Environmental hazards of arsenic associated with black shales: a review on geochemistry, enrichment and leaching mechanism

Abstract

Black shales are high organic matter-rich dark coloured mudstones those are often deposited during ‘oceanic anoxia events’. Most of the black shale horizons are rich in arsenic far above their average crustal abundance and are susceptible to weathering eventually leaching high As contents to the surrounding environment causing As enrichment in soil and water which adversely affect the living beings. Numerous arsenic contaminations are being reported from black shale hosted areas globally, hence, making extremely crucial to understand the processes of enrichment, leaching and broader prospective of environmental hazards. Few studies have shown arsenic concentrations as high as 6,000 mg/kg within black shales causing groundwater enrichment up to hundreds mg/L. Arsenic is commonly attached to sulphide mineral structure and partly to organic matter and clay contents during deposition and diagenetic processes. Majority of sulphide bound arsenic becomes available to oxidative dissolution processes in presence of atmospheric oxygen and water which is further triggered by certain microbial community such as Acidophilus ferrooxidans hence, enhancing arsenic release. Physical weathering processes carry the arsenic-rich shale constituents to the depositional site where it is dissolved subsequently. Chemical diffusion and mechanical transport are two prime processes transporting arsenic from black shale horizons to the water bodies or soil columns, while air pollutions are caused by combustions of organic matter-rich coaly shales.