The composition of coexisting jarosite-group minerals and water from the Richmond mine, Iron Mountain, California
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Abstract
Jarosite-group minerals accumulate in the form of stalactites and fine-grained mud on massive pyrite in the D drift of the Richmond mine, Iron Mountain, California. Water samples were collected by placing beakers under the dripping stalactites and by extracting pore water from the mud using a centrifuge. The water is rich in Fe3+ and SO4 2−, with a pH of approximately 2.1, which is significantly higher than the extremely acidic waters found elsewhere in the mine. Electron-microprobe analysis and X-ray mapping indicate that the small crystals (<10 μm in diameter) are compositionally zoned with respect to Na and K, and include hydronium jarosite corresponding to the formula (H3O)0.6K0.3Na0.1Fe3 3+(SO4)2(OH)6. The proton-microprobe analyses indicate that the jarosite-group minerals contain significant amounts of As, Pb and Zn, and minor levels of Bi, Rb, Sb, Se, Sn and Sr. Speciation modeling indicates that the drip waters are supersaturated with respect to jarosite-group minerals. The expected range in composition of jarosite-group solid-solution in equilibrium with the pore water extracted from the mud was found to be consistent with the observed range in composition.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | The composition of coexisting jarosite-group minerals and water from the Richmond mine, Iron Mountain, California |
| Series title | Canadian Mineralogist |
| DOI | 10.2113/gscanmin.43.4.1225 |
| Volume | 43 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Year Published | 2005 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Mineralogical Associaion of Canada |
| Contributing office(s) | California Water Science Center, Central Mineral and Environmental Resources Science Center, Toxic Substances Hydrology Program, National Research Program - Central Branch |
| Description | 18 p. |
| First page | 1225 |
| Last page | 1242 |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Other Geospatial | Iron Mountain |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |