Hydrogeochemistry and microbiology of mine drainage: An update

The extraction of mineral resources requires access through underground workings, or open pit operations, or through drillholes for solution mining. Additionally, mineral processing can generate large quantities of waste, including mill tailings, waste rock and refinery wastes, heap leach pads, and slag. Thus, through mining and mineral processing activities, large surface areas of sulfide minerals can be exposed to oxygen, water, and microbes, resulting in accelerated oxidation of sulfide and other minerals and the potential for the generation of low-quality drainage. The oxidation of sulfide minerals in mine wastes is accelerated by microbial catalysis of the oxidation of aqueous ferrous iron and sulfide. These reactions, particularly when combined with evaporation, can lead to extremely acidic drainage and very high concentrations of dissolved constituents. Although acid mine drainage is the most prevalent and damaging environmental concern associated with mining activities, generation of saline, basic and neutral drainage containing elevated concentrations of dissolved metals, non-metals, and metalloids has recently been recognized as a potential environmental concern. Acid neutralization reactions through the dissolution of carbonate, hydroxide, and silicate minerals and formation of secondary aluminum and ferric hydroxide phases can moderate the effects of acid generation and enhance the formation of secondary hydrated iron and aluminum minerals which may lessen the concentration of dissolved metals. Numerical models provide powerful tools for assessing impacts of these reactions on water quality.     

安徽铜陵狮子山硫化物矿山酸矿水中微生物功能群的研究

从安徽铜陵狮子山硫化物矿山酸矿水溪流获得样品,采用YE、Feo、FeSo、FeTo 4种选择性培养基,利用overlay分离技术,获得7株细菌菌株.利用16S rRNA基因序列同源性分析,与目前已分离得到的酸矿水微生物进行了比较.利用分离菌株16S rRNA基因序列构建系统进化树,结果表明获得的菌株可分为3个功能群:嗜酸性异养菌、嗜酸性自养菌、中度嗜酸性铁氧化细菌.嗜酸性异养菌主要与酸矿水中三价铁的异化还原和寡营养状态的维持有关;嗜酸性自养菌与酸矿水中铁、硫元素的氧化有关,是酸水中的生产者;中度嗜酸性铁氧化细菌能将二价铁氧化成三价铁,并产生难溶性的矿物,可实现酸矿水与酸矿水底泥之间铁元素的动态平衡.     

Investigation of pyrite oxidation and acid mine drainage characterization associated with Razi active coal mine and coal washing waste dumps in the Azad shahr–Ramian region,northeast Iran

Acid mine drainage (AMD) pollution is considered to be the most serious water pollution problem in mining areas. AMD containing iron sulfates and other components can affect the receiving water bodies. Pyrite oxidation and AMD generation can be considered as important processes that may take place in the wastes produced by coal mining and coal washing operations in the Golestan province (northeast Iran). The study area is characterized by appropriate atmospheric conditions that favor pyrite oxidation and the presence of a large amount of water bodies. This study attempts to consider pyrite oxidation and AMD generation in the Azad shahr–Ramian region. The impact of AMD on the quality of the surface water bodies was investigated by taking samples and analyzing them for hydro-geochemical parameters. Stiff and Piper diagrams were used to represent chemical analyses of water samples. The coal samples taken from different depths at four points on two different coal waste dumps were analyzed to find the fraction of pyrite that remained in the waste particles to investigate the pyrite oxidation process. A computational fluid dynamic package called PHOENICS was used to model pyrite oxidation process numerically. The results obtained from the geochemical analyses of water and coal samples and numerical simulation show pyrite oxidation and acid generation in the region. However, the presence of carbonate rocks raised the pH of the water samples. The drainages of the Razi mine may be recognized as natural alkaline mine drainages.     

