Oxidation of pyrite in low temperature acidic solutions: Rate laws and surface textures

McKibben, Michael A.; Barnes, H. L.

doi:10.1016/0016-7037(86)90325-x

Cited by 478 publications

(259 citation statements)

References 15 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

214

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…This result is consistent with the pH dependence of iron solubility (Rickard 2006). It is well-known that the dissolution of iron sulfides induces acidification (McKibben and Barnes 1986). Induced acidity accelerates further mineral dissolution.…”

Section: Iron Release From Calcopyrite (Cufes 2 ) In Different Waterssupporting

confidence: 87%

Characterizing As, Cu, Fe and U Solubilization by Natural Waters

Noubactep

Schöner

Schubert

2008

Uranium, Mining and Hydrogeology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. The effects of carbonate concentration and the presence of in-situ generated iron oxide and hydroxide phases ( iron oxyhydroxides) on arsenic (As), copper (Cu), and uranium (U) release from natural rocks were investigated under oxic conditions and in the pH range from 6 to 9. For this purpose non-disturbed batch experiments were conducted with a constant amount of each contaminant bearing rock/mineral and different types of water (deionised, mineral, spring, and tap water). For comparison parallel experiments were conducted with 0.1 M Na 2 CO 3 and 0.1 M H 2 SO 4 . The favourable role of carbonate bearing minerals for U and Cu transport could not be confirmed by using dolomite. The presence of elemental iron and pyrite retards As, Cu and U solubilization. This study shows that using natural materials in laboratory investigations is a practical tool to inve stigate natural processes.

show abstract

Section: Iron Release From Calcopyrite (Cufes 2 ) In Different Waterssupporting

confidence: 87%

Characterizing As, Cu, Fe and U Solubilization by Natural Waters

Noubactep

Schöner

Schubert

2008

Uranium, Mining and Hydrogeology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Second, a more powerful oxidant, probably Fe 3+ ions, is available in these pH regions that overshadowed the effects of O 2 on pyrite oxidation. Ferric ion (Fe 3+ ) and O 2 are two of the most important oxidants of pyrite (Holmes and Crundwell, 2000;McKibben and Barnes, 1986;Moses et al, 1987;Moses and Herman, 1991;Nicholson et al, 1988 When these two oxidants are present in a system, Fe 3+ is more powerful than O 2 (Moses et al, 1987 (Evangelou, 1995). Regardless of these very low concentrations of Fe 3+ in the alkaline region, it is still an important oxidant of pyrite as reported by Moses et al (1987).…”

Section: Mechanisms Controlling the Mobilities Of Arsenic And Lead Unmentioning

confidence: 95%

The roles of pyrite and calcite in the mobilization of arsenic and lead from hydrothermally altered rocks excavated in Hokkaido, Japan

Tabelin¹,

Igarashi²,

Tamoto³

et al. 2012

Journal of Geochemical Exploration

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper describes the enrichment of hydrothermally altered volcanic and sedimentary rocks with arsenic (As) and lead (Pb), and the effects of pyrite and calcite on the mobilities and release mechanisms of these toxic elements under oxic and anoxic conditions. Enrichment of the altered rock with As and Pb predominantly occurred in precipitated pyrite grains and not on the alumino-silicate minerals making up the matrix of the rock. Arsenic was incorporated in pyrite grains formed during alteration in both volcanic and sedimentary rocks, but Pb was only found in the pyrite grains of the volcanic rock samples. When in contact with water, altered volcanic rocks had acidic pH while altered sedimentary rocks had alkaline pH. The mobilities of both As and Pb from the altered rocks were enhanced at acidic and alkaline pH and a minimum was observed in the circumneutral pH under both oxic and anoxic conditions. The absence of O 2 retarded the oxidation of pyrite most notably in the alkaline region but not in the acidic and circumneutral pH. The absence of CO 2 increased the pH of samples with significant calcite content but did not affect those containing substantial amounts of pyrite. Increasing the CO 2 also had insignificant effect on the concentrations of As and Pb in the leachate. The mechanisms controlling the mobilization of As and Pb from these rocks like dissolution of soluble secondary minerals, pyrite oxidation and adsorption were all related to pyrite while the pH of the rock when in contact with water was controlled by pyrite and calcite. Thus, excavated waste rocks that have been altered can be grouped based on the relative abundance of pyrite and calcite and their pH when in contact with water.

show abstract

“…Laboratory studies in the literature are unanimous in that sulfide minerals undergo complex kinetically controlled dissolution. The abiotic rate of pyrite oxidation has been studied extensively (e.g., Lowson, 1982;Wiersma and Rimstidt, 1984;McKibben and Barnes, 1986;Luther, 1987;Moses et al, 1987;Williamson and Rimstidt, 1994). Due to the complexity of the reaction chemistry, no consensus on rate laws has been reached.…”

Section: Predictions Of Sulfide Oxidation Rate In the Fieldmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Due to the complexity of the reaction chemistry, no consensus on rate laws has been reached. Based on statistical analysis of published FeS2 oxidation rates and their own work Williamson and Rimstidt (1994) where r = pyrite destruction rate (mol m -2 s -1 ), and log (Fe 3+ /Fe 2+ ) for their experiments was 0.5-1.5 with [Fe 3+ ] _ 10 -3 M. Other studies of pyrite oxidation have reported different rate laws, e.g., McKibben and Barnes (1986), Lowson (1982) and Nicholson et al (1990). The complex oxidative dissolution kinetics of pyrite (and other sulfides) suggests that for the rates of oxidation to be same in the laboratory and the field then the material necessarily must have experienced identical evolution in chemical, microbiological and physical environment.…”

Section: Predictions Of Sulfide Oxidation Rate In the Fieldmentioning

confidence: 99%

Humidity cell tests for the prediction of acid rock drainage

Sapsford

Bowell²,

Dey³

et al. 2009

Minerals Engineering

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper presents a study of various geochemical humidity-style weathering tests that were carried out on waste mine rock from Avoca, County Wicklow, Ireland. The aim of this paper is to present data that demonstrate some of the geochemical controls on weathering rates together with release rates from laboratory testwork. These data are used to determine the applicability of various interpretations of humidity cell data for prediction of acid rock drainage. Furthermore, within this context the paper offers opinion on common questions related to the use of such tests: should humidity cells be aerated? How long should the test be run for? Is pre-treatment of the samples required? Is inoculation of the samples with iron and sulfur oxidising microbes required? And should these tests really be considered to be accelerated weathering tests?

show abstract

Oxidation of pyrite in low temperature acidic solutions: Rate laws and surface textures

Cited by 478 publications

References 15 publications

Characterizing As, Cu, Fe and U Solubilization by Natural Waters

Characterizing As, Cu, Fe and U Solubilization by Natural Waters

The roles of pyrite and calcite in the mobilization of arsenic and lead from hydrothermally altered rocks excavated in Hokkaido, Japan

Humidity cell tests for the prediction of acid rock drainage

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About