Abstract
Molybdenum is an essential element for life, with growing production due to a constantly expanding variety of industrial applications. The potentially harmful effects of Mo on the environment, and on human and ecosystem health, require knowledge of Mo behavior in mining-affected environments. Mo is usually present in trace amounts in ore deposits, but mining exploitation can lead to wastes with very high Mo concentrations (up to 4000 mg/kg Mo for tailings), as well as soil, sediments and water contamination in surrounding areas. In mine wastes, molybdenum is liberated from sulfide mineral oxidation and can be sorbed onto secondary Fe(III)-minerals surfaces (jarosite, schwertmannite, ferrihydrite) at moderately acidic waters, or taken up in secondary minerals such as powellite and wulfenite at neutral to alkaline pH. To date, no Mo-metabolising bacteria have been isolated from mine wastes. However, laboratory and in-situ experiments in other types of contaminated land have suggested that several Mo-reducing and -oxidising bacteria may be involved in the cycling of Mo in and from mine wastes, with good potential for bioremediation. Overall, a general lack of data is highlighted, emphasizing the need for further research on the contamination, geochemistry, bio-availability and microbial cycling of Mo in mining-affected environments to improve environmental management and remediation actions.
Highlights
Molybdenum (Mo) is one of a number of ‘strategic metals’ that are necessary components for modern technologies and industries, but which may be subject to supply disruption
Deilmann Tailings Management Facility (TMF) in northern Saskatchewan, Canada, showed that Mo occurred as varying proportions of solid NiMoO4 and CaMoO4 complexes, as well as molybdate adsorbed on ferrihydrite [54]
Tailings samples with low Fe/Mo (113) molar ratios are dominated by NiMoO4, otherwise they are dominated by molybdate adsorbed on ferrihydrite
Summary
Molybdenum (Mo) is one of a number of ‘strategic metals’ that are necessary components for modern technologies and industries, but which may be subject to supply disruption. Molybdenum is mined as a primary product of Mo porphyry deposits, and as a by-product of Cu porphyry and other types of Cu-bearing ores [1]. 14%–20% of world production) [3]. Animals and plants can suffer from exposure to, and uptake of, high amounts of Mo, as well as Mo deficiencies [5]. Since mining and mine wastes are sources of Mo to the environment, they represent a pathway for Mo exposure. To provide information for assessing such pathways, in this paper we review the geochemistry, mineralogy and microbiology of Mo in mine wastes, describing the occurrence and controls on Mo uptake and mobility in affected waters, soils, sediments, plants, animals, minerals and microbes. We outline areas for future research on Mo in mining-affected environments
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