Mobility of trace and potentially harmful elements in the environment from high sulfur Indian coal mines

Coal mine rejects and sulfide bearing coals are prone to acid mine drainage (AMD) formation due to aqueous weathering. These acidic effluents contain dissolved trace and potentially harmful elements (PHEs) that have considerable impact on the environment. The behavior of these elements in AMD is mainly controlled by pH. The focus of the present study is to investigate aqueous leaching of mine rejects for prediction of acid producing potential, rates of weathering, and release of PHEs in mine drainage. Mine reject (MR) and coal samples from the active mine sites of Meghalaya, India typically have high S contents (1.8–5.7% in MR and 1.7–4.7% in coals) with 75–90% of the S in organic form and enrichment of most of the PHEs in rejects. Aqueous kinetic leaching experiments on mine rejects showed high acid producing potential and release of trace and potentially harmful elements. The elements (Sb, As, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Pb, Mn, Ni, V and Zn) in mine sample leachates are compared with those in mine waters. The concentrations of Al, Si, P, K, Ti, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb are found to increase with leaching time and are negatively correlated with pH of the solution. The processes controlling the release of these elements are acid leaching, precipitation and adsorption. The critical loads of PHEs in water affected by AMD are calculated by comparing their concentrations with those of regulatory levels. The Enrichment Factors (EFs) and soil pollution indices (SPIs) for the elements have shown that PHEs from coal and mine reject samples are mobilized into the nearby environment and are enriched in the associated soil and sediment.     

Partitioning of major and trace inorganic contaminants in fly ash acid mine drainage derived solid residues

Acid mine drainage was reacted with coal fly ash over a 24 h reaction time and species removal trends evaluated. The evolving process water chemistry was modeled by the geochemical code PHREEQC using WATEQ4 database. Mineralogical analysis of the resulting solid residues was done by X-ray diffraction analysis. Selective sequential extraction was used to evaluate the transfer of species from both acid mine drainage and fly ash to less labile mineral phases that precipitated out. The quantity of fly ash, volume of acid mine drainage in the reaction mixture and reaction time dictated whether the final solution at a given contact time will have a dominant acidic or basic character. Inorganic species removal was dependent on the pH regime generated at a specific reaction time. Sulphate concentration was controlled by precipitation of gypsum, barite, celestite and adsorption on iron-oxy-hydroxides at pH > 5.5. Increase of pH in solution with contact time caused the removal of the metal ions mainly by precipitation, co-precipitation and adsorption. PHREEQC predicted precipitation of iron, aluminium, manganese-bearing phases at pH 5.53–9.12. An amorphous fraction was observed to be the most important in retention of the major and minor species at pH > 6.32. The carbonate fraction was observed to be an important retention pathway at pH 4–5 mainly due to initial local pockets of high alkalinity on surfaces of fly ash particles. Boron was observed to have a strong retention in the carbonate fraction.     

A laboratory study of covers made of low-sulphide tailings to prevent acid mine drainage

Covers with capillary barrier effects (CCBE) are considered to be one of the most effective ways to control acid mine drainage (AMD) production from mine wastes. The use of low-sulphide tailings in CCBE has been proposed recently for cases where other types of material may be unavailable near the mining site. This paper presents leaching column test results showing that CCBEs with a moisture-retaining layer made of slightly reactive tailings, with three different sulphide contents, can effectively limit the production of AMD from the acid-generating tailings placed underneath. With these layered covers, the leachate pH was maintained near neutrality throughout the testing period. When compared to uncovered tailings, the efficiency of the cover systems for reducing the amount of contaminants in the percolated water was determined to be greater than 99% for zinc, copper and iron. This study shows that the use of low-sulphide tailings can improve the ability of a CCBE to limit gas diffusion by consuming a fraction of the migrating oxygen.     

Environmental characterisation of coal mine waste rock in the field: an example from New Zealand

Characterisation of mine waste rock with respect to acid generation potential is a necessary part of routine mine operations, so that environmentally benign waste rock stacks can be constructed for permanent storage. Standard static characterisation techniques, such as acid neutralisation capacity (ANC), maximum potential acidity, and associated acid–base accounting, require laboratory tests that can be difficult to obtain rapidly at remote mine sites. We show that a combination of paste pH and a simple portable carbonate dissolution test, both techniques that can be done in the field in a 15 min time-frame, is useful for distinguishing rocks that are potentially acid-forming from those that are acid-neutralising. Use of these techniques could allow characterisation of mine wastes at the metre scale during mine excavation operations. Our application of these techniques to pyrite-bearing (total S = 1–4 wt%) but variably calcareous coal mine overburden shows that there is a strong correlation between the portable carbonate dissolution technique and laboratory-determined ANC measurements (range of 0–10 wt% calcite equivalent). Paste pH measurements on the same rocks are bimodal, with high-sulphur, low-calcite rocks yielding pH near 3 after 10 min, whereas high-ANC rocks yield paste pH of 7–8. In our coal mine example, the field tests were most effective when used in conjunction with stratigraphy. However, the same field tests have potential for routine use in any mine in which distinction of acid-generating rocks from acid-neutralising rocks is required. Calibration of field-based acid–base accounting characteristics of the rocks with laboratory-based static and/or kinetic tests is still necessary.     

