Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Multi-isotope identification of key hydrogeochemical processes and pollution pathways of groundwater in abandoned mining areas in Southwest China

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is considered one of the serious environmental issues in the mining area. Understanding the key processes and pathways of hydrogeochemical evolution is critical for the effective control of AMD pollution. Hydrogeochemical analysis along with environmental isotope tracing was utilized to provide information regarding the hydrogeochemical process of groundwater pollution by using the multi-aquifer of abandoned Dashu pyrite in Southwest China as an example. Using the deuterium excess parameter d of groundwater and the results of 2H, 18O, and T analysis, the water–rock interaction intensity was determined. The distribution characteristics of d-T revealed that the groundwater primarily originated from the Quaternary reservoir platform groundwater and that there was a close hydraulic connection among the aquifers. The results of ion analysis and sulfur isotope tracing indicated that the sulfur in groundwater was primarily derived from gypsum dissolution, whereas the sulfur in mine water was primarily derived from pyrite oxidation. The results of the hydrogeochemical inversion indicated that mining activities altered the water level and flow conditions, promoted water–rock interactions, altered the hydrogeochemical process, and caused aquifer and mine water cross-contamination. The findings provide theoretical guidance for identifying the pollution sources and critical hydrogeochemical processes that affect groundwater in depleted mining areas of multi-aquifers and also provide technical support for developing water source control and prevention techniques.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

All data generated or analyzed during the course of this investigation are included in this article and its supporting materials.

References

  • Aubertin M, Bussière B, Pabst T, James M, Mbonimpa M (2016) Review of the reclamation techniques for acid-generating mine wastes upon closure of disposal sites. Geo-Chicago 270:343–357

    Google Scholar 

  • Argamasilla M, Barberá J A, Andreo B (2017) Factors controlling groundwater salinization and hydrogeochemical processes in coastal aquifers from southern Spain[J]. Science of the Total Environment 580:50–68

  • Banks D, Boyce AJ, Burnside NM, Janson E, Roqueñi Gutierrez N (2020) On the common occurrence of sulphate with elevated δ34S in European mine waters: sulphides, evaporites or seawater. Int J Coal Geol 232:103619

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carreira PM, Marques JM, Nunes D (2014) Source of groundwater salinity in coastline aquifers based on environmental isotopes (Portugal): natural vs. human interference a review and reinterpretation. Appl Geochem 41:163–175

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chandrasekar T, Sabarathinam C, Nadesan D, Rajendiran T, Panda BB, Keesari T et al (2019) Geochemical (process based) characterization of groundwater along the kt boundary of south India. Chem Erde 79:62–77

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen L, Xie W, Feng X, Zhang N, Yin X (2017) Formation of hydrochemical composition and spatiotemporal evolution mechanism under mining-induced disturbance in the Linhuan coal-mining district. Arab J Geosci 10(3):57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen L, Xu D, Yin X, Xie W, Zeng W (2017) Analysis of groundwater chemistry and its controlling factors in concealed coal mining area of North China: a case study of main aquifer inrush in Suxian Mining area. J China Coal Soc 42(4):996–1004 (China)

    Google Scholar 

  • Christopher HG, Allison B, Simon RP, Thomas HH (2013) Using stable isotopes (S, O) of sulfate to track local contamination of the Madison karst aquifer, Montana, from abandoned coal mine drainage. Appl Geochem 31:228–238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Craig H (1961) Standard for reporting concentrations of deuterium and oxygen-18 in natural waters. Science 133:1833–1834

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dogramaci S, McLeanb L, Skrzypek G (2017) Hydrochemical and stable isotope indicators of pyrite oxidation in carbonate-rich environment: the Hamersley Basin, Western Australia. J Hydrol 545:288–298

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Esmaeil G, Mostafa R, Mojtaba GM, Aziz RC (2021) Saltwater intrusion in drinking water wells of Kordkuy, Iran: an integrated quantitative and graphical study. Environ Earth Sci 80:520

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gammons CH, Brown A, Poulson SR, Henderson TH (2013) Using stable isotopes(S, O) of sulfate to track local contamination of the Madison karst aquifer, Montana, from abandoned coal mine drainage. Appl Geochem 31:228–238

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Han Y, Wang G, Cravotta CA, Hu W, Bian Y, Zhang Z, Liu Y (2013) Hydro-geochemical evolution of Ordovician limestone groundwater in Yanzhou, North China. Hydrol Process 27:2247–2257

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • He J, Ma J, Zhao W, Sun S (2015) Groundwater evolution and recharge determination of the Quaternary aquifer in the Shule River basin, Northwest China. Hydrogeol J 23(8):1745–1759

