Managing Pore-Water Quality in Mine Tailings by Inducing Microbial Sulfate Reduction

A field-scale experiment was conducted to evaluate the potential for inducing microbial sulfate reduction as a passive in situ technique for managing water quality in mine tailings deposits. Sulfide-and carbonate-rich mine tailings, characterized by near-neutral pH pore water, were amended with <1 dry wt. % organic carbon. The geochemical evolution of pore water was monitored for four years. The results demonstrate that organic carbon supported dissimilatory sulfate reduction (DSR) in the vadose zone. Decreases in dissolved SO4 and S2O3 were accompanied by H2S production, increased populations of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), S-34-SO4 enrichment, and undersaturation of pore water with respect to gypsum [CaSO4 center dot 2H(2)O. The mass of dissolved S decreased by >45% during the monitoring period, which coincided with the removal of Zn, Sb, and Tl. Mobilization of Fe and As occurred initially; however, subsequent decreases in aqueous concentrations were observed. Mineralogical investigation confirmed the presence of secondary Fe-S and Zn-Fe-S phases. Amendment of tailings with a small and dispersed mass of organic carbon resulted in a general decrease in mass transport of sulfide oxidation products.