Microbial Diversity and Its Relationship to Physicochemical Characteristics of the Water in Two Extreme Acidic Pit Lakes from the Iberian Pyrite Belt (SW Spain)

Abstract. In mining areas in which sulfur-containing ores are exposed, the oxidation of sulfides leads to the formation of acidic mine drainage (AMD) waters. Both traditional and molecular microbial studies have shown that chemolithotrophic sulfur- and iron-oxidizing bacteria are responsible for this activity. The Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB), located in southwestern Spain represents one of the world’s largest accumulations of mine wastes and AMD waters. Mineralogical and textural characteristics of the IPB ores favor the oxidation and dissolution of pyrite and the subsequent formation of AMD waters. Acidic pit lakes in the IPB are a hotspot for this activity. These pit lakes are former open pit mines where ores have been exposed leading the formation of AMD waters. At present, there are more than 25 of these pit lakes between the provinces of Huelva and Seville (SW Spain). This work reports the physical properties, hydrogeochemical characteristics, and microbial diversity of two pit lakes located in the IPB Nuestra Señora del Carmen (NSC), and Concepción (CN). Both pit lakes are acid (pH 2-4) and showed chemical and thermal stratification with well defined chemoclines. One particular characteristic of NSC is that it has developed a chemocline very close to the surface (2 m depth). Microbial community composition of the water column was analyzed by 16S and 18S rRNA gene cloning and sequencing. The microorganisms detected in NSC are characteristic of acid mine drainage (AMD), including iron oxidizing bacteria (Leptospirillum) and facultative iron reducing bacteria and archaea (Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Actinobacteria, Acidimicrobiales, Ferroplasma) detected in the bottom layer. Diversity in CN was higher than in NSC. Microorganisms known from AMD systems (Acidiphilium, Acidobacteria and Ferrovum) and microorganisms never reported from AMD systems were both identified.

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Dissolved and particulate metals and arsenic species mobility along a stream affected by Acid Mine Drainage in the Iberian Pyrite Belt (SW Spain)

Applied Geochemistry ◽

10.1016/j.apgeochem.2012.07.012 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 27 (10) ◽

pp. 1944-1952 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Aguasanta M. Sarmiento ◽

Manuel A. Caraballo ◽

Daniel Sanchez-Rodas ◽

José Miguel Nieto ◽

Annika Parviainen

Keyword(s):

Acid Mine Drainage ◽

Mine Drainage ◽

Arsenic Species ◽

Iberian Pyrite Belt ◽

Sw Spain ◽

Acid Mine ◽

Particulate Metals ◽

Species Mobility

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Geochemical and Nd isotopic signature of felsic volcanic rocks as a proxy of volcanic-hosted massive sulphide deposits in the Iberian Pyrite Belt (SW, Spain): The Paymogo Volcano-Sedimentary Alignment

Ore Geology Reviews ◽

10.1016/j.oregeorev.2020.103408 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 120 ◽

pp. 103408 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Teodosio Donaire ◽

Emilio Pascual ◽

Reinaldo Sáez ◽

Christian Pin ◽

Michael A. Hamilton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Volcanic Rocks ◽

Iberian Pyrite Belt ◽

Isotopic Signature ◽

Massive Sulphide ◽

Sw Spain ◽

Massive Sulphide Deposits ◽

Sulphide Deposits ◽

Felsic Volcanic ◽

Felsic Volcanic Rocks

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Physicochemical Differentiation of the Muskau Arch Pit Lakes in the Light of Long-Term Changes

Water ◽

10.3390/w12092368 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (9) ◽

pp. 2368 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Małgorzata Oszkinis-Golon ◽

Marcin Frankowski ◽

Leszek Jerzak ◽

Andrzej Pukacz

Keyword(s):

Physicochemical Characteristics ◽

Key Factors ◽

Physicochemical Conditions ◽

Morphometric Features ◽

Temporal Differentiation ◽

Pit Lakes ◽

Negative Effect ◽

Oxygen Profiles ◽

Lake Stratification

Thirteen pit lakes of the Muskau Arch (Western Poland) were studied in the summer season of 2016. The lakes display great geomorphological and hydrochemical diversity. The aim of the study was to characterize temporal changes in the physicochemical conditions of the pit lakes over the last 30 years (1986–2016) and to determine the main factors influencing their evolution. All the lakes were characterized in terms of the same set of physicochemical parameters measured and used for comparative analysis with literature data from the years 1986 and 1992. The results showed significant temporal differentiation in terms of morphometric features and most of the physicochemical characteristics. pH, EC, Ca2+, Mg2+ and total Fe were among the most significantly differentiating parameters. A similar pattern of changes was found for most of the lakes, suggesting natural fluctuations. Despite the differences in values of thermal and oxygen profiles, there were also similarities in lake stratification. Additionally, meromictic conditions were found in 4 lakes. In some of the lakes a negative effect of neutralization and fertilization of the water was observed. Our results showed that the Muskau Arch lakes are subject to dynamic hydrogeological and hydrochemical changes. In addition to natural changes, human-caused transformations were among the key factors responsible for the differentiation of the physicochemical conditions.

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