Multiphase flow and reactive transport model in vadose tailings

Weathering processes affecting pyritic wastes may generate huge amounts of acid waters with high concentrations of potentially toxic contaminants (acid mine drainage). Acid mine drainage is mainly produced in the vadose zone. In the present study, a coupled non-isothermal multiphase flow and reactive transport model of the vadose zone of sulfide mine tailings was developed. The geochemical model included kinetically controlled reactions for Fe(II)-oxidation and for the dissolution of sulfide and aluminosilicate phases and the Pitzer ion-interaction model to describe the behavior of the pore-water solutions. Model results were compared with experimental observations in unsaturated column experiments under strongly evaporative conditions similar to arid or semiarid climates. Evolution trends for temperature, water saturation, evaporation rates, pore-water hydrochemistry and mineral phases observed during the drying experiment were adequately reproduced. The coupled model reproduced the increase of solute concentrations in the column top and the precipitation of a crust of secondary mineral phases. This crust became a barrier for water vapour diffusion to the atmosphere and modified the thermohydraulic behavior of the tailings. Enhanced downward migration of water vapour and its condensation in this colder end of the column were correctly taken into account by the model, which reproduced the dilution observed in the lower part of the column during the experiments.     

Isotopic evidence of enhanced carbonate dissolution at a coal mine drainage site in Allegheny County,Pennsylvania, USA

Stable isotopes were used to determine the sources and fate of dissolved inorganic C (DIC) in the circumneutral pH drainage from an abandoned bituminous coal mine in western Pennsylvania. The C isotope signatures of DIC (δ¹³C_DIC) were intermediate between local carbonate and organic C sources, but were higher than those of contemporaneous Pennsylvanian age groundwaters in the region. This suggests a significant contribution of C enriched in ¹³C due to enhanced carbonate dissolution associated with the release of H₂SO₄ from pyrite oxidation. The Sr isotopic signature of the drainage was similar to other regional mine waters associated with the same coal seam and reflected contributions from limestone dissolution and cation exchange with clay minerals. The relatively high δ³⁴S_SO4 and δ¹⁸O_SO4 isotopic signatures of the mine drainage and the presence of presumptive SO₄-reducing bacteria suggest that SO₄ reduction activity also contributes C depleted in ¹³C isotope to the total DIC pool. With distance downstream from the mine portal, C isotope signatures in the drainage increased_, accompanied by decreased total DIC concentrations and increased pH. These data are consistent with H₂SO₄ dissolution of carbonate rocks, enhanced by cation exchange, and C release to the atmosphere via CO₂ outgassing.     

山东淄博煤矿区环境中多环芳烃的初步研究

对山东淄博煤矿区的煤、煤矸石、矿坑排水、煤矸石淋滤水以及煤矿地下水中多环芳烃的含量进行了测试研究。结果表明,该煤矿区的煤及煤矸石中含有多环芳烃;矿坑排水、煤矸石淋滤水及地下水中的多环芳烃与煤层及煤矸石的淋滤有关,煤矿开采引起的多环芳烃污染应引起重视。      

Environmental assessment and nano-mineralogical characterization of coal,overburden and sediment from Indian coal mining acid drainage

