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Anoxia stimulates microbially catalyzed metal release from Animas River sediments

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Lucia Rodriguez Freire

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Abstract

The Gold King Mine spill in August 2015 released 11 million liters of metal-rich mine waste to the Animas River watershed, an area that has been previously exposed to historical mining activity spanning more than a century. Although adsorption onto fluvial sediments was responsible for rapid immobilization of a significant fraction of the spill-associated metals, patterns of longer-term mobility are poorly constrained. Metals associated with river sediments collected downstream of the Gold King Mine in August 2015 exhibited distinct presence and abundance patterns linked to location and mineralogy. Simulating riverbed burial and development of anoxic conditions, sediment microcosm experiments amended with Animas River dissolved organic carbon revealed the release of specific metal pools coupled to microbial Fe- and SO₄²⁻-reduction. Results suggest that future sedimentation and burial of riverbed materials may drive longer-term changes in patterns of metal remobilization linked to anaerobic microbial metabolism, potentially driving decreases in downstream water quality. Such patterns emphasize the need for long-term water monitoring efforts in metal-impacted watersheds.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Saup CM, Williams KH, Rodriguez-Freire L, Cerrato JM, Johnston MD, Wilkins MJ

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts

Year: 2017

Volume: 19

Issue: 4

Pages: 578-585

Print publication date: 01/04/2017

Online publication date: 06/03/2017

Acceptance date: 03/03/2017

ISSN (print): 2050-7887

ISSN (electronic): 2050-7895

Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry

URL: https://doi.org/10.1039/C7EM00036G

DOI: 10.1039/C7EM00036G

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