Geomicrobiology of La Zarza-Perrunal acid mine effluent (Iberian Pyritic Belt, Spain).

ABSTRACT: Effluent from La Zarza-Perrunal, a mine on the Iberian Pyrite Belt, was chosen to be geomicrobiologically characterized along a 1,200-m stream length. The pH at the origin was 3.1, which decreased to 1.9 at the final downstream sampling site. The total iron concentration showed variations along the effluent, resulting from (i) significant hydrolysis and precipitation of Fe(III) (especially along the first reach of the stream) and (ii) concentration induced by evaporation (mostly in the last reach). A dramatic increase in iron oxidation was observed along the course of the effluent [from Fe(III)/Fe(total) = 0.11 in the origin to Fe(III)/Fe(total) = 0.99 at the last sampling station]. A change in the O(2) content along the effluent, from nearly anoxic at the origin to saturation with oxygen

SUBMITTER: Gonzalez-Toril E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3126378 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature