Natural attenuation processes in two water reservoirs receiving acid mine drainage

Sarmiento, Aguasanta Miguel; Álvarez, Manuel Olías; Nieto, José Miguel; Cánovas, Carlos Ruiz; Delgado, Joaquín Montalván

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.11.011

Cited by 63 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…These conclusions match those of a preliminary study (Sarmiento et al, 2009); the information may be used to establish risk evaluation criteria and to design future remediation strategies, which could be useful in the design of new dams.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 66%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Hydrochemical characterization of an acid mine drainage-affected reservoir: the Sancho Reservoir, Huelva, southwest Spain

Cerón

Grande

Torre

et al. 2014

Hydrological Sciences Journal

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 66%

“…Sample collection was carried out from the surface to the bottom of the reservoir; 28 samples were obtained at 1-m-deep intervals. Unlike previous studies (Sarmiento et al 2009, de la Torre et al 2010, which used three sampling points, the present study was based on comprehensive stratified sampling.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrochemical characterization of an acid mine drainage-affected reservoir: the Sancho Reservoir, Huelva, southwest Spain

Cerón

Grande

Torre

et al. 2014

Hydrological Sciences Journal

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“…Below pH value 4.5, the only metal that undergoes an important precipitation is Fe, as can be checked in the Sancho reservoir (Sarmiento et al 2009b;Galván et al 2009); the rest will remain dissolved in the water. Therefore, as has been discussed before, if pH is lower than that observed in the Sancho reservoir, this effect will be limited and will not cause a significant improvement of the water quality.…”

Section: Estimationmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…In the Olivargas reservoir, where dilution with clean water is enough to balance acidity, the mean pH is 7.0 ( Table 2) and most toxic elements precipitate, accumulating on the bottom sediments (Sarmiento et al 2009b). Nevertheless, Zn and Mn concentration is significantly higher than in the reservoirs unaffected by acid mine waters (Table 2), since the pH they need to precipitate is not reached.…”

Section: Estimationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water Quality in the Future Alcolea Reservoir (Odiel River, SW Spain): A Clear Example of the Inappropriate Management of Water Resources in Spain

Álvarez

Nieto

Sarmiento

et al. 2010

Water Resour Manage

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The Odiel River is located in southwestern Spain; the greater portion of its basin is composed of materials from the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IBP), an area with numerous massive sulfide deposits that have been highly exploited since the third millennium BC. As sulfides come into contact with the atmosphere due to mining activity, oxidation occurs, generating a highly toxic acidic leachate with large concentrations of sulfates and metals, a process which is known as acid mine drainage (AMD). As a result, the Odiel River and most of its tributaries are severely contaminated. The construction of two large dams in the Odiel River basin is planned. The most advanced project is that of the Alcolea reservoir, with a storage capacity of 274 hm 3 , whose construction has already begun, with a total budget of around e164 million. There are reasonable doubts about the final quality of the reservoir water, as this dam will regulate a river with a mean pH close to 3.5 and large concentrations of toxic elements. This paper analyzes the data of water quality in the Alcolea reservoir. The results show that the reservoir water will be acidic and not useful at all, although more specific studies are necessary to obtain the exact estimation of its hydrochemical characteristics. It seems unwise to start building the dam, which requires a large economic investment and will have a vast environmental impact, without first conducting these studies. This proves that water management in Spain is still based on political motivation rather than on technical criteria and good management of natural and economic resources.

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“…Although sorption reactions is responsible for most arsenic retention from mine drainage (e.g. Fukushi et al 2003), arsenic incorporation is partly controlled by formation of Fe-OH-As or Fe-S-OH-As surface precipitates (Carlson et al 2002;Paikaray et al 2011;Sarmiento et al 2009). The formation of such additional poor crystalline phases are normally favoured at higher As/(As ?…”

Section: Co-precipitationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Arsenic Geochemistry of Acid Mine Drainage

Paikaray

2014

Mine Water Environ

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Due to geochemical similarity between arsenic and sulphur, polymetallic sulphide deposits and pyrite/ arsenopyrite-bearing coal beds often contain exceptionally high concentrations of arsenic. Arsenic release from mine waste occurs after oxidative dissolution of sulphide minerals. Both arsenite and arsenate forms coexist in many mine drainage localities, with the latter oxidation state more common. The rate of arsenite oxidation to arsenate in such environments is mostly controlled by the availability of oxygen and arsenic-oxidizing microbes. Most released arsenic gets naturally attenuated within few meters downstream by adsorption and co-precipitation; amorphous precipitates such as schwertmannite or hydrous ferric oxides are better sinks than crystalline counterparts, such as goethite and jarosite. Because arsenate has a stronger affinity than arsenite for sorbents at acidic pH, arsenatedominated mine water often contains lower levels of arsenic than arsenite-dominated mine water. Secondary mineral precipitation is largely controlled by distribution of acid-neutralizing minerals, such as carbonates and aluminosilicates. In addition to natural attenuation, active and passive treatment of mine water can lower arsenic levels to meet legal limits.

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Natural attenuation processes in two water reservoirs receiving acid mine drainage

Cited by 63 publications

References 56 publications

Hydrochemical characterization of an acid mine drainage-affected reservoir: the Sancho Reservoir, Huelva, southwest Spain

Hydrochemical characterization of an acid mine drainage-affected reservoir: the Sancho Reservoir, Huelva, southwest Spain

Water Quality in the Future Alcolea Reservoir (Odiel River, SW Spain): A Clear Example of the Inappropriate Management of Water Resources in Spain

Arsenic Geochemistry of Acid Mine Drainage

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