Soils and spoils: mineralogy and geochemistry of mining and processing wastes from lead and zinc mining at the Gratz Mine, Owen County, Kentucky.

Purpose: Mineralogical and geochemical features of mining and processing wastes collected in Owen County, part of the Central Kentucky Lead-Zinc district, were investigated. The Gratz mine, abandoned in the 1940s, is on a dairy farm. Aside from discerning the nature of mining refuse at the site, the investigation was part of the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy's mission to explore unusual environments in the search for unique microbiological communities. Materials and methods: Four samples of a soil-plus-spoils mix were collected from spoil piles and two samples, the sluice and coarse samples, were closely associated with the site of the ore processing. Optical petrology (polarized reflected-light, oil-immersion optics at a final magnification of 500 ×), X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM) with selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and/or microbeam diffraction (MBD), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) analyses were employed to characterize the samples. Results and discussion: Calcite is the main mineral in most samples, followed by near equal amounts of quartz and dolomite. Sphalerite and galena are the principal sulfides and barite is the dominant sulfate. Geochemistry of major elements reflected the mineralogy, whereas trace elements showed different groupings between the minerals. Scandium, Cu, Ga, Ge, Cd, and Sb were found predominantly associated with Zn and Pb and sulfide minerals; Bi, Hf, In, Sn, and Zr with heavy mineral fraction; while the remaining trace elements, including the rare earths, were mostly distributed among other present phases, i.e., oxyhalides, oxides, silicates, and carbonaceous material. The data were used to illustrate the processes and conditions that control the sulfide-mineral oxidation and its potential for the environmental release of associated reaction products. Conclusions: The wastes represent a potential source of environmentally disruptive concentrations of Zn, Pb, and other sulfide-associated elements. The high share of carbonates suggests near-neutral conditions in deposited wastes, restricting sulfide weathering and further limiting the oxidant activity of Fe. The low-Fe content and its predominant presence in highly resistant hematite also constrain sulfide weathering. Consequently, the spoils have a low potential for generation of acidity and release of heavy metal(loid)s in the surrounding environment.

Soft metal preferences of 1,3-benzenediamidoethanethiol.

Recent studies indicate that the sodium salt of 1,3-benzenediamidoethanethiol (BDET) is both economical and effective in precipitating mercury and other heavy metals from water. Because wastewaters and contaminated natural waters may contain a variety of heavy metals, it is important to determine how different heavy metals may interact with BDET, and whether free metals may displace those that are bound. To explore this possibility, Cd-, Cu-, Pb-, Mn-, Hg- and Zn-BDET were leached separately under a nitrogen purge for up to 240 h in pH 3 aqueous solutions containing 0.100 mmol of all five heavy metals. The leaching studies indicate that dissolved Hg has a strong tendency to displace Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb, and Zn from the BDET structure.

Effectiveness of commercial reagents for heavy metal removal from water with new insights for future chelate designs.

Toxic heavy metals in air, soil, and water are global problems that are a growing threat to the environment. To meet the federal and state guidelines for heavy metal discharge, companies often use chemical precipitation or chelating agents. In order to be competitive economically, many of these chelating ligands are simple, easy to obtain, and, generally offer weak bonding for heavy metals. Laboratory testing of three commercial reagents, trimercaptotriazine (TMT), Thio-Red potassium/sodium thiocarbonate (STC), and HMP-2000 sodium dimethyldithiocarbamate (SDTC) has shown that the compounds were unable to reduce independent solutions containing 50.00 ppm of divalent cadmium, copper, iron, lead, or mercury to meet EPA standards. Additionally, the compounds displayed high leaching rates and in some cases decomposed to produce toxic substances. In contrast, the studies demonstrate that a recently reported sulfur-containing multidentate ligand is both safe and effective for the removal of these metals.

The occurrence of hazardous volatile elements and nanoparticles in Bulgarian coal fly ashes and the effect on human health exposure.

Low-rank, high-mineral matter Bulgarian coals were studied using a variety of chemical, optical, and electron beam methods. The larger fly ash carbon phases include charred carbons in contrast to coked carbons present in the fly ashes of bituminous-coal-derived fly ashes. Nanoscale carbons include multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) encapsulating Hg, Se, and As, among other elements. In addition to the glass which dominates the fly ash, relatively coarse 'rock fragments', consisting of an unmelted to partially melted core surrounded by a glassy rim, are present in the fly ash. Nano-scale minerals can contain hazardous elements and, along with metal-bearing multiwalled nanotubes, can be a path for the entry of hazardous particles into the lungs and other organs.

Gas emissions, minerals, and tars associated with three coal fires, Powder River Basin, USA.

Ground-based surveys of three coal fires and airborne surveys of two of the fires were conducted near Sheridan, Wyoming. The fires occur in natural outcrops and in abandoned mines, all containing Paleocene-age subbituminous coals. Diffuse (carbon dioxide (CO(2)) only) and vent (CO(2), carbon monoxide (CO), methane, hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S), and elemental mercury) emission estimates were made for each of the fires. Additionally, gas samples were collected for volatile organic compound (VOC) analysis and showed a large range in variation between vents. The fires produce locally dangerous levels of CO, CO(2), H(2)S, and benzene, among other gases. At one fire in an abandoned coal mine, trends in gas and tar composition followed a change in topography. Total CO(2) fluxes for the fires from airborne, ground-based, and rate of fire advancement estimates ranged from 0.9 to 780mg/s/m(2) and are comparable to other coal fires worldwide. Samples of tar and coal-fire minerals collected from the mouth of vents provided insight into the behavior and formation of the coal fires.

CO(2), CO, and Hg emissions from the Truman Shepherd and Ruth Mullins coal fires, eastern Kentucky, USA.

Carbon dioxide (CO(2)), carbon monoxide (CO), and mercury (Hg) emissions were quantified for two eastern Kentucky coal-seam fires, the Truman Shepherd fire in Floyd County and the Ruth Mullins fire in Perry County. This study is one of the first to estimate gas emissions from coal fires using field measurements at gas vents. The Truman Shepherd fire emissions are nearly 1400t CO(2)/yr and 16kg Hg/yr resulting from a coal combustion rate of 450-550t/yr. The sum of CO(2) emissions from seven vents at the Ruth Mullins fire is 726+/-72t/yr, suggesting that the fire is consuming about 250-280t coal/yr. Total Ruth Mullins fire CO and Hg emissions are estimated at 21+/-1.8t/yr and >840+/-170g/yr, respectively. The CO(2) emissions are environmentally significant, but low compared to coal-fired power plants; for example, 3.9x10(6)t CO(2)/yr for a 514-MW boiler in Kentucky. Using simple calculations, CO(2) and Hg emissions from coal-fires in the U.S. are estimated at 1.4x10(7)-2.9x10(8)t/yr and 0.58-11.5t/yr, respectively. This initial work indicates that coal fires may be an important source of CO(2), CO, Hg and other atmospheric constituents.