Mineralogical and chemical variations of ochreous precipitates from acid sulphate waters (asw) at the Roşia Montană gold mine (Romania)

Abstract

The mineralogical and chemical variations of ochreous precipitates forming from acid sulphate waters discharged from the lowest mine adit (“Sf. Cruci din Orlea”) of the Rosia Montană Gold Mine (Romania) were investigated by a multianalytical approach (XRPD, IR, TEM, ICP) applied to surface precipitates and associated waters. The mineralogy of the precipitates changed significantly as a consequence of the variations in the chemical parameters of the circulating solutions (mainly pH, Eh, and sulphate concentrations) which were mainly controlled by mixing with unpolluted waters of Rosia River. Ochreous precipitates are characterized by high concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs; in particular Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb) and consist of a mixture, in variable proportion, of jarosite and schwertmannite, which represent the stable secondary minerals along the investigated transect of Rosia River. Particular regard is given to the ability of authigenic phases to selectively scavenge selected PTEs from contaminated solutions during their genesis and minerogenetic evolution. Furthermore, laboratory kinetic batch experiments on natural heterogeneous samples of ochreous precipitates were carried out to investigate the release processes involving PTEs and to verify the type and the amount of elements that can be temporarily/permanently trapped by the solid phase from the contaminated solutions. The comparative analysis of the precipitates and waters of the Rosia Montană mining area indicated that the role of secondary minerals as “mitigating agents” can be limited because even minor pH–Eh oscillations would cause mineralogical transformations that could lead to trace elements mobilization in the environment.