The deterioration of environmental conditions is the major contributory factor to poor health and quality of life that hinders sustainable development in any region.Coal mining is one of the major industries that contribute to the economy of a country but it also impacts the environment.The chemical parameters of the coal,overburden,soil and sediments along with the coal mine drainage(CMD)were investigated in order to understand the overall environmental impact from high sulphur coal mining at northeastern coalfield(India).It was found that the total sulphur content of the coal is noticeably high compared to the overburden(OB)and soil.The volatile matter of the coal is sufficiently high against the high ash content of the soil and overburden.The water samples have a High Electrical Conductivity(EC)and high Total Dissolve Solid(TDS).Lower values of pH,indicate the dissolution of minerals present in the coal as well as other minerals in the mine rejects/overburden.The chemical and nano-mineralogical composition of coal,soil and overburden samples was studied using a High Resolution-Transmission Electron Microscopy(HR-TEM),Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy(EDS),Selected-Area Diffraction(SAED),Field Emission-Scanning Electron Microscopy(FE-SEM)/EDS,X-ray diffraction(XRD),Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy(FTIR),Raman and Ion-Chromatographic analysis,and Mossbauer spectroscopy.From different geochemical analysis it has been found that the mine water sample from Ledo colliery has the lowest pH value of 3.30,Tirap colliery samples have the highest electrical conductivity value of5.40 ms cm~(-1)Both Ledo and Tirap coals have total sulphur contents within the range 3-3.50%.The coal mine water from Tirap colliery(TW-15 B)has high values of Mg~(2+)(450 ppm),and Br~-(227.17 ppm).XRD analysis revealed the presence of minerals including quartz and hematite in the coals.Mineral analysis of coal mine overburden(OB)indicates the presence both of pyrite and marcasite which was also confirmed in XRD and Mossbauer spectral analysis.The presented data of the minerals and ultra/nano-particles present shows their ability to control the mobility of hazardous elements,suggesting possible use in environmental management technology,including restoration of the delicate Indian coal mine areas.     

人类活动影响下娘子关岩溶水系统地球化学演化

娘子关泉是我国北方最大的岩溶泉之一,也是阳泉市工农业生产和人民生活的重要供水水源。地下水地球化学演化分析表明,在地下水由补给区向排泄区运移过程中,除固有的水岩相互作用外,由于受采矿活动和地表水入渗补给的影响,岩溶水由低离子含量的HCO3-SO4或HCO3型水逐渐成为SO4型、SO4-HCO3型和SO4-HCO3-Cl型水。在泉群集中排泄区,区域流动系统与局部流动系统的地下水发生混合作用,最终形成了水质相对良好的HCO3-SO4型或SO4-HCO3型岩溶泉水。在此过程中,地下水对方解石和白云石也由最初的溶解作用演变为沉淀再结晶。尽管石膏呈持续溶解现象,但在采煤活动严重影响区域,石膏的沉淀也可能出现。地球化学模拟表明,在岩溶含水层中,地下水首先以方解石（白云石）的溶解为主;随着石膏溶解数量的增加,方解石（白云石）的溶解开始受到抑制,进而发生沉淀,石膏的溶解成为控制地下水水化学的主导过程。当矿坑水混入时,地下水相对石膏过饱和,地下水对碳酸盐岩含水介质的溶蚀能力得到增强。随着水岩反应的演进,铁氢氧化物大量沉淀,通过共沉淀和吸附作用去除了地下水中的重金属类污染物。      

Geochemical response of acid groundwater to neutralization by alkaline recharge

Solute transport and chemical neutralization (pH 3 to 7) within a shallow heterogeneous aquifer producing acid mine drainage (AMD) are examined at an abandoned surface coal mine in West Virginia. The aquifer is undergoing partial neutralization by mixing with alkalinity from a leaking sludge disposal pond, extending in preferential zones controlled by aquifer heterogeneity. Hydraulic heads interpolated from wells indicate leakage from a central alkaline (pH 7.1, 0.72 meq/L alkalinity) sludge pond is a principal source of recharge. Chemically-conservative sodium, added to AMD during treatment and leaked into the aquifer with the sludge, develops a dispersion plume over a restricted portion of the aquifer that correlates with pH, hydraulic head, and dissolved metals distributions. Concentrations of aluminum, iron, sulfate and acidity display higher concentrations downgradient from the pond as sludge alkalinity is consumed along flow paths. Before reaching springs, most dissolved iron is oxidized and hydrolyzed, likely precipitating in the aquifer as a ferric hydroxide or hydroxysulfate phase. The spatial pattern of iron and aluminum concentrations suggests accelerated oxidation caused by gas transport along the outer slopes of the spoil. Dissolved aluminum concentrations increase with total acidity, suggesting that dissolution of silicate minerals results from acidity released by iron hydrolysis. Neutralization reactions and higher pH are favored in more highly permeable portions of the spoil, where ferrihydrite and aluminum hydroxysulfate minerals (such as basaluminite) are supersaturated. In acid-producing zones at pH < 4.5, jurbanite is near equilibrium and an aluminum-sulfate phase with similar properties may limit aluminum concentrations, but become undersaturated in zones of advancing neutralization. At this particular site, ferrous iron produced by pyrite oxidation is almost completely oxidized over short transport distances, allowing hydrolysis of iron and aluminum should sufficient alkalinity be added to these acid waters.     

