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Sulfur Biogeochemical Cycling and Redox Dynamics in a Shale-Dominated Mountainous Watershed

Journal Article · · Journal of Geophysical Research. Biogeosciences
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2021jg006769· OSTI ID:1877365
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [3];  [2];  [1];  [4];  [3];  [5];  [1];  [6];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [3];  [7];  [7];  [7];  [8];  [1] more »;  [1] « less
  1. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
  2. Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA (United States)
  3. Stanford Univ., CA (United States)
  4. Stanford Univ., CA (United States); Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
  5. Desert Research Inst., Reno, NV (United States)
  6. Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (United States)
  7. Rocky Mountain Biological Lab., Gothic, CO (United States)
  8. Subsurface Insights, Hanover, NH (United States)
+ Show Author Affiliations
Sulfur (S) is an essential macronutrient and important component of the earth’s crust, and its cycling has critical impacts on trace metal mobility, water quality, and human health. Pyrite weathering is the primary pathway by which sulfur enters surface waters. However, biogeochemical cycling of sulfur in soils and the river corridor mediates sulfate exports. In this study, we identified the major forms of sulfur across multiple compartments and scales in a pristine mountainous watershed, including shale bedrock weathering profiles, hillslope soils, and alluvial floodplain sediments, in order to provide insight into biogeochemical sulfur cycling in a hydrologically variable alpine system. X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) analysis of shale weathering profiles showed clear evidence of pyrite oxidation to sulfate, with large accumulations of intermediate S(0) (20%–53%). Micro-scale XANES showed evidence of reprecipitation of pyrite at fracture surfaces within the permanently saturated zone. Organic sulfur dominated S speciation in shallow hillslope soil and floodplain sediment, with little evidence of reduced inorganic S. However, mackinawite formation, representing active sulfate reduction, was observed in saturated oxbow sediments and saturated weathered shale underlying floodplain sediments. Further evidence of sulfate reduction from aqueous sulfur isotopic analysis was observed in shallow groundwater transects across an Fe-reducing meander, whereas increases in pore water sulfate concentrations implied sulfur oxidation at other locations. Furthermore, the data present an integrated picture of sulfur cycling in a shale-dominated watershed, where riverine sulfate exports are mediated by biological cycling, particularly in redox-stratified and temporally dynamic hyporheic zone sediments.
Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER) (SC-23). Climate and Environmental Sciences Division (SC-23.1)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231; AC02-76SF00515; SC0016544
OSTI ID:
1877365
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1876916
Journal Information:
Journal of Geophysical Research. Biogeosciences, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research. Biogeosciences Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 127; ISSN 2169-8953
Publisher:
American Geophysical UnionCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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