Distribution of arsenic and nickel in uranium mill tailings,Rabbit Lake,Saskatchewan, Canada

The Rabbit Lake U mine in-pit tailings management facility (TMF) is located in northern Saskatchewan, Canada. The tailings body is approximately 425 m long×300 m wide and 91 m thick at its centre. An investigation of the TMF was performed to collect tailings samples from depth to quantify the distribution of As and Ni in the tailings with respect to ore type and assess the distribution of As and Ni with respect to tailings mineralogy. The tailings body consists of alternating layers of ice, frozen tailings and unfrozen tailings which varied in texture from a slurry to a firm silty sand. The tailings solids are predominately composed of quartz (16–36%), calcium sulphate (0.3–54%) and illite (3 and 14%). Arsenic and Ni concentrations in the tailings show similar patterns with depth which were strongly related to historical changes in As and Ni concentrations in the mill feed. Mineralogy of the ore bodies indicated that As and Ni in the mill feed occurred primarily as 1:1 molar ratio arsenides such as niccolite and gersdorffite. Arsenic and Ni concentrations in the tailings were also measured at a near 1:1 molar ratio. Mill process records showed that an average of 71% of the As in the mill feed was solubilized during leaching. SEM analysis suggested that solubilized As is precipitated as Ca²⁺, Fe³⁺ and Ni²⁺ arsenates during the neutralization process. Mill records indicated that 17,000 tonnes of As were discharged to the TMF of which approximately 88% was as arsenates and 12% as primary arsenides.     

Geochemistry of arsenic in uranium mine mill tailings,Saskatchewan, Canada

The Rabbit Lake U mine in-pit tailings management facility (TMF) (425 m long×300 m wide×91 m deep) is located in northern Saskatchewan, Canada. The objectives of this study were to quantify the distribution of As phases in the tailings and evaluate the present-day geochemical controls on dissolved As. These objectives were met by analyzing pore fluid samples collected from the tailings body for dissolved constituents, measuring Eh, pH, and temperature of tailings core and pore fluid samples, conducting sequential extractions on solid samples, conducting geochemical modeling of pore fluid chemistry using available thermodynamic data, and by reviewing historical chemical mill process records. Dissolved As concentrations in 5 monitoring wells installed within the tailings body ranged from 9.6 to 71 mg/l. Pore fluid in the wells had a pH between 9.3 and 10.3 and Eh between +58 and +213 mV. Sequential extraction analyses of tailings samples showed that the composition of the solid phase As changed at a depth of 34 m. The As above 34 m was primarily associated with amorphous Fe and metal hydroxides while the As below 34 m was associated with Ca, likely as amorphous poorly ordered calcium arsenate precipitates. The change in the dominant As solid phases at this depth was attributed to the differences in the molar ratio of Fe to As in the mill tailings. Below 34 m it was <2 whereas above 34 m it was >4. The high Ca/As ratio during tailings neutralization would likely precipitate Ca₄(OH)₂(AsO₄)₂:4H₂O type Ca arsenate minerals. Geochemical modeling suggested that if the pore fluids were brought to equilibrium with this Ca-arsenate, the long-term dissolved As concentrations would range between 13 and 126 mg/l.     

Mobilization and attenuation of heavy metals within a nickel mine tailings impoundment near Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

