MINERALS OF ENVIRONMENTAL RELEVANCE IN ACID MINE DRAINAGE CONTAMINATED SYSTEMS: PROPERTIES AND REACTIVITY AT THE NANOSCALE

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Copiapite group: occurrence and properties in mining contamination scenarios

Publication . Barroso, Ana; Valente, Teresa; antunes, Isabel Margarida; Reis, Amelia; Correia Neves, Isabel

ABSTRACT: The copiapite group shows a wide range of chemical compositions, allowing the identification of several mineral phases (e.g., aluminocopiapite and magnesiocopiapite). These minerals, typically observed in mining environments, are formed from evaporation and acid mine drainage (AMD) precipitation. In these areas, the copiapite has been studied to comprehend its ability to store some potentially toxic elements (PTE), specifically the As. Therefore, the present work aims to characterize mineral samples of copiapite using different techniques (binocular microscope, XRD, SEM-EDS, and FTIR) to understand their morphology, mineralogical and chemical composition, and environmental role. Copiapite samples were collected in two abandoned mining areas of the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB): São Domingos (Portugal) and Trimpancho (Spain). The results from the mining areas showed differences corresponding to two phases of the copiapite group, expressed by distinct occurrence modes and variations in morphology and chemical composition.

2025-04Journal article

Open access