Knowledge Resource Center for Ecological Environment in Arid Area
DOI | 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2013.09.030 |
Characterization and quantification of groundwater sulfate sources at a mining site in an arid climate: The Monument Valley site in Arizona, USA | |
Miao, Ziheng1,2; Carroll, Kenneth C.3; Brusseau, Mark L.1,2 | |
通讯作者 | Brusseau, Mark L. |
来源期刊 | JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
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ISSN | 0022-1694 |
EISSN | 1879-2707 |
出版年 | 2013 |
卷号 | 504页码:207-215 |
英文摘要 | The Monument Valley site, a former uranium mining site located in the state of Arizona in the Southwest USA, has high concentrations of sulfate in groundwater. Stable isotope analysis of S and 0 for sulfate, in combination with geochemical and hydrogeological data, was used to characterize the sources and fate of sulfate. The results indicate the existence of two discrete sources of sulfate (in excess of baseline levels): sulfuric acid released during ore processing and sulfate generated via sulfide-mineral oxidation. The contributions of the sources are related to spatial distributions of sulfate in the plume through analysis of groundwater travel times. Quantification of the sources using two isotope-analysis methods yielded similar results. The results indicate that sulfuric acid served as the primary source (mean = 427 mg/L, 74%), with sulfide-mineral oxidation providing a smaller contribution (mean = 147 mg/L, 26%). It appears that the major contribution to the sulfide-mineral oxidation component originates from oxidation of sulfide minerals in exposed bedrock residing in the primary recharge zone of the local aquifer, which provides an elevated sulfate background for groundwater. Conversely, the oxidation of sulfide minerals associated with the mine tailings appears to provide a relatively minor contribution (similar to 8% of the overall total). Interestingly, it appears that sulfuric acid served as a sustained source of sulfate for approximately 40 years. This may be related to the accumulation of sulfate salts (formed after neutralization and disposal of the sulfuric acid) in the source zone due to the arid climate of the site. Contrary to the typical assumption applied at many mining sites that sulfide-mineral oxidation is the primary source of sulfate, these sulfate salts are hypothesized to be the primary source for this site. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. |
英文关键词 | Groundwater Sulfate contamination Stable isotopes Sulfide oxidation Sulfuric acid Mine tailings |
类型 | Article |
语种 | 英语 |
国家 | USA |
收录类别 | SCI-E |
WOS记录号 | WOS:000328592300018 |
WOS关键词 | ACID-MINE DRAINAGE ; OXYGEN-ISOTOPE GEOCHEMISTRY ; SULFUR ; CATCHMENT ; URANIUM |
WOS类目 | Engineering, Civil ; Geosciences, Multidisciplinary ; Water Resources |
WOS研究方向 | Engineering ; Geology ; Water Resources |
来源机构 | University of Arizona ; New Mexico State University |
资源类型 | 期刊论文 |
条目标识符 | http://119.78.100.177/qdio/handle/2XILL650/178521 |
作者单位 | 1.Univ Arizona, Dept Soil Water & Environm Sci, Tucson, AZ 85721 USA; 2.Univ Arizona, Dept Hydrol & Water Resources, Tucson, AZ 85721 USA; 3.New Mexico State Univ, Las Cruces, NM 88003 USA |
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714 | Miao, Ziheng,Carroll, Kenneth C.,Brusseau, Mark L.. Characterization and quantification of groundwater sulfate sources at a mining site in an arid climate: The Monument Valley site in Arizona, USA[J]. University of Arizona, New Mexico State University,2013,504:207-215. |
APA | Miao, Ziheng,Carroll, Kenneth C.,&Brusseau, Mark L..(2013).Characterization and quantification of groundwater sulfate sources at a mining site in an arid climate: The Monument Valley site in Arizona, USA.JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY,504,207-215. |
MLA | Miao, Ziheng,et al."Characterization and quantification of groundwater sulfate sources at a mining site in an arid climate: The Monument Valley site in Arizona, USA".JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY 504(2013):207-215. |
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