 The oxidation and the subsequent dissolution of sulfide minerals within the Copper Cliff tailings area have led to the release of heavy metals such as Fe, Ni, and Co to the tailings pore water. Dissolved concentrations in excess of 10 g/l Fe and 2.2 g/l Ni have been detected within the shallow pore water of the tailings, with increasing depth these concentrations decrease to or near analytical detection limits. Geochemical modelling of the pore-water chemistry suggests that pH-buffering reactions are occurring within the shallow oxidized zones, and that secondary phases are precipitating at or near the underlying hardpan and transition zones. Mineralogical study of the tailings confirmed the presence of goethite, jarosite, gypsum, native sulfur, and a vermiculite-type clay mineral. Goethite, jarosite, and native sulfur form alteration rims and pseudo-morphs of the sulfide minerals. Interstitial cements, composed of goethite, jarosite, and gypsum, locally bind the tailings particles, forming hardpan layers. Microprobe analyses of the goethite indicate that it contains up to 0.6 weight % Ni, suggesting that the goethite is a repository for Ni. Other sinks detected for heavy metals include jarosite and a vemiculite-type clay mineral which locally contains up to 1.6 weight % Ni. To estimate the mass and distribution of heavy metals associated with the secondary phases within the shallow tailings, a series of chemical extractions was completed. The experimental design permitted four fractions of the tailings to be evaluated independently. These four fractions consisted of a water-soluble, an acid-leachable, and a reducible fraction, as well as the whole-rock total. Twenty-five percent of the total mass of heavy metals was removed in the acid-leaching experiments, and 100% of the same components were removed in the reduction experiments. The data suggest that precipitation/coprecipitation reactions are providing an effective sink for most of the heavy metals released by sulfide mineral oxidation. In light of these results, potential decommissioning strategies should be evaluated with the recognition that changing the geochemical conditions may alter the stability of the secondary phases within the shallow tailings. Received: 9 April 1997 · Accepted: 21 July 1997     

Subsurface variations in arsenic mineralogy and geochemistry following long-term weathering of gold mine tailings

Variations in arsenic (As) mineralogy and geochemical controls on its mobility were evaluated in subsurface tailings at the historical Montague and Goldenville mine sites in Nova Scotia, Canada. Tailings at these sites contain some of the highest As concentrations in Nova Scotia and are located in close proximity to local communities. Pore water in the subsurface tailings is characterized by circumneutral to alkaline pH (6.2 to 8.7) and mildly reducing to oxidizing redox conditions (+130 mV to +347 mV). Bulk chemistry, scanning electron microscopy, and synchrotron micro-X-ray diffraction analyses showed As mineral hosts differ with depth. The deepest tailings (max. 2 m) are in direct contact with partially decomposed vegetation, which supports reducing conditions and the precipitation of authigenic As and Fe sulfides. Under reducing conditions, dissolved As concentrations are also controlled by desorption of As from dissolution of Fe and Mn oxides and the sorption or co-precipitation of As with carbonates. These geochemical controls differ from those influencing dissolved As concentrations under oxidizing conditions. In the near surface, As mobility is controlled by oxidative dissolution of primary arsenopyrite, precipitation of secondary Fe arsenates, Fe oxyhydroxides and Mn oxides, secondary Ca-Fe arsenates, and sorption onto Fe oxyhydroxides and gangue minerals. Some of these mineral species are stable under different conditions yet occur in close association, indicating the importance of microenvironments. The results of this study show that the weathering characteristics of these tailings vary with depth, leading to the formation of new As hosts that are distinct from those observed in the near surface. Identification of these As hosts provides an understanding of current controls on As mobility and has implications for future reprocessing and/or remediation efforts.     

Secondary copper enrichment in tailings at the Laver mine, northern Sweden

 Field and laboratory studies of the sulphide-bearing tailings at Laver, northern Sweden, show that the present release of metals from the tailings is low, especially with regard to Cu. A large part of the Cu released by sulphide oxidation is enriched in a distinct zone just below the oxidation front. The enrichment zone occurs almost all over the tailings area except in areas with a shallow groundwater table. The Cu enrichment is caused by formation of covellite and adsorption onto mineral surfaces. The transport of Zn, Co, Cd, Ni and S seems to be controlled mainly by adsorption. No secondary zone or secondary minerals containing these metals have been found. Just below the groundwater table, metals are released into solution when the enrichment zone reaches the groundwater due to the low pH. An increased release of metals, especially Cu, can be expected in the future, since the enrichment zone is moving towards the groundwater table. Received: 4 December 1997 · Accepted: 17 December 1998     

Surface analysis of particles in mine tailings by time-of-flight laser-ionization mass spectrometry (TOF-LIMS)

