Iron terraces in acid mine drainage systems: A discussion about the organic and inorganic factors involved in their formation through observations from the Tintillo acidic river (Riotinto mine, Huelva, Spain)

España, Javier Sánchez; Pastor, Esther Santofimia; Pamo, Enrique López

doi:10.1130/ges00069.1

Cited by 43 publications

(41 citation statements)

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“…Conversely, the formation of jarosite is increasingly favored with increasing distance (schwertmannite becomes undersaturated as the pH decreases from 3.1 to around 2 in LZ2 and LZ3). The development of these iron terraces resulting from the precipitation of Fe(III) hydroxysulphates around microbial cells has been also observed and discussed in a study of the adjacent Tintillo river (45).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…In addition, the iron terraces produced by the precipitation of Fe(III) hydroxysulphates around microbial cells have not been studied in other extreme acidic systems. They have been observed and described in a study of the adjacent Tintillo river (45), but in this case, the microbial diversity was not analyzed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These acidic solutions emerge from mine portals, waste-rock piles, and/or tailings from ponds in the massive sulfide mines of the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB), transporting large amounts of acidity, dissolved sulfates, and soluble metals (44,45,51).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Geomicrobiology of La Zarza-Perrunal Acid Mine Effluent (Iberian Pyritic Belt, Spain)

González-Toril

Aguilera

Souza-Egipsy

et al. 2011

Appl Environ Microbiol

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Effluent from La Zarza-Perrunal, a mine on the Iberian Pyrite Belt, was chosen to be geomicrobiologically characterized along a 1,200-m stream length. The pH at the origin was 3.1, which decreased to 1.9 at the final downstream sampling site. The total iron concentration showed variations along the effluent, resulting from (i) significant hydrolysis and precipitation of Fe(III) (especially along the first reach of the stream) and (ii) concentration induced by evaporation (mostly in the last reach). A dramatic increase in iron oxidation was observed along the course of the effluent [from Fe(III)/Fe total ‫؍‬ 0.11 in the origin to Fe(III)/Fe total ‫؍‬ 0.99 at the last sampling station]. A change in the O 2 content along the effluent, from nearly anoxic at the origin to saturation with oxygen at the last sampling site, was also observed. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic diversity throughout the effluent was determined by microscopy and 16S rRNA gene cloning and sequencing. Sulfatereducing bacteria (Desulfosporosinus and Syntrophobacter) were detected only near the origin. Some ironreducing bacteria (Acidiphilium, Acidobacterium, and Acidosphaera) were found throughout the river. Ironoxidizing microorganisms (Leptospirillum spp., Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, and Thermoplasmata) were increasingly detected downstream. Changes in eukaryotic diversity were also remarkable. Algae, especially Chlorella, were present at the origin, forming continuous, green, macroscopic biofilms, subsequently replaced further downstream by sporadic Zygnematales filaments. Taking into consideration the characteristics of this acidic extreme environment and the physiological properties and spatial distribution of the identified microorganisms, a geomicrobiological model of this ecosystem is advanced.The peculiar ecology and physiology of extremophiles and the environments in which they develop have intrigued microbiologists since their discovery. The biotechnological potential of their unusual properties make their study of great interest (32,34,37,41). Environments with extremely low pH values do not abound. They are mainly associated with two phenomena: volcanic and hydrothermal activities (hot sulfur springs, mud spots, etc.) and metal mining activities (16). The second category is especially interesting, because, in general, the extreme low pH of the habitat is a consequence of microbial metabolism (18) and not a condition imposed by the system, as is the case in many other extreme environments (e.g., high temperature, ionic strength, radiation, and pressure). Acidophilic chemolithotrophic microorganisms present in these environments have the potential to accelerate the oxidation and dissolution reactions of metal sulfides, resulting in acidic waters with high concentrations of sulfate and heavy metals (35).These acidic waters are known as acid mine drainage (AMD), and they are a serious environmental problem in the province of Huelva (southwestern Spain). These acidic solutions emerge from mine portals, waste-rock piles, and/or tailings fr...

