Microbial communities in low permeability, high pH uranium mine tailings: characterization and potential effects

2013 ◽  
Vol 114 (6) ◽  
pp. 1671-1686 ◽  
Author(s):  
V.F. Bondici ◽  
J.R. Lawrence ◽  
N.H. Khan ◽  
J.E. Hill ◽  
E. Yergeau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Mine Tailings ◽  
Uranium Mine ◽  
Low Permeability ◽  
High Ph

Mobility of Ra-226 and Heavy Metals (U, Th and Pb) From Pyritic Uranium Mine Tailings Under Sub-Aqueous Disposal Conditions

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nand K. Dave´
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Mine Tailings ◽  
Ion Concentration ◽  
Uranium Mine ◽  
Acid Generation ◽  
Shallow Zone ◽  
Acidic Conditions ◽  
Waste Repositories

Laboratory lysimeter studies were undertaken to evaluate the leaching characteristics and mobility of Ra-226 and other heavy metals (U, Th and Pb) from pyritic uranium mine tailings under sub-aqueous disposal conditions for assessing the long-term radiological stability of such waste repositories. The experiments were conducted using three types of un-oxidized tailings: fine, coarse and gypsum depleted mill total tailings. The results showed that Ra-226 was leached from surface of the submerged tailings and released to both surface water and shallow zone pore water during initial low sulphate ion concentration of the surface water cover in all three cases. The release of Ra-226 was further enhanced with the onset of weak acidic conditions in the surface water covers of both coarse and gypsum depleted mill total tailings. With additional acid generation and increasing sulphate and iron concentrations, the dissolved Ra-226 concentrations in the water covers of these tailings gradually decreased back to low levels. Pb was also leached and mobilized with the development of moderate acidic conditions at the surface of the submerged coarse and gypsum deplete tailings. No leaching of U and Th was observed.

scholarly journals Effect of Re-acidification on Buffalo Grass Rhizosphere and Bulk Microbial Communities During Phytostabilization of Metalliferous Mine Tailings

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linnea K. Honeker ◽  
Catherine F. Gullo ◽  
Julia W. Neilson ◽  
Jon Chorover ◽  
Raina M. Maier
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Mine Tailings ◽  
Buffalo Grass

Microbial Communities on Leaf Material Protected from Macroinvertebrate Grazing in Acidic and Circumneutral Streams

1987 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 1064-1070 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony V. Palumbo ◽  
Patrick J. Mulholland ◽  
Jerry W. Elwood
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Microbial Activity ◽  
Standing Stock ◽  
Low Ph ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
High Ph ◽  
Leaf Material ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Leaf Surfaces ◽  
Flow Through

To determine how low pH and high aluminum concentrations directly affect microbial activity on decomposing leaves in streams, we examined microbial communities on leaf surfaces using in situ flow-through chambers which exclude macroinvertebrates. Bacterial production (thymidine incorporation) on leaf material was significantly higher at pH 6.4 than at 4.9 after 4 wk of incubation, and this difference persisted for the last 5 wk of the experiment. Microbial respiration was greater at the high pH site after 6 wk, and there were no significant differences in ATP standing stock. Concentrations of oxalate-extractable aluminum on the leaf material increased significantly within the first 4 wk of incubation and stabilized at significantly greater levels at low pH (4.66 mg∙g−1) than at high pH (1.70 mg∙g−1). Transferring leaf material from the high-pH to the low-pH stream had negative effects after only 1 wk of incubation. However, transferring from low pH to high pH did not result in significant positive effects until 4 wk after the transfers. The reduced microbial production and respiration in the low-pH stream imply that decomposition rates may be slower in acidified systems due, at least in part, to direct effects of acidification on microbial activity.

Study of the Oxidation State of Arsenic and Uranium in Individual Particles From Uranium Mine Tailings, Hungary

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Alsecz ◽  
J. Osa´n ◽  
J. Pa´lfalvi ◽  
I. Sajo´ ◽  
Z. Ma´the´ ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidation State ◽  
Mine Tailings ◽  
Track Detector ◽  
Uranium Mine ◽  
Nuclear Track Detector ◽  
Mobile Form ◽  
Edge Structure ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Uranium Ore ◽  
Distribution Of Elements

Uranium ore mining and milling have been terminated in the Mecsek Mountains (southwest Hungary) in 1997. Mine tailings ponds are located between two important water bases, which are resources of the drinking water of the city of Pe´cs and the neighbouring villages. The average U concentration of the tailings material is 71.73 μg/g, but it is inhomogeneous. Some microscopic particles contain orders of magnitude more U than the rest of the tailings material. Other potentially toxic elements are As and Pb of which chemical state is important to estimate mobility, because in mobile form they can risk the water basis and the public health. Individual U-rich particles were selected with solid state nuclear track detector (SSNTD) and after localisation the particles were investigated by synchrotron radiation based microanalytical techniques. The distribution of elements over the particles was studied by micro beam X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF) and the oxidation state of uranium and arsenic was determined by micro X-ray absorption near edge structure (μ-XANES) spectroscopy. Some of the measured U-rich particles were chosen for studying the heterogeneity with μ-XRF tomography. Arsenic was present mainly in As(V) and uranium in U(VI) form in the original uranium ore particles, but in the mine tailings samples uranium was present mainly in the less mobile U(IV) form. Correlation was found between the oxidation state of As and U in the same analyzed particles. These results suggest that dissolution of uranium is not expected in short term period.

Distribution, characterization, and geochemical controls of elements of concern in uranium mine tailings, Key Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (12) ◽  
pp. 2044-2056 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean A. Shaw ◽  
M. Jim Hendry ◽  
Joseph Essilfie-Dughan ◽  
Tom Kotzer ◽  
Dirk Wallschläger
Keyword(s):  
Mine Tailings ◽  
Uranium Mine ◽  
Geochemical Controls
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