  Time-of-flight laser-ionization mass spectrometry was applied to study the chemical composition of mineral particle surfaces in a sulphide-rich mine-tailings impoundment. This surface-sensitive technique provides chemical information from surfaces of irregularly shaped mineral particles (both conductive and insulators) less than 100 μm in diameter, which are considered to be representative of particle surface coatings in the tailings pile (after drying). In addition, depth profiles in the mineral particles were obtained. The combination of speed of analysis (1 min), small beam-diameter (2–4 μm), surface sensitivity (2–10 nm), trace-element sensitivity, and capability to analyze rough surfaces makes this method useful as a complement to studies of pore-water geochemistry and tailings mineralogy. As an example, the behavior of Pb and As in the Kidd Creek tailings dam near Timmins, Ontario, Canada, was studied, using a combination of surface analyses, and pore-water geochemical data. Received: 22 February 1995 / Accepted: 6 January 1996     

Toxic metal contamination in the lateral lakes of the Coeur d'Alene River valley, Idaho

 The 11 lateral lakes of Coeur d'Alene River valley in northern Idaho have received heavy metal contamination from over a century of upstream mining. The lateral lakes lie within the flood plain of the Coeur d'Alene River, and in their bottom sediments is preserved a stratigraphic record of the upstream mining operations. To characterize the contaminated sediments in the lateral lakes, sampling techniques, including the Livingston piston corer and the Huttenen freeze box, have been developed by Quaternary geologists to preserve the vertical stratigraphy in the samples. From 26 cm to over 55 cm of undisturbed tailing sediments, commonly with “varve-like” features, have been found in each of the lateral lakes, with maximum concentrations by weight of lead at 3.8%, zinc at 3.4%, arsenic at 340 mg/kg, cadmium at 120 mg/kg and mercury at 7 mg/kg. The contamination in the lakes appears to be restricted to the shallow subsurface and heavy metal concentrations generally drop to background levels within a meter of depth. Received: 22 May 1998 · Accepted: 21 September 1998     

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

The distribution of As, Mo, Ni and Se in the aqueous and solid phases of U mine tailings in the Deilmann Tailings Management Facility (DTMF), located at the Key Lake mine in northern Saskatchewan, Canada, was defined using as-discharged tailings samples collected monthly starting in 1996 and core samples collected from the DTMF from 3 locations on 3 occasions between 2004 and 2009. These data indicated that the DTMF can be divided into two geochemical zones; tailings generated from the Deilmann ore body between 1996 and 2000 and tailings from the McArthur River ore body, mined after July 2000. The Deilmann tailings solids are generally characterized by greater elemental concentrations than those in the McArthur River tailings, particularly for As, Co and Ni. These elevated concentrations are attributed to the abundance of Ni–Co–As–S minerals in this ore. The mean aqueous concentrations of As, Mo, Ni, and Se are 3.7, 23.2, 0.14, and 0.02 mg L⁻¹, respectively, in the Deilmann porewaters and 0.20, 4.16, 0.06, and 0.03 mg L⁻¹, respectively, in the McArthur River porewaters. Similarly, the mean As, Mo, Ni, and Se solid phase concentrations are 5.89 × 10³, 69.9, 3.20 × 10³, and 17.4 μg g⁻¹, respectively, for the Deilmann tailings and 440, 13.6, 551, and 3.03 μg g⁻¹ in the McArthur River tailings. Statistically, pH remained unchanged from the time of discharge while Eh values have remained oxic with no significant change between the two tailings types over 15 a of residence time. Results from sequential extractions, thermodynamic modeling, and results of complimentary research indicated that ferrihydrite solubility is the dominant control on aqueous As concentrations and also plays a role in controlling dissolved Mo, Ni and Se.     

Adsorption of arsenic by natural aquifer material in the San Antonio-El Triunfo mining area, Baja California, Mexico

