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Biogeochemistry of a Hyperacidic and Ultraconcentrated Pyrite Leachate in San Telmo mine (Iberian Pyrite Belt, Spain)

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Abstract

This work describes recent research carried out in an extremely acidic (pH 0.61–0.82) and hypersaline (e.g., 134 g/L SO4 2-, 74 g/L Fe, 7.5 g/L Al, 3 g/L Mg, 2 g/L Cu, 1 g/L Zn) leachate which seeps from a pyrite pile in San Telmo mine (Huelva, SW Spain) and forms evaporative pools of ultra-concentrated water in which attractive crystals of Zn-rich melanterite (FeIISO4 7H2O) are formed. Geochemical modeling with the Pitzer method indicates that the acidic brine was near saturation with respect to melanterite (SIMel = 0 ± 0.2). The microbiological investigation has revealed a surprisingly high biomass (1.4 × 106 cells mL−1) and an exotic ecosystem composed of acidophilic, Fe-oxidizing archaea (mainly Ferroplasma spp., representing 52% of the microbial population), and minor numbers of acidophilic bacteria (including Leptospirillum spp. (3.2%), Acidithiobacillus spp. (1.6%), and Alphaproteobacteria (2.8%)). The microbial production of FeIII allows the oxidative dissolution of pyrite and other sulphides, which results in additional inputs of FeII, SO4 2- and acidity to the system. The surfaces of the pyrite crystals show a typical etch-pitted texture, as well as blobs of elemental sulphur, which are both compatible with this indirect, microbially mediated oxidation mechanism. The composition of the acidic leachate seems to result from the combination of several processes which include: (1) formation of melanterite within the pile during relatively dry seasons, (2) subsequent dissolution of melanterite during rainy episodes, (3) microbial oxidation of FeII, (4) sulphide oxidation mediated by FeIII, (5) dissolution of chlorite and other aluminosilicates present in the pile, and (6) cooling and/or evaporation of seepage from the pile and consequent melanterite precipitation.

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Acknowledgement

Dr. Francisco Velasco (Basque Country University, UPV-EHU) is acknowledged for his kind permission to include some pictures in this work, and also for stimulating discussions about melanterite solubility. We sincerely thank the criticism and comments made by two anonymous reviewers, which greatly improved the quality of the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, 28003, Madrid, Spain

    Javier Sánchez España, Enrique López Pamo, Marta Diez Ercilla & Esther Santofimia Pastor

  2. Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), E-28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

    Elena González Toril, Ricardo Amils & Patxi San Martín-Úriz

  3. Centro de Biología Molecular (CSIC-UAM), E-280940 Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain

    Ricardo Amils

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  1. Javier Sánchez España
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Correspondence to Javier Sánchez España.

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Sánchez España, J., González Toril, E., López Pamo, E. et al. Biogeochemistry of a Hyperacidic and Ultraconcentrated Pyrite Leachate in San Telmo mine (Iberian Pyrite Belt, Spain). Water Air Soil Pollut 194, 243–257 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-008-9713-0

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