Mineralogical influences on water quality from weathering of surface coal mine spoils

Clark, Elyse; Daniels, W. Lee; Zipper, Carl E.; Eriksson, Kenneth A.

doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2018.02.001

Cited by 33 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 42 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Mining clearly elevates concentrations of carbonate weathering products (Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ ), but direct measurements of silicate weathering rates show that mean Si concentration does not differ between mined and unmined sites (Figure c). However, elevated concentrations of Na + and K + in mined sites indicate an increase in K‐feldspar and Na‐feldspar silicate weathering, as suggested in previous work (Clark et al, ). The high concentrations of Na + and K + , but low Si concentrations suggest that while silicate minerals are being weathered, Si is remineralized before export in stream water.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 80%

“…Postmining landscapes have lower slopes (Maxwell & Strager, 2013;Ross et al, 2016), increased water storage potential (Barbour et al, 2016;Ross et al, 2016;Wunsch et al, 1999), altered hydrologic flowpaths (Greer et al, 2017;Messinger & Paybins, 2003;Miller & Zégre, 2014;Nippgen et al, 2017;Zegre et al, 2014), and acid-generating pyrite in the particularly reactive form of small pyrite particles (Clark et al, 2018). Pyrite-bearing rocks are intentionally mixed with acid-neutralizing carbonate-bearing bedrock (Odenheimer et al, 2014) to prevent acid mine drainage.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The production of alkaline mine drainage is initiated by FeS 2 dissolution and oxidation (equation (1)), generating sulfuric acid (Silverman & Ehrlich, 1964). This sulfuric acid can be neutralized through either silicate or carbonate weathering reactions (Clark et al, 2018). While the fill material across much of Central Appalachia is predominately silicate minerals (Clark et al, 2018), the alkaline mine drainage characteristic of coal mines in this region has been attributed to enhanced carbonate weathering of CaCO 3 and MgCO 3 (Banks et al, 1997;Daniels et al, 2016;Hawkins, 2004;Zhang et al, 1995).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Pyrite Oxidation Drives Exceptionally High Weathering Rates and Geologic CO₂ Release in Mountaintop‐Mined Landscapes

Ross

Nippgen

Hassett

et al. 2018

Global Biogeochemical Cycles

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Weathering is the ultimate source of solutes for ecosystems, controls chemical denudation of landscapes, and drives the geologic carbon cycle. Mining and other land‐moving operations enhance physical weathering by bringing large volumes of shattered bedrock to the surface. Yet, the relative influence of these activities on chemical weathering remains poorly constrained. Here we show that catchments impacted by mountaintop removal coal mining have among the highest rates of chemical weathering ever reported. Mined catchments deliver more than 7,600 kg·ha−1·year−1 of dissolved solids downstream. The chemical signatures of these exceptionally high weathering rates reflect the product of sulfuric acid weathering of carbonate‐bearing rock, driven by the oxidation of pyritic materials. As this strong acid rapidly weathers surrounding carbonate materials, H+ ions are consumed and Ca2+, Mg2+, and HCO3− ions are exported to balance the elevated SO42− exports, generating alkaline mine drainage. The sulfate exports from pyrite oxidation in mountaintop‐mined catchments account for ~5–7% of global sulfate derived from pyrite, despite occupying less than 0.006% of total land area. Further, the suite of weathering reactions liberate 100–450 kg of rock‐derived C·ha−1·year−1 as CO2, with an additional 90–150 kg C·ha−1·year−1 of C released when HCO3− reaches the ocean. This rock C release contributes to the high carbon costs of coal combustion.

show abstract

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 80%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Pyrite Oxidation Drives Exceptionally High Weathering Rates and Geologic CO₂ Release in Mountaintop‐Mined Landscapes

Ross

Nippgen

Hassett

et al. 2018

Global Biogeochemical Cycles

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…We also attempted to minimise potential differences of ion matrix and trace elements across study sites. First, ionic composition of stream water varied among sites (Appendix S1) as a direct consequence of the geochemical processes that produce elevated salinity in mined landscapes (Clark, Daniels, Zipper, & Eriksson, ). Therefore, ionic composition did not vary independently from SC (Timpano et al., ), making SC a suitable surrogate for salinity while limiting our ability to assess the differential effects of individual ions as done in previous studies (Clements & Kotalik, ; Mount, Gulley, Hockett, Garrison, & Evans, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We also attempted to minimise potential differences of ion matrix and trace elements across study sites. First, ionic composition of stream water varied among sites (Appendix S1) as a direct consequence of the geochemical processes that produce elevated salinity in mined landscapes (Clark, Daniels, Zipper, & Eriksson, 2018 salinity while limiting our ability to assess the differential effects of individual ions as done in previous studies (Clements & Kotalik, 2016;Mount, Gulley, Hockett, Garrison, & Evans, 1997). Second, trace elements Al, Cu, Fe, and Zn were below criteria continuous concentrations (CCC) for aquatic life in quarterly samples collected during our study (Appendix S2) indicating a likely lack of toxicity for macroinvertebrates (USEPA, 2004).…”

