Logo image
Arsenic-Imposed Effects on Schwertmannite and Jarosite Formation in Acid Mine Drainage and Coupled Impacts on Arsenic Mobility
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Arsenic-Imposed Effects on Schwertmannite and Jarosite Formation in Acid Mine Drainage and Coupled Impacts on Arsenic Mobility

Edward D Burton, Niloofar Karimian, Scott G Johnston, Valerie A Schoepfer, Girish Kumar Choppala and Dane T Lamb
ACS Earth and Space Chemistry, Vol.5, pp.1418-1435
19/05/2021
pdf
Arsenic-Imposed Effects on Schwertmannite and Jarosite Formation in Acid Mine Drainage and Coupled Impacts on Arsenic Mobility11.07 MBDownloadView
Published (Version of record)CC BY-NC-ND V4.0 Open Access
url
Arsenic-Imposed Effects on Schwertmannite and Jarosite Formation in Acid Mine Drainage and Coupled Impacts on Arsenic MobilityView
Published (Version of record)CC BY-NC-ND V4.0 Open

Related links

Metrics

7 File views/ downloads
48 Record Views

Abstract

Environmental geochemistry Arsenic Iron cycling acid mine drainage Geochemistry

This study explores interactions between As and Fe(III) minerals, predominantly schwertmannite and jarosite, in acid mine drainage (AMD) via observations at a former mine site combined with mineral formation and transformation experiments. Our objectives were to examine the effect of As on Fe(III) mineralogy in strongly acidic AMD while also considering associated controls on As mobility. AMD at the former mine site was strongly acidic (pH 2.4 to 2.8), with total aqueous Fe and As decreasing down the flow-path from ∼400 to ∼20 mg L–1 and ∼33,000 to ∼150 μg L–1, respectively. This trend was interrupted by a sharp rise in aqueous As(III) and Fe(II) caused by reductive dissolution of As-bearing Fe(III) phases in a sediment retention pond. Attenuation of Fe and As mobility occurred via formation of As(V)-rich schwertmannite, As(V)-rich jarosite, and amorphous ferric arsenate (AFA), resulting in solid-phase As concentrations spanning ∼13 to ∼208 g kg–1. Schwertmannite and jarosite retained As(V) predominantly by structural incorporation involving AsO4-for-SO4 substitution at up to ∼40 and ∼22 mol %, respectively. Arsenic strongly influenced Fe(III) mineral formation, with high As(V) concentrations causing formation of AFA over schwertmannite. Arsenic also strongly influenced Fe(III) mineral evolution over time. In particular, increasing levels of As(V) incorporation within schwertmannite were shown, for the first time, to enhance the transformation of schwertmannite to jarosite. This significant discovery necessitates a re-evaluation of the prevailing paradigm that As(V) retards schwertmannite transformation.

Details

Logo image