Microbiology of an abandoned Pb–Zn mine: Impact on environmental metal contamination
Large-scale Zn, Pb, Cu, Fe and Ag mining ceased over 70 years ago in the Aran Valley (Catalonia, Spain). Some of the abandoned mining relics (e.g. tunnels, processing facilities and tailings dumps) exhibit elevated concentrations of metals in the associated water systems, thus posing a health risk i...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Environmental Advances |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666765722001521 |
| _version_ | 1811315346653577216 |
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| author | Max G. Giannetta Robert Benaiges-Fernández Jordi Cama Ignasi Queralt Josep M. Soler |
| author_facet | Max G. Giannetta Robert Benaiges-Fernández Jordi Cama Ignasi Queralt Josep M. Soler |
| author_sort | Max G. Giannetta |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Large-scale Zn, Pb, Cu, Fe and Ag mining ceased over 70 years ago in the Aran Valley (Catalonia, Spain). Some of the abandoned mining relics (e.g. tunnels, processing facilities and tailings dumps) exhibit elevated concentrations of metals in the associated water systems, thus posing a health risk in the neighboring ecosystem. In this study, the largest underground zinc mine in the area was chosen as a field site to showcase the processes affecting metal mobility in the environment. The precipitation of hydrozincite (Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6) that occurs along the walls and ground of galleries where water flows serves as a metal (e.g. Zn, Ni, Cd) polishing mechanism. We focus on the microbiology at the site and its potential impact on metal mobility. Microbial DNA was sampled from several locations inside and outside of the mine and subsequently sequenced. This is used to further determine the relative diversity of each community to make comparisons between indoor and outdoor locations. By way of DNA sequencing of local communities, microbial batch experiments, and morphological comparisons to samples known to be a product of biomineralization, it is confirmed that the mineral forms abiotically at the mine. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T11:28:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-695be78731794be99e26bec6f4536d7e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-7657 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T11:28:39Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Advances |
| spelling | doaj.art-695be78731794be99e26bec6f4536d7e2022-12-22T02:48:37ZengElsevierEnvironmental Advances2666-76572022-12-0110100317Microbiology of an abandoned Pb–Zn mine: Impact on environmental metal contaminationMax G. Giannetta0Robert Benaiges-Fernández1Jordi Cama2Ignasi Queralt3Josep M. Soler4Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA, CSIC), Barcelona 08034, Catalonia, SpainInstitute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA, CSIC), Barcelona 08034, Catalonia, SpainCorresponding author.; Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA, CSIC), Barcelona 08034, Catalonia, SpainInstitute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA, CSIC), Barcelona 08034, Catalonia, SpainInstitute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA, CSIC), Barcelona 08034, Catalonia, SpainLarge-scale Zn, Pb, Cu, Fe and Ag mining ceased over 70 years ago in the Aran Valley (Catalonia, Spain). Some of the abandoned mining relics (e.g. tunnels, processing facilities and tailings dumps) exhibit elevated concentrations of metals in the associated water systems, thus posing a health risk in the neighboring ecosystem. In this study, the largest underground zinc mine in the area was chosen as a field site to showcase the processes affecting metal mobility in the environment. The precipitation of hydrozincite (Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6) that occurs along the walls and ground of galleries where water flows serves as a metal (e.g. Zn, Ni, Cd) polishing mechanism. We focus on the microbiology at the site and its potential impact on metal mobility. Microbial DNA was sampled from several locations inside and outside of the mine and subsequently sequenced. This is used to further determine the relative diversity of each community to make comparisons between indoor and outdoor locations. By way of DNA sequencing of local communities, microbial batch experiments, and morphological comparisons to samples known to be a product of biomineralization, it is confirmed that the mineral forms abiotically at the mine.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666765722001521Abandoned mineMicrobiologyWater contaminationHydrozinciteBiomineralization |
| spellingShingle | Max G. Giannetta Robert Benaiges-Fernández Jordi Cama Ignasi Queralt Josep M. Soler Microbiology of an abandoned Pb–Zn mine: Impact on environmental metal contamination Environmental Advances Abandoned mine Microbiology Water contamination Hydrozincite Biomineralization |
| title | Microbiology of an abandoned Pb–Zn mine: Impact on environmental metal contamination |
| title_full | Microbiology of an abandoned Pb–Zn mine: Impact on environmental metal contamination |
| title_fullStr | Microbiology of an abandoned Pb–Zn mine: Impact on environmental metal contamination |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microbiology of an abandoned Pb–Zn mine: Impact on environmental metal contamination |
| title_short | Microbiology of an abandoned Pb–Zn mine: Impact on environmental metal contamination |
| title_sort | microbiology of an abandoned pb zn mine impact on environmental metal contamination |
| topic | Abandoned mine Microbiology Water contamination Hydrozincite Biomineralization |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666765722001521 |
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