Section: Salinity As a Limiting Factor For Biological Communities Imentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbial and macroinvertebrate communities, but not leaf decomposition, change along a mining‐induced salinity gradient

et al. 2019

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Natural levels of salinity in aquatic ecosystems drive biodiversity patterns across broad spatial scales; however, less is known about changes in biotic communities and the ecosystem functions they support along anthropogenic salinisation gradients. Resource extraction often causes salinisation of freshwater ecosystems which may extirpate salinity‐sensitive macroinvertebrates and microbes and thus reduce rates of organic matter decomposition. We quantified bacterial (16S), fungal (ITS) and macroinvertebrate taxonomic richness, composition, and β‐diversity across the resulting gradient of specific conductance (annual mean: 25–1,383 μS/cm) in 24 headwater streams in the eastern U.S.A. variously influenced by surface coal mining but selected to minimise habitat and water‐quality differences other than salinity. Furthermore, we measured rates of organic matter decomposition in submersed leaf packs (Quercus alba) across these same sites. Bacterial and reach‐wide macroinvertebrate richness was reduced along the mining‐induced salinity gradient whereas fungal or leaf‐pack macroinvertebrate richness remained similar. Community composition of microbes and macroinvertebrates changed along the salinity gradient, with mining‐influenced sites becoming increasingly dissimilar to reference sites as salinity increased. Beta‐diversity was driven by taxonomic replacement rather than nestedness for microbial and macroinvertebrate communities. Organic matter decomposition rates in mining‐influenced streams were not reduced even at mean specific conductance levels 10× higher than reference sites. We attribute maintenance of decomposition rates to salinity tolerance of both fungi and macroinvertebrate shredders found in leaf packs. Our study informs theory linking anthropogenic alteration of biotic communities to rates of ecosystem functions by providing evidence that taxonomic replacement and stressor‐tolerance of specific functional groups along a mining‐induced salinity gradient can maintain certain ecosystem functions, at least within the studied salinity range. We therefore advise against generalising biodiversity–ecosystem function relationships in other salinised systems, but caution that organic matter decomposition may be altered at salinity levels above those observed in our study and that other ecosystem functions may be affected by loss of salinity‐sensitive taxa.

show abstract

The effect of surfactant on biosolubilization of weathered coal

Tong,

Wang,

Mao

et al. 2024

Env Prog and Sustain Energy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Weathered coal is a type of coal with barren utility value, which is exposed on the surface for a prolonged time or shallowly buried in coal seams, and the physicochemical properties of weathered coal have changed compared with high‐quality coal. China is also a country with large reserves of weathered coal, therefore, the value utilization of weathered coal has received tremendous scientific attention. Herein, the main purpose is to explore the combined effect of surfactants and microorganisms on bioconversion of weathered coal to produce humic substances. Tween‐80, Phanaerochaete chrysosporium (J1) and Trametes versicolor (J2) were selected as surfactants and engineering strains to convert weathered coal. 3D fluorescence spectra were used to analyze the species and contents of humic acids during the biosolubilization process of weathered coal. Results revealed that both J1 and J2 exhibited good performance on weathered coal biosolubilization (increasing 10% and 14% compared to the control, respectively). The intensity of weathered coal biosolubilization was significantly increased by 15% and 12% when J1 and J2 were applied in combination with Tween‐80. And the addition of Tween‐80 also distinctly reduced the molecular weight of humic substances. In summary, surfactant plays an important role in bioconversion of weathered coal, while molecular weight of humic substances was different that weathered coal biosolubilization under the co‐action of J1 and Tween‐80 increased and J2 with Tween‐80 was opposite. In short, this project might provide a new strategy for exploring the biodegradation of weathered coal.

show abstract

Mineralogical influences on water quality from weathering of surface coal mine spoils

Cited by 33 publications

References 42 publications

Pyrite Oxidation Drives Exceptionally High Weathering Rates and Geologic CO₂ Release in Mountaintop‐Mined Landscapes

Pyrite Oxidation Drives Exceptionally High Weathering Rates and Geologic CO₂ Release in Mountaintop‐Mined Landscapes

Microbial and macroinvertebrate communities, but not leaf decomposition, change along a mining‐induced salinity gradient

The effect of surfactant on biosolubilization of weathered coal

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Mineralogical influences on water quality from weathering of surface coal mine spoils

Cited by 33 publications

References 42 publications

Pyrite Oxidation Drives Exceptionally High Weathering Rates and Geologic CO2 Release in Mountaintop‐Mined Landscapes

Pyrite Oxidation Drives Exceptionally High Weathering Rates and Geologic CO2 Release in Mountaintop‐Mined Landscapes

Microbial and macroinvertebrate communities, but not leaf decomposition, change along a mining‐induced salinity gradient

The effect of surfactant on biosolubilization of weathered coal

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Pyrite Oxidation Drives Exceptionally High Weathering Rates and Geologic CO₂ Release in Mountaintop‐Mined Landscapes

Pyrite Oxidation Drives Exceptionally High Weathering Rates and Geologic CO₂ Release in Mountaintop‐Mined Landscapes