Geochemical characteristics of rare earth elements in acid mine drainage and sediments from the Xiangshan uranium mine tailings area

doi:10.13745/j.esf.sf.2024.5.27

Abstract

Abstract:

Acid mine drainage (AMD) has garnered global attention due to its chemical toxicity and ecological hazards. This study investigates the geochemistry of AMD and sediments in the Xiangshan uranium mine tailings area, focusing on the concentrations and fractionations of rare earth elements (REEs) and their controlling factors. A total of 22 AMD samples and 31 sediment samples were collected along the flow direction of AMD for field and laboratory analysis. The pH of AMD ranged from 3.65 to 6.24, with an average of 4.51, and the hydrochemical type was predominantly SO₄^2--Ca. Total REE concentrations (ΣREEs) in AMD varied between 0.41 and 191.23 μg/L, with an average of 80.32 μg/L. A negative correlation was observed between pH and ΣREEs concentration, indicating that pH plays a critical role in controlling REE concentrations. Hydrogeochemical modeling using PHREEQC revealed that REEs in AMD primarily exist as SO₄^2- complexes and free ions (>99%). Upper continental crust (UCC) normalization showed that AMD was enriched in heavy REEs (HREEs) relative to light REEs (LREEs), with a negative Ce anomaly. In sediments, ΣREEs concentrations ranged from 170.58 to 1259.18 μg/g and decreased with increasing depth. Shallow sediments exhibited HREE-enriched patterns similar to those of AMD samples. Sediments from the tailings pond showed a higher degree of HREE enrichment compared to sediments downstream of the tailings pond. However, with increasing depth, the HREE enrichment in downstream sediments gradually weakened, and UCC-normalized patterns evolved into relatively flat or even LREE-enriched patterns. A sulfuric acid leaching test (1∶40) on sediments revealed that the leachate exhibited REE patterns similar to AMD, with HREEs preferentially mobilized into solution compared to LREEs. This indicates that shallow sediments readily inherit the REE signatures of AMD. However, vertical migration to deeper sediment layers resulted in REE fractionation, with HREEs preferentially mobilized over LREEs, leading to a distinct vertical evolution in sediment REE patterns. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the environmental evolution of uranium mine tailings areas and are significant for the prevention and control of soil and water pollution. Understanding REE fractionation in AMD and sediments can aid in developing strategies to mitigate the environmental impacts of uranium mining.

Key words: acid mine drainage, rare earth element, anomalous enrichment, Xiangshan uranium mine, anthropogenic activity

CLC Number:

ZHANG Yifan, LIU Haiyan, DONG Shu, GUO Huaming, WANG Zhen, SUN Zhanxue, ZHOU Zhongkui. Geochemical characteristics of rare earth elements in acid mine drainage and sediments from the Xiangshan uranium mine tailings area[J]. Earth Science Frontiers, 2025, 32(2): 412-429.

Figures/Tables 19

References 46

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采样点	采样位置	采样点	采样位置
S1	尾矿库坝底水处理厂内的水体	K1	S2水体下的沉积物,上层均为细砂,最下层为粉土
S2	经水处理厂处理后排出的水体	K2	S4水体下的沉积物,前三层为粉土,下两层为黏土
S3	尾矿库坝底未经水处理厂处理的水体	K3	S6水体下的沉积物,粉土
S4	S2、S3混合后的水体	K4	S7水体下的沉积物,粉土
S5~S9	S4下游水渠中不同距离的水体	K5	S9水体下的沉积物,粉土
S10	尾矿库坝底渗滤液收集池内的水体	K6	与S10同位于渗滤液收集池内,黏土
D1	尾矿库内水库的水体	XS1	尾矿库内的沉积物,黏土
D2	经水处理厂处理后排出的水体	XS2	尾矿库内的沉积物,上层为粉土,下层为黏土
H1~H9	水渠内不同距离的水体	XS3	尾矿库坝旁边的沉积物,前三层为细砂,下层为粉土
H10	经H9后排放至农田内的水体	XS4	尾矿库坝底的沉积物,粉土

采样点	采样位置	采样点	采样位置
S1	尾矿库坝底水处理厂内的水体	K1	S2水体下的沉积物,上层均为细砂,最下层为粉土
S2	经水处理厂处理后排出的水体	K2	S4水体下的沉积物,前三层为粉土,下两层为黏土
S3	尾矿库坝底未经水处理厂处理的水体	K3	S6水体下的沉积物,粉土
S4	S2、S3混合后的水体	K4	S7水体下的沉积物,粉土
S5~S9	S4下游水渠中不同距离的水体	K5	S9水体下的沉积物,粉土
S10	尾矿库坝底渗滤液收集池内的水体	K6	与S10同位于渗滤液收集池内,黏土
D1	尾矿库内水库的水体	XS1	尾矿库内的沉积物,黏土
D2	经水处理厂处理后排出的水体	XS2	尾矿库内的沉积物,上层为粉土,下层为黏土
H1~H9	水渠内不同距离的水体	XS3	尾矿库坝旁边的沉积物,前三层为细砂,下层为粉土
H10	经H9后排放至农田内的水体	XS4	尾矿库坝底的沉积物,粉土

时间	统计量	pH	离子浓度/(mg·L^-1)
时间	统计量	pH	TDS	K	Ca	Na	Mg	Cl^-	SO₄^2-	HCO₃^-
2022-11	最大值	4.23	1 552	26.49	470.75	63.65	18.73	7.08	474.63	32.02
	最小值	3.65	1 037	18.79	356.32	45.40	10.18	4.95	225.95	-
	平均值	3.981	1 266.11	22.70	419.02	54.96	15.07	6.12	316.58	3.20
2023-06	最大值	6.90	415.00	9.02	116.57	25.86	12.60	18.02	385.81	39.30
	最小值	4.24	303.00	3.46	97.45	11.08	10.41	5.53	291.45	1.46
	平均值	4.85	379.42	5.35	111.31	13.77	11.76	15.10	359.69	9.74

时间	统计量	pH	离子浓度/(mg·L^-1)
时间	统计量	pH	TDS	K	Ca	Na	Mg	Cl^-	SO₄^2-	HCO₃^-
2022-11	最大值	4.23	1 552	26.49	470.75	63.65	18.73	7.08	474.63	32.02
	最小值	3.65	1 037	18.79	356.32	45.40	10.18	4.95	225.95	-
	平均值	3.981	1 266.11	22.70	419.02	54.96	15.07	6.12	316.58	3.20
2023-06	最大值	6.90	415.00	9.02	116.57	25.86	12.60	18.02	385.81	39.30
	最小值	4.24	303.00	3.46	97.45	11.08	10.41	5.53	291.45	1.46
	平均值	4.85	379.42	5.35	111.31	13.77	11.76	15.10	359.69	9.74

时间	统计量	pH	离子浓度/(μg·L^-1)
时间	统计量	pH	Al	Fe	Mn	Ni	As	Cd	Pb
2022-11	最大值	4.23	400.91	76.39	1 294.56	2.70	2.18	0.21	0.45
	最小值	3.65	31.42	2.26	86.72	0.57	0.15	0.02	0.01
	平均值	3.98	258.04	50.75	725.25	1.34	0.96	0.09	0.18
2023-06	最大值	6.90	5 190.55	733.44	8 960.11	17.10	1.36	0.92	1.15
	最小值	4.24	102.14	20.00	730.73	2.38	0.63	0.09	0.09
	平均值	4.85	3 704.66	481.49	3 910.57	12.97	0.82	0.64	0.40