Kinetic tests comparison and interpretation for prediction of the Joutel tailings acid generation potential

Five sulfide mine tailings coming from the Joutel mine tailing ponds (Quebec, Canada) were tested by the humidity cell test (30 to 52 cycles duration) and the column test (11 to 12 cycles duration). The objectives of this study were twofold. First, there was the determination of the tailings acid generation potential for site reclamation. Second, there was the kinetic test comparison for understanding the tailings geochemical behavior under different test conditions. The samples used had a wide diversity in terms of acid-generation potential, particle size distribution, and parameters influencing reaction rates. Leachates produced remained at a near neutral pH for the duration of the tests. Evolution of the main elements involved in the dissolution processes demonstrated neutralization by carbonates as a response to the acid generated by sulfide oxidation. Depletion rates given by sulfates are higher for the humidity cell tests when compared to those obtained for the column tests. This is consistent with most studies to date, the humidity cell test being considered as more severe. However, by taking the ratio between cumulative elements coming from neutralization and the ones coming from oxidation, similar curves (named herein oxidation –neutralization curves) for all tests were obtained. These results show that overall geochemical behavior of the tailings is similar at near neutral pH for both types of tests. With this interpretation method, the acid-generation potential of the Joutel tailings were tested and compared to the static test results to constrain their uncertainty zone with regard to the studied tailings. The tailings geochemical behavior (carbonate dissolution response to sulfide oxidation) at near neutral pH condition appears slightly dependent of test conditions under certain hypothesis.     

矿井水污染的地表水灌溉入渗过程中的水岩作用

分析了污水灌溉对地下水化学环境影响的研究现状, 以淄博煤矿区矿井水污染的孝妇河水进行灌溉的区域为例, 利用土柱实验研究煤矿矿井水污染的地表水灌溉入渗过程中的水岩作用。结果表明, 灌溉水入渗过程中发生可溶盐的溶解及离子交换等水岩作用, 而且在灌溉的初期主要表现为溶解作用, 而后以离子交换作用为主。溶解作用的速率, 在污水入渗初期大, 而后逐渐减小, 直至趋于零。      

Hazardous elements and amorphous nanoparticles in historical estuary coal mining area

In Brazil, intense coal exploitation activities have led to environmental deterioration, including soil mortification, water contamination, loss of ecosystem, and atmospheric contamination. In addition,considerable quantities of sulfur-rich residues are left behind in the mining area; these residues pose grave environmental issues as they undergo sulfide oxidation reactions. When sulfur oxides come in contact with water, extreme acid leachate is produced with great proportions of sulfate, and hazardous elements(HEs), which are identified as coal drainage(CMD). CMD is an environmental pollution challenge, particularly in countries with historic or active coal mines. To prevent CMD formation or its migration, the source must be controlled; however, this may not be feasible at many locations. In such scenarios, the mine water should be collected, treated, and discharged. In this study, data from 2005 to2010 was gathered on the geochemistry of 11 CMD discharges from ten different mines. There are several concerns and questions on the formation of nanominerals in mine acid drainage and on their reactions and interfaces. The detailed mineralogical and geochemical data presented in this paper were derived from previous studies on the coal mine areas in Brazil. Oxyhydroxides, sulfates, and nanoparticles in these areas possibly go through structural transformations depending on their size and formation conditions. The geochemistry of Fe-precipitates(such as jarosite, goethite, and hematite) existent in the CMD-generating coal areas and those that could be considered as a potential source of hazardous elements(HEs)(e.g., Cr) were also studied because these precipitates are relatively stable in extremely low pH conditions. To simplify and improve poorly ordered iron, strontium, and aluminum phase characterization, field emission scanning electron microscopy(FE-SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy(HR-TEM), micro-Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction(XRD) and sequential extraction(SE) studies were executed on a set CMD samples from the Brazilian mines. This study aimed to investigate the role of both nanomineral and amorphous phase distribution throughout the reactive coal cleaning rejects profile and HEs removal from the water mine to provide holistic insights on the ecological risks posed by HEs, nanominerals, amorphous phases, and to assess sediments in complex environments such as estuaries.     

