Formation of sequences of cemented layers and hardpans within sulfide-bearing mine tailings (mine district Freiberg, Germany)

Graupner, Torsten; Kassahun, Andrea; Rammlmair, Dieter; Meima, Jeannet A.; Kock, Dagmar; Furche, Markus; Fiege, Adrian; Schippers, Axel; Melcher, Frank

doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2007.07.002

Cited by 78 publications

(36 citation statements)

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“…The distinctly lower oxidation rates in Sweden were presumably caused by a lower temperature and, based on the till cover, by a lower oxygen diffusion rate and less water infiltration combined with a 20-to 100-times-less-reactive main metal sulfide (pyrite) than that in Botswana (pyrrhotite) (26, 30, 55). In the tailing dump in Germany, microbial growth and the formation of cemented layers were probably favored by the temperate climate, the unremediated state of the dump, and the relatively high content in the tailings of arsenopyrite, sphalerite and galena, which are more reactive than pyrite (21,31).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Quantitative Microbial Community Analysis of Three Different Sulfidic Mine Tailing Dumps Generating Acid Mine Drainage

Kock

Schippers

2008

Appl Environ Microbiol

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The microbial communities of three different sulfidic and acidic mine waste tailing dumps located in Botswana, Germany, and Sweden were quantitatively analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR (Q-PCR), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), catalyzed reporter deposition-FISH (CARD-FISH), Sybr green II direct counting, and the most probable number (MPN) cultivation technique. Depth profiles of cell numbers showed that the compositions of the microbial communities are greatly different at the three sites and also strongly varied between zones of oxidized and unoxidized tailings. Maximum cell numbers of up to 10 9 cells g ؊1 dry weight were determined in the pyrite or pyrrhotite oxidation zones, whereas cell numbers in unoxidized tailings were significantly lower. Mining residues from mining activities are dumped as waste rock or as tailings, which are metal-degraded materials from ore processing. Both kinds of dumps often contain sulfide minerals such as pyrite (FeS 2 ) or pyrrhotite (Fe 1Ϫx S, x ϭ 0 to 0.125) and release acidic metal-rich waters known as acid mine drainage (AMD)/acid rock drainage (ARD) because of chemical and microbial sulfide oxidation processes, e.g.,Over a period of several years, an oxidized zone with depleted sulfide content, low pH, and enrichment of secondary minerals develops above an unoxidized zone with unaltered material in the waste dump (e.g., references 4, 14, 21, 40, and 49).Several geomicrobiological investigations of sulfidic mine waste dumps located in different climate zones have been undertaken to gather information about microbial processes and diversity in these extreme environments. At such sites, aerobic, acidophilic, chemolithotrophic Bacteria or Archaea dissolve metal sulfides by oxidizing Fe(II) and sulfur compounds and generate AMD/ARD. Products resulting from these oxidation processes can be used by Fe(III)-and sulfate-reducing prokaryotes. When Fe(III) (hydr)oxides are dissolved, adsorbed or precipitated metals are released. Sulfate-reducing Bacteria or Archaea may also precipitate metals as metal sulfides (22,49,50).Primarily cultivation techniques have been used to enumerate prokaryotes involved in oxidation and reduction processes in sulfidic mine waste dumps (3,17,52,57,64). Cultivation techniques yield cell numbers merely according to physiological properties; therefore, only a subset of the whole microbial community is detected. Up to this point, only qualitative molecular biological tests were applied to sulfidic mine dumps such as cloning and subsequent sequencing (7), denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (12, 38), and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (7, 13). In addition, protein and lipid analysis (37, 58) were performed with tailing samples. These investigations provided valuable information about the microbial diversity in mine dumps but little information about the quantities of the different microbial groups or species. The molecular biological quantification technique fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and metagenomic an...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…TOC was below 0.1%. The geochemistry and mineralogy of the tailing dump and the sampling procedure have been previously described (21). Quantification of microorganisms.…”