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Geomicrobiology of La Zarza-Perrunal Acid Mine Effluent (Iberian Pyritic Belt, Spain)

González-Toril

Aguilera

Souza-Egipsy

et al. 2011

Appl Environ Microbiol

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“…Mining activity has displaced large quantities of earth and these sites continue to be subjected to physical and biogeochemical weathering. These weathering processes, influenced by seasonal variations in precipitation, contribute to further weathering of gossans and formation of younger regolith materials including terrace iron formations and mine surface soils [43]. These regolith materials commonly occur in open-pit mines and represent different types of materials in which Ag biogeochemical cycling can occur.…”

Section: Study Sites and Sample Acquisitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biogeochemical Cycling of Silver in Acidic, Weathering Environments

et al. 2017

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Under acidic, weathering conditions, silver (Ag) is considered to be highly mobile and can be dispersed within near-surface environments. In this study, a range of regolith materials were sampled from three abandoned open pit mines located in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, Spain. Samples were analyzed for Ag mineralogy, content, and distribution using micro-analytical techniques and high-resolution electron microscopy. While Ag concentrations were variable within these materials, elevated Ag concentrations occurred in gossans. The detection of Ag within younger regolith materials, i.e., terrace iron formations and mine soils, indicated that Ag cycling was a continuous process. Microbial microfossils were observed within crevices of gossan and their presence highlights the preservation of mineralized cells and the potential for biogeochemical processes contributing to metal mobility in the rock record. An acidophilic, iron-oxidizing microbial consortium was enriched from terrace iron formations. When the microbial consortium was exposed to dissolved Ag, more than 90% of Ag precipitated out of solution as argentojarosite. In terms of biogeochemical Ag cycling, this demonstrates that Ag re-precipitation processes may occur rapidly in comparison to Ag dissolution processes. The kinetics of Ag mobility was estimated for each type of regolith material. Gossans represented 0.6-146.7 years of biogeochemical Ag cycling while terrace iron formation and mine soils represented 1.9-42.7 years and 0.7-1.6 years of Ag biogeochemical cycling, respectively. Biogeochemical processes were interpreted from the chemical and structural characterization of regolith material and demonstrated that Ag can be highly dispersed throughout an acidic, weathering environment.

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“…(c) Pine needle dams sintered with silicaceous mineral precipitate, Yellowstone National Park, WY, USA. (d) Ochreous iron oxide terraces on Tintillo River, Rio Tinto Mines, South West Spain, from Espana et al (2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geological pattern formation by growth and dissolution in aqueous systems

Meakin

Jamtveit

2009

Proc. R. Soc. A.

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Progress towards the development of a better understanding of the formation of geological patterns in wet systems due to precipitation and dissolution is reviewed. Emphasis is placed on the formation of terraces, stalactites, stalagmites and other carbonate patterns due to precipitation from flowing supersaturated solutions and the formation of scallops by dissolution in undersaturated turbulent fluids. In addition, the formation of spherulites, dendrites and very large, essentially euhedral, crystals is discussed. In most cases, the formation of very similar patterns as a result of the freezing/melting of ice and the precipitation/dissolution of minerals strongly suggests that complexity associated with aqueous chemistry, interfacial chemistry and biological processes has only a secondary effect on these pattern formation processes.

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Iron terraces in acid mine drainage systems: A discussion about the organic and inorganic factors involved in their formation through observations from the Tintillo acidic river (Riotinto mine, Huelva, Spain)

Cited by 43 publications

References 31 publications

Geomicrobiology of La Zarza-Perrunal Acid Mine Effluent (Iberian Pyritic Belt, Spain)

Geomicrobiology of La Zarza-Perrunal Acid Mine Effluent (Iberian Pyritic Belt, Spain)

Biogeochemical Cycling of Silver in Acidic, Weathering Environments

Geological pattern formation by growth and dissolution in aqueous systems

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