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang B, Liu J, Li N, Zhao X (2017) Framework of the theory and technology for mine closure. J China Univ MinTechnol 46(4):715–729,747. (China)

  • Jeong SW, Wu YH, Cho YC, Ji SW (2018) Flow behavior and mobility of contaminated waste rock materials in the abandoned Imgi mine in Korea. Geomorphology 301:79–91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang C, Gao X, Zhang S, Li C, Wang W (2020) Occurrence and environmental impact of coal mine goaf water in karst areas in China. J Clean Prod 275:123813

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ledesma-Ruiz R, Pasten-Zapata E, Parra R, Harter T, Mahlknecht J (2015) Investigation of the geochemical evolution of groundwater under agricultural land: a case study in northeastern Mexico. J Hydrol 521:410–423

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li B, Liu G, Nie Y, Ye Z, Yang Z, Yin G (2020) Hydrochemical characteristics and environmental isotope analysis of typical abandoned pyrite in Southwest China. Environ Sci Technol 43(10):10–17 (China)

    Google Scholar 

  • Li B, Liu G, Nie Y, Ye Z (2021) Causes and effects of a water spill from the underground pit of the Dashu Pyrite mine, Southern Sichuan Basin, Southwest China. Mine Water Environ 40:864–876

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li B, Zheng LF, Liu G et al (2023) Identification of the sources of mine drainage in a multi-aquifer area: a case study of the abandoned Dashu pyrite mine in Southwest China. Hydrogeol J 31:387–400

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liang Y, Gao X, Zhao C, Tang C, Shen H, Wang Z (2018) Review: characterization, evolution, and environmental issues of karst water systems in northern China. Hydrogeol J 26(5):1371–1385

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu J, Zhao Y, Wang D, Liu A (1997) Time-space distribution of stable isotopes of atmospheric precipitation in China. Investig Sci Technol 3:34–39 (China)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu P, Nils H, Carsten D, Sun Y, Xu Z (2017) Hydro-geochemical paths of multi-layer groundwater system in coal mining regions using multivariate statistics and geochemical modeling approaches. Sci Total Environ 601–602(Dec. 1):1–14

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu P, Yang M, Sun Y (2019) Hydro-geochemical processes of the deep ordovician groundwater in a coal mining area, Xuzhou, China. Hydrogeol J 27:2231–2244

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Malov AI, Tokarev IV (2019) Using stable isotopes to characterize the conditions of groundwater formation on the eastern slope of the Baltic Shield (NW Russia). J Hydrol 578:124–130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Migaszewski ZM, Gałuszka A, Dołe˛gowska S (2018) Stable isotope geochemistry of acid mine drainage from the Wisniowka area (south-central Poland). Appl Geochem 95:45–56

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morán-Ramírez J, Ledesma-Ruiz R, Mahlknecht J, Ramos-Leal JA (2016) Rockwater interactions and pollution processes in the volcanic aquifer system of Guadalajara, Mexico, using inverse geochemical modeling. Appl Geochem 68:79–94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Omiyama S, Igarashi T, Tabelin CB, Tangviroon P, Ii H (2019) Acid mine drainage sources and hydrogeochemistry at the Yatani mine, Yamagata, Japan: a geochemical and isotopic study. J Contam Hydrol 225:103502

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Park I, Tabelin CB, Jeon S, Li X, Seno K, Ito M, Hiroyoshi N (2019) A review of recent strategies for acid mine drainage prevention and mine tailings recycling. Chemosphere 219:588–606

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qian J, Peng Y, Zhao W, Ma L, He X, Lu Y (2018) Hydrochemical processes and evolution of karst ground-water in the northeastern Huaibei Plain, China. Hydrogeol J 26:1721–1729

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ramesh BK, Vanitha S (2021) Hydrogeochemical and geospatial analysis of water quality for domestic and irrigation purposes in Padmana-bhapuram, Kanyakumari District, India. Arab J Geosci 14:2012

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ren K, Zeng J, Liang J, Yuan D, Pan X (2020) Impacts of acid mine drainage on karst aquifers: evidence from hydrogeochemistry, stable sulfur and oxygen isotopes. Sci Total Environ 761(11):143223

    Google Scholar 

  • Sako A, Bamba O, Gordie A (2016) Hydrogeochemical processes controlling groundwater quality around Bomboré gold mineralized zone, central Burkina Faso. J Geochem Explor 170:58–71

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seibert S, Descourvieres C, Skrzypek G, Deng HL, Prommer H (2017) Model-based analysis of δ34S signatures to trace sedimentary pyrite oxidation during managed aquifer recharge in a heterogeneous aquifer. J Hydrol 548:368–381

