Physico-chemical gradients and meromictic stratification in Cueva de la Mora and other acidic pit lakes of the Iberian Pyrite Belt |
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Authors: | Javier Sánchez España Enrique López Pamo Marta Diez Esther Santofimia |
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Affiliation: | 1.Instituto Geológico y Minero de Espa?a (IGME),Madrid,Spain |
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Abstract: | A marked vertical trend of increasing temperature and dissolved metal concentrations is observed in the monimolimnia of some
meromictic pit lakes of the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB) in SW Spain. Temperature differences between the chemocline and the
pit lake bottom can be as high as 15°C (e.g. Herrerías), and the respective concentration of some metals (e.g. Fe) and metalloids
(e.g. As) can increase by several orders of magnitude (e.g. Cueva de la Mora). The redox conditions also change drastically
from the upper and oxygenated mixolimnion (strongly oxidizing) to the lower and anoxic monimolimnion (moderately reducing).
Processes such as the inflow of metal–sulphate laden ground water from flooded shafts and galleries, and other factors such
as the pit geometry or the relative depth of the lakes, must be considered to account for the observed stratification pattern.
The vertical profiles of physico-chemical parameters and water chemistry obtained in Cueva de la Mora and other meromictic
pit lakes of the IPB are also compatible with a reactive bottom in which several geochemical and microbial reactions (including
reductive dissolution of Fe3+ minerals, bacterial reduction of Fe3+ and SO4
2− in pore waters within the sediments, and decomposition of organic matter) could be taking place. |
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Keywords: | Acid mine drainage Double-diffusive convection Geochemistry Meromixis Pit lake Spain |
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