Mineralogy-dependent sulfide oxidation via polysulfide and thiosulfate pathways during weathering of mixed-sulfide bearing mine waste rock

Bao, Zhongwen; Bain, Jeff; Saurette, Emily; Zou Finfrock, Y.; Hu, Yongfeng; Ptacek, Carol J.; Blowes, David W.

doi:10.1016/j.gca.2021.10.012

Mineralogy-dependent sulfide oxidation via polysulfide and thiosulfate pathways during weathering of mixed-sulfide bearing mine waste rock

Journal Article · Fri Oct 22 00:00:00 EDT 2021 · Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2021.10.012· OSTI ID:1894943

Bao, Zhongwen ^[1]; Bain, Jeff ^[1]; Saurette, Emily ^[1]; Zou Finfrock, Y. ^[2]; Hu, Yongfeng ^[3]; Ptacek, Carol J. ^[1]; Blowes, David W. ^[1]

Univ. of Waterloo, ON (Canada)
Univ. of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK (Canada). Canadian Light Source, Inc.; Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Advanced Photon Source (APS)
Univ. of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK (Canada). Canadian Light Source, Inc.

Tracking the S oxidation pathway in sulfide-bearing mine waste-rock piles is complicated by variations in water content, O₂ and Fe³⁺ concentrations, microbial diversity, mineralogy, the occurrence of a variety of S species associated with incomplete oxidation, and nonlinear coupling between physicochemical processes. Synchrotron-based S K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy facilitates the identification and quantification of S species (i.e., S^2–, $$S_{2}O_{2}^{2–}$$, S₈, $$S_{2}O_{3}^{2–}$$, and $$S_{2}O_{4}^{2–}$$) in a weathered mine waste-rock pile containing pyrite, sphalerite, galena, pyrrhotite, and chalcopyrite. Mineralogy-dependent polysulfide and thiosulfate pathways both affect the S oxidation within the waste-rock pile. Currently, the polysulfide pathway, with S₈ as the intermediate S species, generates high concentrations of dissolved metals (from the rapid oxidation of monosulfides including sphalerite, galena, pyrrhotite, and chalcopyrite). As these monosulfides are depleted, the thiosulfate pathway of pyrite oxidation, including intermediate oxidation products (i.e., S₈ and $$S_{2}O_{3}^{2–}$$), will become the dominant oxidation pathway, resulting in the potential for generation of additional acidic drainage. This information highlights the importance of identifying the sulfide-mineral oxidation reaction pathways when attempting to estimate acid generation potential, and when developing remediation strategies for the storage and management of sulfide-bearing waste rock.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC); Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Scientific User Facilities Division

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-06CH11357

OSTI ID:: 1894943

Journal Information:: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Journal Name: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta Vol. 317; ISSN 0016-7037

Publisher:: Elsevier; The Geochemical Society; The Meteoritical SocietyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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