The Positive Environmental Contribution of Jarosite by Retaining Lead in Acid Mine Drainage Areas

Maria-Ondina Figueiredo and Teresa Pereira da Silva
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Maria-Ondina Figueiredo: Unity of Mineral Resources and Geophysics, Laboratório Nacional de Energia e Geologia (LNEG), Apartado 7586, 2721-866 Alfragide, Portugal
Teresa Pereira da Silva: Unity of Mineral Resources and Geophysics, Laboratório Nacional de Energia e Geologia (LNEG), Apartado 7586, 2721-866 Alfragide, Portugal

IJERPH, 2011, vol. 8, issue 5, 1-8

Abstract: Jarosite, KFe 3 (SO 4 ) 2 (OH) 6 , is a secondary iron sulphate often found in acid mine drainage (AMD) environments, particularly in mining wastes from polymetallic sulphide ore deposits. Despite the negative environmental connotation usually ascribed to secondary sulphate minerals due to the release of hazardous elements to aquifers and soils, jarosite acts as an efficient remover and immobilizer of such metals, particularly lead. The mineral chemistry of jarosite is reviewed and the results of a Fe K -edge XANES (X-Ray Absorption Near-Edge Structure) study of K-, Na- and Pb-jarosite are described and discussed within the context of the abandoned old mines of São Domingos and Aljustrel located in southern Portugal, in the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB).

Keywords: jarosite; lead; environmental role; abandoned mine wastes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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