 Several experiments of arsenic (As) adsorption by aquifer material of the San Antonio-El Triunfo (SA-ET) mining area were conducted to test the feasibility of this material acting as a natural control for As concentrations in groundwater. This aquifer material is mineralogically complex, composed of quartz, feldspar, calcite, chlorite, illite, and magnetite/hematite. The total iron content (Fe₂O₃) in the fine fraction is ∼12%, whereas Fe₂O₃ in the coarse fraction is <10 wt%. The experimental percent total As adsorbed vs. pH curves obtained match the topology of total As adsorbed onto iron oxi-hydroxides surface (arsenate + arsenite; high adsorption at low pH, low adsorption at high pH). A maximum of about 80% adsorbed in the experiments suggests the presence of arsenite in the experimental solutions. The experimental adsorption isotherm at pH 7 indicates saturation of surface sites at high solute concentrations. Surface titration of the aquifer material indicates a point of zero charge (PZC) for the adsorbent of about 8 to 8.5 (PZC for iron oxyhydroxides =7.9–8.2). Comparison between experimental and modeled results (using the MICROQL and MINTEQA2 geochemical modeling and speciation computer programs) suggests that As is being adsorbed mostly by oxyhydroxides surfaces in the natural environment. Based on an estimated retardation factor (R), the travel time of the As plume from the SA-ET area to La Paz and Los Planes is about 700 to 5000 years. Received: 17 March 1997 · Accepted: 8 September 1997     

Adsorption, desorption and oxidation of arsenic affected by clay minerals and aging process

 Adsorption/desorption and oxidation/reduction of arsenic at clay surfaces are very important to the natural attenuation of arsenic in the subsurface environment. Although numerous studies have concluded that iron oxides have high affinities for the adsorption of As(V), very little experimental work has addressed the arsenic attenuation capacities of different clay minerals and aging process affecting the transformation of arsenic. The abundance of clay minerals in a variety of geochemical environments and their influence on adsorption of contaminants suggests a need for more experimental work to characterize the adsorption desorption, and oxidation of arsenic on clay minerals. In this investigation three types of clay mineral were studied: the 1 : 1 layer clays [halloysite (IN), sedimentary M-kaolinite, and weathered EPK-kaolinite]; the 2 : 1 layer clays [illite (MT) and illite/montmorillonite (MT)]; the 2 :>: 1 layer clay [chlorite (CA)]. The halloysite and the chlorite had much greater As(V) adsorption (25–35 folds) than the other clay minerals. The clay minerals had lower As(III) adsorption than As(V) adsorption, and the adsorption was affected by pH. Desorption of arsenic from the clay minerals was significantly influenced by the aging process. The quantities of extractable As(III) and As(V) decreased with increasing aging time. The results demonstrated that oxidation of As(III) to As(V) occurred on the clay surfaces, whereas reduction of As(V) to As(III) was not found in any of the clay minerals studied. The oxidation of As(III) was affected by the types of clay and aging time. Received: 22 March 1999 · Accepted: 15 April 1999     

Water contamination and remedial measures at the Troya abandoned Pb-Zn mine (The Basque Country, Northern Spain)

 This article describes a case of contamination of a karstic aquifer by abandoning an underground mine exploiting sulphide ore body. To exploit the ore, the aquifer was drained and the water level declined about 230 m, drying up the spring that had drained the aquifer up to that moment. When the mining activity ceased, the piezometric level recovered and contaminated water began to flow out from a mine adit. The water is high in sulphates and dissolved Fe, although the pH is neutral. When this water reached the nearby creek, the fish population was eliminated, principally due to the presence of toxic metals and the precipitation of Fe hydroxides. The contamination originated in an area of the partially flooded mine rooms where the ore is in contact with both air and water. The acidity generated by pyrite oxidation is neutralized by calcite dissolution. Presently, the mine water is diverted to the old tailings pond which functions as an aerobic wetland. This action has allowed the fish population in the creek to be restored. Received: 20 January 1999 · Accepted: 15 March 1999     

Mineralogical and geochemical signature of mine waste contamination, Tresillian River, Fal Estuary, Cornwall, UK

