Version 1
: Received: 26 September 2024 / Approved: 26 September 2024 / Online: 27 September 2024 (03:20:31 CEST)
How to cite:
Delgado, J.; Soria, O. L.; Ayala-Muñoz, D.; Martín, D.; Barba-Brioso, C. Geochemistry and Mineralogy of Precipitates from Passive Treatment of Acid Mine Drainage: Implications for Future Management Strategies. Preprints2024, 2024092134. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202409.2134.v1
Delgado, J.; Soria, O. L.; Ayala-Muñoz, D.; Martín, D.; Barba-Brioso, C. Geochemistry and Mineralogy of Precipitates from Passive Treatment of Acid Mine Drainage: Implications for Future Management Strategies. Preprints 2024, 2024092134. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202409.2134.v1
Delgado, J.; Soria, O. L.; Ayala-Muñoz, D.; Martín, D.; Barba-Brioso, C. Geochemistry and Mineralogy of Precipitates from Passive Treatment of Acid Mine Drainage: Implications for Future Management Strategies. Preprints2024, 2024092134. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202409.2134.v1
APA Style
Delgado, J., Soria, O. L., Ayala-Muñoz, D., Martín, D., & Barba-Brioso, C. (2024). Geochemistry and Mineralogy of Precipitates from Passive Treatment of Acid Mine Drainage: Implications for Future Management Strategies. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202409.2134.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Delgado, J., Domingo Martín and Cinta Barba-Brioso. 2024 "Geochemistry and Mineralogy of Precipitates from Passive Treatment of Acid Mine Drainage: Implications for Future Management Strategies" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202409.2134.v1
Abstract
Traditional mining activities in Zaruma-Portovelo (SE Ecuador) have led to high concentrations of pollutants in the Puyango River due to acid mine drainage (AMD) from abandoned waste. Dispersed Alkaline Substrate (DAS) passive treatment systems have shown efficacy in neutralizing acidity and retaining metals and sulfates in acidic waters, achieving near 100% retention for Fe, Al, and Cu, over 70% for trace elements, and 25% for SO₄²⁻. However, significant solid residues are generated, requiring proper geochemical and mineralogical understanding for management. This study investigates the fractionation of elements in AMD precipitates. Results indicate that trivalent metals (Fe, Al) form low-crystallinity oxyhydroxysulfate minerals such as schwertmannite and jarosite, which retain elements like As, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn through adsorption-coprecipitation. Sulfate removal occurs via salts like coquimbite and gypsum. Divalent metals are primarily removed through carbonate and bicarbonate phases, with minerals such as azurite, malachite, rhodochrosite, and calcite. Despite the effectiveness of DAS, leachates from the precipitates exceed regulatory thresholds for aquatic life protection, classifying them as hazardous and posing environmental risks. However, these residues offer opportunities for the recovery of valuable metals.
Keywords
AMD treatment; Divalent metal carbonate; Jarosite-Alunite group; Waste management
Subject
Environmental and Earth Sciences, Waste Management and Disposal
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
