Institute of Geosciences, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Burgweg 11, 07749, Jena, Germany,
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2014;21(11):6812-23. doi: 10.1007/s11356-013-2107-x. Epub 2014 Jan 3.
The commonly observed enrichment of middle rare earth elements (MREE) in water sampled in acid mine drainage (AMD)-impacted areas was found to be the result of preferential release from the widespread mineral pyrite (FeS2). Three different mining-impacted sites in Europe were sampled for water, and various pyrite samples were used in batch experiments with diluted sulphuric acid simulating AMD-impacted water with high sulphate concentration and high acidity. All water samples independent on their origin from groundwater, creek water or lake water as well as on the surrounding rock types showed MREE enrichment. Also the pyrite samples showed MREE enrichment in the respective acidic leachate but not always in their total contents indicating a process-controlled release. It is discussed that most probably complexation to sulphite (SO3 (2-)) or another intermediate S-species during pyrite oxidation is the reason for the MREE enrichment in the normalized REE patterns.
在受酸性矿山排水 (AMD) 影响的地区采集的水样中，通常观察到中稀土元素 (MREE) 的富集，这是由于广泛存在的黄铁矿 (FeS2) 优先释放的结果。在欧洲的三个不同受采矿影响的地点采集水样，并在使用稀释硫酸的批量实验中使用各种黄铁矿样品模拟高硫酸盐浓度和高酸度的 AMD 影响水。所有水样，无论其来源是地下水、溪流水还是湖水，以及周围的岩石类型，都表现出 MREE 的富集。黄铁矿样品在各自的酸性浸出液中也表现出 MREE 的富集，但并不总是在其总含量中表明是过程控制释放。据讨论，最有可能的是，在黄铁矿氧化过程中与亚硫酸盐 (SO3 (2-)) 或另一种中间 S 物质形成络合物是导致标准化 REE 模式中 MREE 富集的原因。