The mineralized district of SW England was one of the world's greatest mining areas, with mining commencing in the Bronze age, peaking in the 1850s to 1890s, but still continuing to the present day. Consequently, it is not surprising that mining has had a major impact on the environmental geochemistry of SW England. In this study, the mineralogical and geochemical signature of mine waste contamination within the Fal Estuary at Tresillian, Cornwall, has been examined. A pulse of mine waste contamination is recognized at approximately 50?cm below present day sediment surface. Sn, As, Cu, Pb, and Zn are all enriched within this contaminated interval with up to 1800 mg?kg^–1 Sn, 290 mg?kg^–1 As, 508 mg?kg^–1 Pb, 2210 mg?kg^–1 Zn, and 1380 mg?kg^–1 Cu. Within this interval, the dominant minerals present include chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite, pyrite, cassiterite, Fe–Ti oxides (ilmenite and ?rutile), wolframite, sphalerite, baryte, zircon, monazite, tourmaline and xenotime. In addition, man-made slag products commonly occur. The exact timing of the release of mine waste into the estuary is poorly constrained, but probably occurred during or immediately following the peak in mining activity in the nearby Camborne-Redruth district, which was between 1853 and 1893. The mine waste may have entered the estuary either via the Tresillian River and its tributaries or via Calenick Creek and the Truro River and/or the Carnon River which flows into Rostronguet Creek.     

Chemical weathering in soils from the glacial Lake Agassiz region of Manitoba, Canada

 Recently, there has been considerable interest in categorizing the availability of plant essential nutrients and selected transition metals in the soil environment so as to predict their effects on ecosystem health and the efficacy of potential management practices. Researchers desire to isolate important soil properties, determinant biotic activities and fundamental pedogenic processes that control biogeochemical cycling and are potentially modifiable for the goal of ecosystem sustainability. In a relative sense, a significant portion of this scientific effort has been directed towards temperate and tropical forest ecosystems, with relatively less attention given towards understanding the boreal forest ecosystem. Consequently, an investigation was undertaken near Thompson, Manitoba, to: (1) determine the extent of weathering of the principal soils, (2) employ a selective-sequential chemical extraction method to categorize the soil-chemical fractions responsible for nutrient availability, and (3) infer the importance of selected soil forming processes responsible for soil genesis and nutrient availability. Preliminary findings suggest that nutrient availability is related to the nutrient concentration in the cation exchange fraction and/or to nutrients sequestered by the organic fraction. The metals in the manganese, noncrystalline and crystalline iron oxide fractions may be bound so tightly to these oxides that they are largely unavailable to plants; however, they are largely responsible for buffering the more labile pools against gradually changing vegetational and climatic conditions. Received: 31 October 1996 · Accepted: 21 May 1997     

Comparison of color, chemical and mineralogical compositions of mine drainage sediments to pigment

 Forty-three untreated and actively and passively (wetland) treated coal mine drainage sediments and five yellow-red pigments were characterized using X-ray fluorescence, fusion-inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and tristimulus colorimeter. Primary crystalline iron-bearing phases were goethite and lepidocrocite, and iron phases converted to hematite upon heating. Quartz was nearly ubiquitous except for synthetic pigments. Gypsum, bassinite, calcite, and ettringite were found in active treatment sediments. Iron concentrations from highest to lowest were synthetic pigment>wetland sediment>natural pigment>active treatment (untreated sediments varied more widely), and manganese was highest in actively treated sediments. Loss on ignition was highest for passively treated sediments. No clear trends were observed between quantified color parameters (L*, a*, b*, and Redness Index) and chemical compositions. Because sediments from passive treatment are similar in chemistry, mineralogy, and color to natural pigments, the mine drainage sediments may be an untapped resource for pigment. Received: 29 December 1997 · Accepted: 11 May 1998     

Hydrogeochemistry of mine, surface and groundwaters from the Sanggok mine creek in the upper Chungju Lake, Republic of Korea

