oxidation ◽  
Extreme Environments ◽  
Acid Mine ◽  
Aquatic Food Chain ◽  
Eukaryotic Microorganisms ◽  
Aquatic Food ◽  
Eukaryotic Organisms ◽  
Micro Organisms

Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) results from sulfide oxidation, which incorporates hydrogen ions, sulfate, and metals/metalloids into the aquatic environment, allowing fixation, bioaccumulation and biomagnification of pollutants in the aquatic food chain. Acidic leachates from waste rock dams from pyritic and (to a lesser extent) coal mining are the main foci of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) production. When AMD is incorporated into rivers, notable changes in water hydro-geochemistry and biota are observed. There is a high interest in the biodiversity of this type of extreme environments for several reasons. Studies indicate that extreme acid environments may reflect early Earth conditions, and are thus, suitable for astrobiological experiments as acidophilic microorganisms survive on the sulfates and iron oxides in AMD-contaminated waters/sediments, an analogous environment to Mars; other reasons are related to the biotechnological potential of extremophiles. In addition, AMD is responsible for decreasing the diversity and abundance of different taxa, as well as for selecting the most well-adapted species to these toxic conditions. Acidophilic and acidotolerant eukaryotic microorganisms are mostly composed by algae (diatoms and unicellular and filamentous algae), protozoa, fungi and fungi-like protists, and unsegmented pseudocoelomata animals such as Rotifera and micro-macroinvertebrates. In this work, a literature review summarizing the most recent studies on eukaryotic organisms and micro-organisms in Acid Mine Drainage-affected environments is elaborated.

scholarly journals Phytoremediation and Nanoremediation : Emerging Techniques for Treatment of Acid Mine Drainage Water

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pratyush Kumar Das
Keyword(s):  
Acid Mine Drainage ◽  
Mine Water ◽  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Drainage Water ◽  
Environmental Pollutant ◽  
Water Drainage ◽  
Mining Sites ◽  
Acid Mine ◽  
The Cost

<p>Drainage from mining sites containing sulfur bearing rocks is known as acid mine drainage (AMD). Acid mine drainage water is a serious environmental pollutant that has its effects on plants, animals and microflora of a region. Mine water drainage mainly occurs due to anthropogenic activities like mining that leave the sulfur bearing rocks exposed. This drainage water poses as a potent soil, water and ground water pollutant. Although a lot of remediation measures have been implemented in the past but, none of them have been able to solve the problem completely. This review intends to focus on new emerging and better techniques in the form of phytoremediation and nanoremediation for treatment of acid mine drainage water. Besides, the review also gives more importance to the phytoremediation technique over nanoremediation because of the cost effectiveness and eco-friendly nature of the first and the nascent status of the latter. A hypothetical model discussing the use of hyperaccumulator plants in remediation of acid mine water has been proposed. The model also proposes natural induction of the phytoremedial ability of the plants involved in the remediation process. The proposed model assisted by inputs from further research, may be helpful in proper treatment of acid mine drainage water in the near future.</p>

Seasonal water quality variations in a river affected by acid mine drainage: the Odiel River (South West Spain)

2004 ◽  
Vol 333 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 267-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Olı́as ◽  
J.M. Nieto ◽  
A.M. Sarmiento ◽  
J.C. Cerón ◽  
C.R. Cánovas
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Acid Mine Drainage ◽  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Odiel River ◽  
Acid Mine ◽  
South West ◽  
Seasonal Water Quality
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