Rare-earth elements in groundwater of the abandoned Levikha copper mine (Middle Urals, Russia)
Open Access
- 7 June 2019
- journal article
- research article
- Published by EDP Sciences in E3S Web of Conferences
- Vol. 98, 01043
- https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/20199801043
Abstract
The distribution of REE in groundwater of the catchments, which were formed during the long-term operation of copper mines in the Middle Urals (Russia), was studied. The groundwater composition reflects a significant removal of REE from water-bearing rocks, which leads to their enrichment by several orders of magnitude relative to the oceans, surface water and groundwater. Maximum REE values (up to 15 mg/L) were recorded in groundwater discharged to the surface in the collapse zone (pH=3.5). In mine shafts REE values do not exceed 0.3 mg/L. Water of mine wastes occupy an intermediate position: here REE content varies from 0.5 to 6.5 mg/L. The degree of REE fractionation in mine waters is lower than in oceanic, surface and underground waters of the active water exchange zone at much higher contents. The chemical composition of groundwater of the abandoned copper mine is determined by hypogene processes and structure of the mineralized supergene zone, its mineralogical composition, and oxidation-reduction conditions.This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit:
- Hydrogeochemistry of the Abandoned Sulfide Mines of the Middle Urals (Russia)Procedia Earth and Planetary Science, 2017
- The “North American shale composite”: Its compilation, major and trace element characteristicsGeochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 1984