Mineral Formation under the Influence of Mine Waters (The Kizel Coal Basin, Russia)

Abstract

The development of coal deposits is accompanied by negative environmental changes. In the territory of the Kizel coal basin (Perm Region, Russia), the problem of contamination of water sources by acid mine waters and runoff from rock dumps is particularly acute. Mine waters are acidic (pH 2–3), with high mineralization (up to 25 g/L) and significant content of sulfate ions, iron, aluminum, manganese, toxic trace elements (As, Co, Ni, Pb and Zn). They are formed as a result of the interaction of underground waters from flooded mines of the Kizel basin with coal and rocks of dumps with high sulfur content (15%). Uncontrolled inflow of mine water into rivers (about 22 million m3 annually) leads to significant amounts of iron and aluminum hydroxide precipitation. These precipitations are in active interaction with river water, polluting the rivers tens of kilometers downstream and are entering the Kama reservoir. Studies of alluvial precipitation can be considered as a method of control and predictors of technogenic water pollution. The mineral composition of river sediments was studied with the application of different methods, including studies of sand-gravel and silty-clayey sediments. The sandy-gravel grains in the bottom load are mainly composed by natural minerals and are represented by a significant number of particles of coal dumps, slags and magnetic spherules. The silty-clayey material, mixed with natural minerals, contains a significant number of amorphous phases with a predominance of iron-rich substances, which may actively concentrate toxic elements. The presence of jarosite, goethite, basaluminite, lepidorocite and copiapite in silty-clayey sediments are indicators of the influence of mine waters.

Environmental Assessment Impact of Acid Mine Drainage from Kizel Coal Basin on the Kosva Bay of the Kama Reservoir (Perm Krai, Russia)

“…The content of sulfide and organic sulfur reaches 12-15%. Sulphur is one of the main active elements of the coal-bearing strata, determining the acid-alkaline and redox conditions of sediment accumulation, the concentration of TE on the hydrogen sulfide geochemical barrier, and their leaching in the oxidation zone with the formation of products that affect the environmental condition of the area [21].…”

“…In addition to quartz, the main minerals in the area of AMD are goethite and hematite. This area is characterized by the active formation of goethite from amorphous iron-hydroxides in sediments [21].…”

“…The AMD is characterized by pH 2-3, high salinity (up to 35 g/L), and large amounts of sulfate (up to 15,681 mg/L), Fe (up to 3500 mg/L), Al (up to 225 mg/L), Mn (up to 215 mg/L), and some TE (Be, Co, Ni, Li, Pb, Zn) [18,20]. It is formed as a result of interaction of groundwater of flooded mines of the basin with the rocks of the coal layers, which contain high concentrations of sulfur up to 12-15% [21]. Many elements are found in higher concentrations in sediments within AMD areas.…”

Distribution of Trace Elements, Rare Earth Elements and Ecotoxicity in Sediments of the Kosva Bay, Perm Region (Russia)

“…At the same time, the studies note a significant transfer of many elements over considerable distances from the source, for example, into the Huelva estuary by the Tinto and Odiel Rivers due to long-term mining activities in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, where 7900 t of Fe, 5800 t of Al, 3500 t of Zn, 1700 t of Cu, and 1600 t of Mn are removed annually [Torre et al, 2019;Nieto et al, 2007]. The closed mines of the Kizel coal basin, located in the eastern part of Perm Region (Russia), negatively affect the Kama River basin in the upper part of the drainage basin [Fetisova, 2021;Pyankov et al, 2021; Krasilnikova and Blinov, 2017; Menshikova et al, 2020]. The AMD into the Kosva, Yaiva and Chusovaya Rivers and subsequent migration of the matter downstream of these rivers ensure the influx of about 21,455 tonnes of iron, 1128 tonnes of aluminium, and 217 tonnes of manganese per year into the water area of the Kama Reservoir [Report, 2020].…”

Settling of Iron and Aluminum Particles in Acid Solutions for Acid Drainage Remediation

“…Iron and aluminum precipitates are naturally present in high quantities in the sediments of riverine systems affected by acid drainage [15,16]. Ochre-colored sediments, characteristic of iron oxyhydrosulfates, and white precipitates, characteristic of aluminum oxyhydrosulfates, enriched in trace elements, form part of the fine sediment on stream beds of various sites affected by acid drainage [17][18][19][20][21][22][23].…”