Chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of particulates formed in mine drainage environments

• Main Author: Lowson, Euan
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 1997
• Subjects: South Bay; Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1807/12938; http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape11/PQDD_0007/MQ45446.pdf

grantor: University of Toronto Particulate matter was collected from the water column of five Canadian lakes impacted by mine drainage (MD): Rabbit Lake, Saskatchewan; South Bay, Ontario; and Buchans, Newfoundland. Light microscopy revealed a mean particle diameter of between 1.0 and 10.0 [mu]m, and a variety of microorganism species including filamentous algae ('Oedogonium' and 'Ulothrix '), diatoms ('Pinnularia', 'Eunotia', and 'Navicula'), and coccoid algae ('Dictyosphaerium ', 'Cosmarium', and 'Microcystis'). Scanning and transmission electron microscopy showed microbial cells completely encrusted by extremely fine-grained mineral precipitates, principally granular to fibrous or acicular amorphous iron oxides (i.e., ferrihydrite). Multi-elemental analyses by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy confirmed Fe as the dominant element in samples from South Bay and Buchans (up to 50% dry weight). Rabbit Lake sediment contained little Fe (1-2% dry weight), but concentrations of Mg, Si, Ti, and K reflected significant quantities detrital feldspars and clays. All sites exhibited elevated particulate phase concentrations of Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb implying significant adsorption of dissolved species. Enhanced particulate formation and sedimentation, through biological processes, offers a potentially sustainable passive, biological remediation system for sites contaminated by MD. Bacterial population and physiological activity under realistic field conditions needs to be closely monitored to firmly establish the role of microbes as templates for mineral precipitation and metallic ion adsorption. M.Sc.