Abstract
The formation of acid waters by oxidation of pyrite-bearing ore deposits, mine tailing piles, and coal measures is a complex biogeochemical process and is a serious environmental problem. We have studied the oxygen and sulphur isotope geochemistry of sulphides, sulphur, sulphate and water in the field and in experiments to identify sources of oxygen and reaction mechanisms of sulphate formation. Here we report that the oxygen isotope composition of sulphate in acid mine drainage shows a large variation due to differing proportions of atmospheric- and water-derived oxygen from both chemical and bacterially-mediated oxidation. 18O-enrichment of sulphate results from pyrite oxidation facilitated by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans in aerated environments. Oxygen isotope analysis may therefore be useful in monitoring the effectiveness of abatement programmes designed to inhibit bacterial oxidation. Sulphur isotopes show no significant fractionation between pyrite and sulphate, indicating the quantitative insignificance of intermediate oxidation states of sulphur under acid conditions.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Nordstrom, D. K. in Acid Sulfate Weathering, 37–56 (Soil Science Society of America, Madison, 1982).
Garrels, R. M. & Thompson, M. E. Am. J. Sci. 258, 57–67 (1960).
Singer, P. C. & Stumm, W., Second Symp. Coal Mine Drainage Res., 12–34 (Mellon Inst., Pittsburgh, 1968).
Singer, P. C. & Stumm, W. Science 167, 1121–1123 (1970).
Ehrlich, H. L. Geomicrobiology, (Dekker, New York, 1981).
Lacy, D. T. & Lawson, F. Biotech. Bioengng. 12, 29–50 (1970).
Nordstrom, D. K. thesis, Stanford Univ., Calif. (1977).
Tuovinen, O. H. & Kelly, D. P. Z. allg. Mikrobiol. 12, 311–346 (1972).
Bennett, J. C. & Tributsch, H. J. Bact. 134, 310–317 (1978).
Kroopnick, P. & Craig, H. Science 175, 54–55 (1972).
Hoering, T. C. & Kennedy, J. W. J. Am. chem. Soc. 79, 56–60 (1967).
Lloyd, R. M. J. geophys. Res. 73, 6099–6110 (1968).
Nehring, N. L., Bowen, P. A. & Truesdell, A. H. Geothermics 5, 63–66 (1977).
Friedman, I. & O'Neil, J. R. U.S. Geol. Survey Prof. Pap. 440-KK (1977).
Coleman, M. L. & Moore, M. P. Analyt. Chem. 50, 1594–1595 (1978).
Kaplan, I. R. & Rittenburg, S. C. J. gen. Microbiol. 34, 195–212 (1964).
Kaplan, I. R. & Rafter, T. A. Science 127, 517–518 (1958).
Nakai, N. & Jensen, M. L. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 28, 1893–1912 (1964).
Field, C. W. Econ. Geol. 61, 1428–1435 (1966).
Schoen, R. & Rye, R. O. Science 170, 1082–1084 (1970).
Goldhaber, M. B. Am. J. Sci. 283, 193–217 (1983).
Schwarcz, H. P. & Cortecci, G., Chem. Geol. 13, 285k–294k (1974).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Taylor, B., Wheeler, M. & Nordstrom, D. Isotope composition of sulphate in acid mine drainage as measure of bacterial oxidation. Nature 308, 538–541 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/308538a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/308538a0
- Springer Nature Limited
This article is cited by
-
Impact of acid mine drainage on groundwater hydrogeochemistry at a pyrite mine (South China): a study using stable isotopes and multivariate statistical analyses
Environmental Geochemistry and Health (2023)
-
Isotopic and hydrochemical evidence for the source and mechanism of groundwater salinization in Kashan Plain aquifer in Iran
Environmental Science and Pollution Research (2022)
-
Sources and mixing of sulfate contamination in the water environment of a typical coal mining city, China: evidence from stable isotope characteristics
Environmental Geochemistry and Health (2020)
-
Carbon-13 in groundwater from English and Norwegian crystalline rock aquifers: a tool for deducing the origin of alkalinity?
Sustainable Water Resources Management (2019)
-
Sulfur isotope fractionation and sequential extraction to assess metal contamination on lake and river sediments
Journal of Soils and Sediments (2016)