Geochemical processes in an acidic mine lake in the Iberian Pyrite Belt: San Telmo pit lake (SW Spain)

• Autores: Carlos Ruiz Cánovas, Manuel Olías Álvarez, José Miguel Nieto Liñán
• Localización: Geogaceta, ISSN 0213-683X, Nº. 52, 2012, págs. 247-250
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • This study provides information on the physicochemical processes of water and sediments from San Telmo pit lake. It is a valuable tool to evaluate best treatment remediation options in the long term. This lake has a meromictic nature, is highly acidic (pH of 2.8) and pH- buffered by Fe(III) precipitation. In San Telmo sediments, iron reduction and sulphide oxidation may be thermodynamically favoured due to low pH values in pore waters and the abundance of schwertmannite. The transformation of schwertmannite into goethite may limit sulphate reduction. As far as the Acid Mine Drainage pressure on the lake remains, the pH buffering exerted by schwertmannite in sediments will limit natural attenuation processes by sulphate reduction.