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shingo T, Toshifumi I, Carlito B, Pawit T, Hiroyuki I (2019) Acid mine drainage sources and hydrogeochemistry at the yatani mine, Yamagata, Japan: a geochemical and isotopic study. J Contam Hydrol 225:103502

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sparks JM, Crowley BE, Rutherford MG, Jaggernauth D (2019) Coastal proximity, orientation, and precipitation amount drive spatial variability in δ34S values on the Caribbean island of Trinidad. Appl Geochem 108:104372

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun J, Yoshio T, William HJ, Strosnider TK, Wu P, Gao X (2019) Tracing and quantifying contributions of end members to karst water at a coalfield in Southwest China. Chemosphere 234:777–788

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tarasenko IA, Zinkov AV, Vakh EA, Vetoshkina AV, Strelnikova AB (2016) Groundwater composition fluctuation within technogenic zones (case study: flooded coal mines in Primorsky Krai, Russia. Iop Conf 33(1):12–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Voutsis N, Kelepertzis E, Tziritis E, Kelepertsis A (2015) Assessing the hydrogeochemistry of groundwaters in ophiolite areas of Euboea Island, Greece, using multivariate statistical methods[J]. Journal of Geochemical Exploration 159:79–92

  • Wu Q, Li S (2018) Positive and negative environmental effects of closed mines and its countermeasures. J China Coal Soc 43(1):21–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang X, Hu J, Liu J, Luo Z, Zhang Y, Liu F, Zhao Z, Li Y (2018) Hydrogeochemical characteristics and formation mechanism of groundwater in Xianghualing mining area, Hunan Province. Acta Sci Circumstantiae 38(7):2575–2585 (China)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang Z, Huang P, Ding F (2020) Groundwater hydro-geochemical mechanisms and the connectivity of multilayer aquifers in a coal mining region. Mine Water Environ 39(4):808–822

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yeh HF, Lee JW (2018) Stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopes for groundwater sources of Penghu islands, Taiwan. Geosciences 8(84):1–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Q, Zhou J, Lin S, Wei D, Zhang L, Yuan L (2015) Characteristics and causes of groundwater pollution after Hongshan-Zhaili mine coal closure in Zibo. Saf Environ Eng 22(6):23–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang H, Xu G, Zhan H, Chen X, Liu M, Wang M (2020) Identification of hydrogeochemical processes and transport paths of a multi-aquifer system in closed mining regions. J Hydrol 589(2):125344

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng L, Chen X, Dong X, Wei X, Jiang C, Tang Q (2019) Using δ34S–SO4 and δ18O–SO4 to trace the sources of sulfate in different types of surface water from the Linhuan coal-mining subsidence area of Huaibei, China. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 18:231–240

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou JW, Zhang YP, Zhou AG, Liu CF, Cai HS, Liu YD (2016) Application of hydrochemistry and stable isotopes (δ34S, δ18O and δ37Cl) to trace natural and anthropogenic influences on the quality of groundwater in the piedmont region, Shijiazhuang, China. Appl Geochem 71:63–72

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This work was conducted as part of the State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection free exploration project (SKLGP2019Z008), the Sichuan Province Science and Technology Plan projects that focus on research and development program (2020YFS0339), the State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Synergetic Control and Joint Remediation for Soil & Water Pollution open fund (GHBK-2020–018), Scientific research and innovation Team project of Chengdu Normal University (CSCXTD2020A04), and the state environmental protection special fund for support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Environment Civil Engineering, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, China

    Cheng Chen, Bo Li, Mingtan Zhu, Xuemei Wang, Guo Liu & Yinger Deng

  2. College of Chemistry and Life Science, Chengdu Normal University, Chengdu, 611130, China

    Cheng Chen

  3. State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu, 610059, China

    Cheng Chen, Bo Li, Mingtan Zhu, Xuemei Wang & Guo Liu

  4. School of Environment and Resource, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, China

    Bo Li

Authors
  1. Cheng Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bo Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mingtan Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Xuemei Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Guo Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Yinger Deng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

CC proposed the study’s concept and collaborated with other co-authors on the writing and discussion of the findings. LB was responsible for measuring relevant experimental data. LG and DY organized the article. ZM revised grammatical specifications and examined experimental data. WX completed the analysis of microbial data. The final manuscript was reviewed and endorsed by all authors.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Guo Liu.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Not applicable.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Xianliang Yi

Publisher's note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 346 KB)

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chen, C., Li, B., Zhu, M. et al. Multi-isotope identification of key hydrogeochemical processes and pollution pathways of groundwater in abandoned mining areas in Southwest China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 78198–78215 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-27607-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-27607-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation