Seasonal variations of Zn/Cu ratios in acid mine water from Iron Mountain, California
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Abstract
Time-series data on Zn/Cu weight ratios from portal effluent compositions [(Zn/Cu)water] at Iron Mountain, California, show seasonal variations that can be related to the precipitation and dissolution of melanterite [(FeII,Zn,Cu)SO4·7H2O]. Mine water and actively forming melanterite were collected from underground mine workings and chemically analyzed. The temperature-dependent solubility of Zn-Cu-bearing melanterite solid solutions was investigated by heating-cooling experiments using the mine water. Rapid kinetics of melanterite dissolution and precipitation facilitated reversed solubility experiments at 25°C. Non-reversed solubility data were obtained in the laboratory at 4° and 35°C and at ambient underground mine conditions (38° and 42°C). Copper is partitioned preferentially to zinc into melanterite solid solutions at all temperatures investigated. During the annual dry season, values of (Zn/Cu)water in the Richmond portal effluent increase to values between 8 to 13, consistent with formation of melanterite during this period. During the annual wet season, the onset of high discharge from the mine portals is characterized by a significant decrease in (Zn/Cu)water to values as low as 2. This phenomenon may be caused by dissolution of melanterite with values of (Zn/Cu)solid ranging from 1.5 to 3.5.
| Publication type | Book chapter |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Book Chapter |
| Title | Seasonal variations of Zn/Cu ratios in acid mine water from Iron Mountain, California |
| ISBN | 9780841227729 |
| DOI | 10.1021/bk-1994-0550.ch022 |
| Volume | 550 |
| Year Published | 1993 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | American Chemistry Society |
| Contributing office(s) | California Water Science Center |
| Description | 21 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Book |
| Larger Work Subtype | Conference publication |
| Larger Work Title | Environmental geochemistry of sulfide oxidation |
| First page | 324 |
| Last page | 344 |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| City | Iron Mountain |
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