 The Sanggok mine used to be one of the largest lead-zinc mines in the Hwanggangri mining district, Republic of Korea. The present study characterizes the heavy metal contamination in the abandoned Sanggok mine creek on the basis of physico-chemical properties of various kinds of water samples (mine, surface and groundwater). Hydrochemistry of the water samples is characterized by the relatively significant enrichment of Ca²⁺, HCO₃ ^–, NO₃ ^– and Cl^– in the surface and groundwaters, whereas the mine water is relatively enriched in Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, heavy metals, and HCO₃ ^– and SO₄ ^2–. The more polluted mine water has a lower pH and higher Eh, conductivity and TDS values. The concentrations of some toxic elements (Al, As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Se, Sr, Pb and Zn) are tens to hundreds of times higher in the mine water than in the unpolluted surface and groundwaters. However, most immobile toxic pollutants from the mine drainage were quickly removed from the surface water by the precipitation of Al and Fe oxyhydroxides. Geochemical modeling showed that potentially toxic heavy metals might exist largely in the forms of MSO₄ ^2– and M²⁺ in the mine water. These metals in the surface and groundwaters could form M²⁺, CO₃ ^2– and OH^– complex ions. Computer simulation indicates that the saturation indices of albite, alunite, anhydrite, chlorite, fluorite, gypsum, halloysite and strontianite in the water samples are undersaturated and have progressively evolved toward the saturation condition. However, barite, calcite, chalcedony, dolomite, gibbsite, illite and quartz were in equilibrium, and only clay minerals were supersaturated. Ground and mine waters seemed to be in equilibrium with kaolinite field, but some surface water were in equilibrium with gibbsite and seceded from the stability field of quartz. This indicates that surface water samples in reaction with carbonate rocks would first equilibrate with carbonate minerals, then gibbsite to kaolinite. Investigations on water quality and environmental improvement of the severely polluted Sanggok creek, as well as remediation methods on the possible future pollution of the groundwater by the acid mine drainage from the abandoned metal mines, are urgently required. Received: 4 February 2000 · Accepted: 9 May 2000     

Fluid compositions and P-T conditions of vein-type uranium mineralization in the Beaverlodge uranium district,northern Saskatchewan,Canada

The Beaverlodge district in northern Saskatchewan is known for “vein-type” uranium mineralization. Most of the uranium deposits are spatially related to major structures, and hosted by ca. 3.2–1.9 Ga granitic rocks (and albitite derived from them) and by ca. 2.33 Ga Murmac Bay Group amphibolite, all of which are unconformably overlain locally by deformed but unmetamorphosed redbeds of the ca. 1.82 Ga Martin Group, and by the flat-lying ca. 1.75–1.5 Ga Athabasca Group. The uranium mineralization is mainly hosted in fault rocks (breccias) and carbonate ± quartz ± albite veins, referred to as breccia-style and vein-style mineralization, respectively, with the latter being the focus of this study. Most of the mineralized veins occur in the basement rocks, although some crosscut the Martin Group. This study examines the field, petrographic, fluid inclusion and C-O isotope characteristics of mineralized and non-mineralized veins from 19 deposits/occurrences as well as from the Martin Group, with an aim to better understand the mineralizing environment and processes.The coexistence of liquid-dominated (L + V), vapour-dominated (V + L) and vapour-only (V) fluid inclusions within individual fluid inclusion assemblages (FIAs) in the veins suggests fluid immiscibility and heterogeneous trapping. The L + V inclusions with the lowest homogenization temperatures (T_h) within individual FIAs are interpreted to represent homogeneous trapping of the liquid phase, which yield T_h values from 78° to 330 °C (mainly 100° to 250 °C), and salinities from 0.2 to 30.8 wt.% NaCl equivalent. Mass spectrometric analysis of bulk fluid inclusions shows that the volatiles are dominated by H₂O (average 97.2 mol%), with minor amounts of CO₂, CH₄, H₂, O₂, N₂, Ar and He. Fluid pressures were estimated to be < 200 bars based on the inference of fluid immiscibility, fluid temperatures of 100° to 250 °C, and low concentrations of non-aqueous volatiles (< 3 mol%). The δ¹⁸O_VPDB and δ¹³C_VPDB of carbonate minerals associated with mineralization range from − 20.5 to − 8.9‰ and − 10.1 to − 0.9‰, respectively. The δ¹⁸O_VSMOW values of the parent fluids calculated using the T_h values range from − 9.6 to + 17.0‰, with the majority from 0 to + 5.0‰. O isotopes of paired equilibrium quartz and calcite, analyzed by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), yield temperatures from 161° to 248 °C, which are consistent with the fluid inclusion data.The new fluid inclusion and stable isotope data are inconsistent with a metamorphic or magmatic-hydrothermal model as proposed in some previous studies (for breccia-style and vein-style mineralization), but rather support a model in which the vein-type uranium mineralization took place at relatively low temperature (100° to 250 °C) and shallow (< 2 km) conditions, with fluid pressure fluctuating between hydrostatic and sub-hydrostatic regimes, possibly related to episodic faulting. The mineralizing fluids were mainly sourced from the Martin Lake Basin, and uraninite was precipitated as a result of mixing between this basin-derived fluid and fluids carrying reducing agents (Fe^2 +, CH₄) derived from the basement, although fluid-rock reactions and fluid immiscibility may have also played a role.     