山西王家岭矿区奥陶系碳酸盐岩溶蚀规律研究

为研究王家岭矿区奥陶系碳酸盐岩的溶蚀规律,模拟造成差异性溶蚀的主要因素进行了实验。在常温常压、溶蚀液碳酸水的pH值为6.5～6.9、每次溶蚀时间控制在24h左右的条件下,对矿区不同层段的碳酸盐岩进行溶蚀实验。实验发现,碳酸盐岩的成分和结构是影响溶蚀指标的重要因素,比溶蚀度和比溶解度总体趋势是白云岩灰岩膏岩;不溶物含量的增大使比溶蚀度和比溶解度下降,机械破坏量呈非线性增加;相同情况下方解石溶解速度快于白云石2～3倍。该实验结果为矿区进行水文地质研究提供了基础数据。     

Strontium isotope quantification of siderite,brine and acid mine drainage contributions to abandoned gas well discharges in the Appalachian Plateau

Unplugged abandoned oil and gas wells in the Appalachian region can serve as conduits for the movement of waters impacted by fossil fuel extraction. Strontium isotope and geochemical analysis indicate that artesian discharges of water with high total dissolved solids (TDS) from a series of gas wells in western Pennsylvania result from the infiltration of acidic, low Fe (Fe < 10 mg/L) coal mine drainage (AMD) into shallow, siderite (iron carbonate)-cemented sandstone aquifers. The acidity from the AMD promotes dissolution of the carbonate, and metal- and sulfate-contaminated waters rise to the surface through compromised abandoned gas well casings. Strontium isotope mixing models suggest that neither upward migration of oil and gas brines from Devonian reservoirs associated with the wells nor dissolution of abundant nodular siderite present in the mine spoil through which recharge water percolates contribute significantly to the artesian gas well discharges. Natural Sr isotope composition can be a sensitive tool in the characterization of complex groundwater interactions and can be used to distinguish between inputs from deep and shallow contamination sources, as well as between groundwater and mineralogically similar but stratigraphically distinct rock units. This is of particular relevance to regions such as the Appalachian Basin, where a legacy of coal, oil and gas exploration is coupled with ongoing and future natural gas drilling into deep reservoirs.     

煤矿酸性水中亚稳态矿物Schwertmannite的形成与转变

斯沃特曼矿是一种形成于煤矿酸性水环境中的铁的含水硫酸盐矿物,具有很高的比表面积和不稳定性,对煤矿酸性水中有害微量元素的吸附和迁移活性具有重要影响。运用扫描电镜(SEM/EDX)和粉末X射线衍射等手段,通过测定和对比,鉴别了中国的煤矿酸性矿排水渠中存在斯沃特曼矿物,在实验室中模拟酸性水环境对煤中非均质黄铁矿进行氧化反应试验,结果显示,反应产物中存在斯沃特曼矿物,并且认为随着反应时间的延长,斯沃特曼矿物逐渐向针铁矿转变。     

Geochemical distribution and removal of As,Fe, Mn and Al in a surface water system affected by acid mine drainage at a coalfield in Southwestern China

The chemical characteristics, formation and natural attenuation of pollutants in the coal acid mine drainage (AMD) at Xingren coalfield, Southwest China, are discussed in this paper based on the results of a geochemical investigation as well as geological and hydrogeological background information. The chemical composition of the AMD is controlled by the dissolution of sulfide minerals in the coal seam, the initial composition of the groundwater and the water–rock interaction. The AMD is characterized by high sulfate concentrations, high levels of dissolved metals (Fe, Al, Mn, etc.) and low pH values. Ca²⁺ and SO₄ ²⁻ are the dominant cation and anion in the AMD, respectively, while Ca²⁺ and HCO₃ ⁻ are present at significant levels in background water and surface water after the drainage leaves the mine site. The pH and alkalinity increase asymptotically with the distance along the flow path, while concentrations of sulfate, ferrous iron, aluminum and manganese are typically controlled by the deposition of secondary minerals. Low concentrations of As and other pollutants in the surface waters of the Xingren coalfield could be due to relatively low quantities being released from coal seams, to adsorption and coprecipitation on secondary minerals in stream sediments, and to dilution by unpolluted surface recharge. Although As is not the most serious water quality problem in the Xingren region at present, it is still a potential environmental problem. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.