Interaction of acid mine drainage with biota in the Allchar Carlin-type As-Tl-Sb-Au deposit, Macedonia

Abstract

Allchar ore deposit, a well-known polymetallic mineralisation, is drained by the Majdanska River characterized by elevated concentrations of heavy metals and metalloids, particularly As, Tl and Sb. The present study was conducted at the spot of the confluence of spring water, heavily loaded with toxic metals, which joins the Majdanska River by a few meters short stream. The spring water is outflow of underground water drained by passage through polymetallic mineralisation. The chemical characteristics of the Majdanska River water and the associated periphyton were used to evaluate and explain the abiotic response to the intrusion of toxicants and its impact on biota. At the site of the stream inflow, thorough mixing of Majdanska River water and incoming spring water resulted in an increase of Eh and pH close to the average river value. This geochemical barrier causes significant changes in the mobility of metal species. Moreover, the output composition of water is further modified by biological processes. The examined biota community was found to consist of algae Audouinella sp. and Spirogyra sp., with coexisting freshwater snails Radix labiata, diatoms and bacteria. While the carbonate bedrock controls the pH of the river water by effective buffering, it seems that bioconcentration and biomineralisation of algae exerted control on toxicants along the entire river flow. The highest bioconcentration factors were obtained for Fe, Mn and Ti which implies the biomineralisation of iron as a product of extracellular deposition on the cell walls on the organic matrices. Bioconcentration of As, Cr, Cs, Cu and Se was more important in Audouinella sp., while Cd, Co, Sr, and Zn preferentially accumulated in Spirogyra sp. High accumulation of Ba (3 mg/g d.w.) in Spirogyra sp. was associated with the intracellular biomineralisation. These findings suggest the potential use of Spirogyra sp. in the remediation of waters polluted by barium or as the biological pathfinder indicator for metal deposits associated with barite.

Advances in the integration of microalgal communities for biomonitoring of metal pollution in aquatic ecosystems of sub-Saharan Africa

“…Furthermore, in the Macedonian Maidanska River, the bioconcentration and biomineralisation of Cu, As, Cr, Se, and Cs were observed in Audouinella sp, while the high bioaccumulation of Ba (3 mg/g) and intracellular biomineralisation were evidenced in Spirogyra sp. thereby positioning these algal species as a biological pathfinder for acid-mine drainage deposits (Bermanec et al 2018 ). Water and sediment chemistry, including nutrient and metal pollutants, largely influence the stream algal community composition.…”

Evaluation of Spirogyra Sp. As a Bioindicator of Heavymetal Pollution in a Tropical Aquatic Environment

“…For example, Spirogyra sp. is a benthic freshwater green algae widely distributed throughout the world (Lee and Chang, 2011) and already recognised as potential absorbent for heavy metals from mine or waste water (Bermanec et al, 2018). In addition, due to its sensitivity to the presence of pollutants such as heavy metals in water, it has also been studied to some extent for the screening of heavy metals in aquatic ecosystems (Wan Jusoh et al, 2020), particularly where point source of pollution exists (Rai et al, 2008).…”

“…for different metals have been reported by other authors as well (Rajfur and K³os, 2015). For example, Bermanec et al (2018) found that Cd, Co, Sr, and Zn preferentially accumulated in Spirogyra sp. taken from the acid mine drainage impacted Majdanska River, suggesting that this algae species have great ability to accumulate metals from the aquatic environment.…”

Secondary Sulfate Minerals from Thallium Mineralized Areas: Their Formation and Environmental Significance

“…The secondary sulfate minerals in thallium deposits, including thallium sulfate and Fe-and Al-hydroxysulfate minerals, have been documented in the literature [19,[68][69][70]. As oxidation/weathering of pyrite releases large amounts of Fe 2+ and SO 4 2− into the AMD, the melanterite group dominates the secondary sulfate with less occurrence of monovalent metal sulfates (e.g., lanmuchangite and alum), other divalent metal sulfates (e.g., gypsum and epsomite), and trivalent metal sulfates (e.g., alunogen and coquimbite).…”