Growth of Prosopis juliflora on pegmatite tailings from Nellore Mica Belt, Andhra Pradesh, India

 Prosopis juliflora was found to be occurring extensively on the pegmatitic tailings. Leaves and twigs of P. juliflora and soil samples were analyzed for mineral elements. The analysis has shown variation in the absorption and accumulation of mineral elements of the same plant species growing at different areas. The plant species accumulated large concentrations of Sr, B, and Ba. The ubiquitous thorny shrub P. juliflora has an extraordinary ecologic amplitude and tolerance for a variety of elements. Received: 10 October 1997 · Accepted: 13 January 1998     

Hydrochemical characterization of acute acid mine drainage at Iron Duke mine, Mazowe, Zimbabwe

 Acid mine drainage (AMD) with a minimum pH of 0.52 was recorded at Iron Duke mine near Mazowe, Zimbabwe during an investigation of the environmental geochemistry of mine waters in the Greenstone Belts of Zimbabwe. Hydrochemical data for waters emanating from the Iron Duke waste-rock pile indicate their super-saturation with respect to Fe and SO₄ ^2–. Extremely high dissolved concentrations of Al, Zn, Cu, Co, Ni, V, Cr, Cd and As also prevail. Substantial losses of metals from solution occur within 400 m of the AMD source through the precipitation of crystalline sulphates, principally melanterite. Further downstream, hydrous oxide precipitation forms the dominant mechanism of metal attenuation in waters characteristically under-saturated with respect to Fe sulphates. Speciation and saturation index data generated using the equilibrium model WATEQ4F, suggest that such codes have broad utility for generic prediction of the mineralogical contraints on metal mobility in acute AMD systems. Major discrepancies between modelled and empirical hydrochemistries are, however, evident for super-saturated waters in which the kinetics of Fe precipitation are slow, and in which total ionic strengths markedly exceed their theoretical maximum. Received: 28 August 1998 · Accepted: 7 December 1998     

Arsenic content and groundwater geochemistry of the San Antonio-El Triunfo, Carrizal and Los Planes aquifers in southernmost Baja California, Mexico

 The San Antonio-El Triunfo mining district, located at a mountainous region 45 km south-east of La Paz, Baja California, has been worked since the late 1700s. Mine waste material produced during 200 years of mineral extraction area poses a risk of local groundwater pollution and eventually, regional pollution to the Carrizal (west basin) and the Los Planes (east basin) aquifers. There are different types of deposits in the mining area. These are dominated by epithermal veins, in which arsenopyrite is an important component. Carrillo and Drever (1998a) concluded that, even though the amount of mine waste is relatively small in comparison to the large scale area, significant As in groundwater derived from the mine waste piles is found locally in the groundwater. This paper shows the results of geochemical analyses of groundwater samples from the San Antonio-El Triunfo area and the Carrizal and Los Planes aquifers during several years of monitoring (1993–1997). The highest values of total dissolved solids (TDS) and As are in the mineralized area where the mining operations occurred (∼1500 ppm TDS and 0.41 ppm As). The lowest concentrations of TDS and As are, in general, away from the mineralized area (∼500 ppm TDS and 0.01 ppm As). Sulfate and bicarbonate (alkalinity) are, in general, high near the mineralized area and low away from it. The arsenic concentrations vary seasonally, especially after the heavy summer thunderstorms. Geochemical modeling (MINTEQA2 and NETPATH) and analysis of the regional geochemical evolution of the groundwater from the mining area towards the aquifer of Los Planes shows that the most likely hydrochemical processes include: dilution, precipitation of calcite, and adsorption of As onto surfaces of iron oxyhydroxides (ferrihydrite). These processes act as natural controls to the extent and amount of As pollution in the Carrizal and Los Planes aquifers. Received: 4 May 1999 · Accepted: 22 February 2000