Section: Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

Quantitative Microbial Community Analysis of Three Different Sulfidic Mine Tailing Dumps Generating Acid Mine Drainage

Kock

Schippers

2008

Appl Environ Microbiol

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“…Biofilms can serve as protective coating of minerals decreasing mineral dissolution and presenting nucleation sites to catalyze carbonate precipitation [23]. On the surface of silica-based minerals, for example, the formation of amorphous silica gels, whose crosslinking is facilitated in the presence of biomolecules, can lead to a self-sealing effect of microfissures and porespace of disturbed claystone and cements [36,49]. Hence, self-sealing and enhanced carbonate formation may contribute significantly to integrity and safety of the storage site and additionally stabilize the injected CO 2 into solid carbonates [64].…”

Section: Microbial Populations In Potential Co 2 Storage Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relevance of Deep-Subsurface Microbiology for Underground Gas Storage and Geothermal Energy Production

Gniese

Bombach

Rakoczy

et al. 2013

Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology

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This chapter gives the reader an introduction into the microbiology of deep geological systems with a special focus on potential geobiotechnological applications and respective risk assessments. It has been known for decades that microbial activity is responsible for the degradation or conversion of hydrocarbons in oil, gas, and coal reservoirs. These processes occur in the absence of oxygen, a typical characteristic of such deep ecosystems. The understanding of the responsible microbial processes and their environmental regulation is not only of great scientific interest. It also has substantial economic and social relevance, inasmuch as these processes directly or indirectly affect the quantity and quality of the stored oil or gas. As outlined in the following chapter, in addition to the conventional hydrocarbons, new interest in such deep subsurface systems is rising for different technological developments. These are introduced together with related geomicrobiological topics. The capture and long-termed storage of large amounts of carbon dioxide, carbon capture and storage (CCS), for example, in depleted oil and gas reservoirs, is considered to be an important options to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. On the other hand, the increasing contribution of energy from natural and renewable sources, such as wind, solar, geothermal energy, or biogas production leads to an increasing interest in underground storage of renewable energies. Energy carriers, that is, biogas, methane, or hydrogen, are often produced in a nonconstant manner and renewable energy may be produced at some distance from the place where it is needed. Therefore, storing the energy after its conversion to methane or hydrogen in porous reservoirs or salt caverns is extensively discussed. All these developments create new research fields and challenges for microbiologists and geobiotechnologists. As a basis for respective future work, we introduce the three major topics, that is, CCS, underground storage of gases from renewable energy production, and the production of geothermal energy, and summarize the current stat of knowledge about related geomicrobiological and geobiotechnological aspects in this chapter. Finally, recommendations are made for future research.

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“…The precipitation of these secondary Fe(III) hydroxides can form coatings (Huminicki and Rimstidt 2009) and cemented layers (Blowes et al 1991;Dold et al 2009;Graupner et al 2007), which can decrease the oxidation rates and change the flow direction of the pore solution. Evangelou and Zhang (1995) reported increased oxidation rates of pyrite by addition of HCO 3 À due to the formation of pyrite surface Fe(II)-CO 3 complexes resulting in a limitation of the iron availability.…”

Section: ð7:5þmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mineralogical and Geochemical Controls in Biomining and Bioremediation

Dold¹

2013

Geomicrobiology and Biogeochemistry

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Formation of sequences of cemented layers and hardpans within sulfide-bearing mine tailings (mine district Freiberg, Germany)

Cited by 78 publications

References 45 publications

Quantitative Microbial Community Analysis of Three Different Sulfidic Mine Tailing Dumps Generating Acid Mine Drainage

Quantitative Microbial Community Analysis of Three Different Sulfidic Mine Tailing Dumps Generating Acid Mine Drainage

Relevance of Deep-Subsurface Microbiology for Underground Gas Storage and Geothermal Energy Production

Mineralogical and Geochemical Controls in Biomining and Bioremediation

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