Role of colloids in the dispersion of arsenic in mine soils from Madrid

Miguel Ángel Gómez-González; Fernando Garrido; Francisco Laborda; Mario Villalobos; Eduardo Bolea; Paula Gómez-Arce; Javier Aguilar-Carrillo

doi:10.3989/egeol.45761.1143

Authors

Miguel Ángel Gómez-González Diamond Light Source Synchrotron https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2725-4820
Fernando Garrido Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7491-3780
Francisco Laborda Grupo de Espectroscopía Analítica y Sensores (GEAS). Instituto U. de Investigación en Ciencias Ambientales de Aragón (IUCA). Universidad de Zaragoza https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4169-0357
Mario Villalobos Laboratorio de Geoquímica Ambiental Molecular, LANGEM, Instituto de Geología. UNAM https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2820-848X
Eduardo Bolea Grupo de Espectroscopía Analítica y Sensores (GEAS). Instituto U. de Investigación en Ciencias Ambientales de Aragón (IUCA). Universidad de Zaragoza https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5382-0561
Paula Gómez-Arce Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3728-947X
Javier Aguilar-Carrillo Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí. Instituto de Metalurgia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5341-3381

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/egeol.45761.1143

Keywords:

Arsenic, Colloids, XAS, AF4-ICP-MS, Mine wastes

Abstract

In recent years, elevated concentrations of arsenic (As) have been detected in the Tertiary detrital aquifer of Madrid. A significant number of areas where waste from old mining operations, rich in metals and metalloids, accumulate may partially explain contamination events by toxic elements. In these environments, colloidal particles can act as nanovectors for the dispersion of As, enhancing its migration and contamination of surrounding soils. This work studies the mobilization of As-rich colloids from a waste zone of an old mining operation in the Community of Madrid. These wastes, mainly composed of arsenopyrite [FeAsS] ([As] = 0.2 g kg^-1), are deposited near a natural stream and exposed to environmental conditions. In order to follow the mobility of As-rich colloids, the combined techniques of asymmetric flow field flow fractionation and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (AF4-ICP-MS) are used to obtain the size distribution of the colloidal fraction and associated As, while X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) techniques are utilized for the study of the chemical speciation of As in the solid phase. In addition, geochemical modeling allows prediction of the thermodynamically favored phases in each of the studied areas. The mobilization of colloidal As from mining waste to water and soil located up to 1 km from the source of contamination is described. The essential role of colloidal Fe oxyhydroxides as As mobilizing nanovectors is also highlighted.

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