Dispersion of arsenic species from highly explosive historical volcanic eruptions in Patagonia

Andean volcanic rocks typically have low to moderate arsenic (As) concentrations. However, elevated levels of As in groundwaters of southern South America have been reported as a consequence of weathering of volcanic glass. This study discusses the abundance, speciation and dispersion of As species in fresh volcanic ash from highly explosive (Volcanic Explosivity Index: 4-5) Patagonian eruptions, as well as the potential of As release to aqueous reservoirs. Synchrotron-based X-ray absorption and micro-focused X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies were used to evaluate As solid speciation. Batch experiments at different pH conditions were performed with the aim of understanding the controls on As release to aqueous reservoirs. Bulk chemical and mineralogical characterizations were performed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy. Finally, to understand how As-bearing phases are spatially distributed after eruptions, simulations of volcanic ash emission, transport and deposition were performed. Results indicate that the concentration, speciation, and mobility of As in fresh Patagonian volcanic ash depend on the silica content of source magmas. Although the main As host in volcanic ash is Al-silicate glass, this phase is stable at neutral pH characteristic of most aqueous reservoirs. Higher contributions of As to water are associated with the more mobile As species that concentrate onto the surface of Al-silicate glass. Atmospheric dispersion simulations revealed that primary fallout of As-bearing ash has affected large areas in Patagonia, but also reached the Chaco-Pampean plain, where the presence of As-rich groundwater has been widely documented.

Synchrotron XAS study on the As transformations during the weathering of sulfide-rich mine wastes

This paper describes the weathering processes that occurred across two tailing dumps in the Concordia mine (Puna of Argentina) with the purpose of evaluating the formation of secondary As-bearing minerals due to arsenopyrite alteration. After 30 years of exposure, the gradual oxidation of the wastes produced a number of secondary mineral phases containing As in different chemical arrangements. Synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy was used to determine both, As and Fe solid speciation and to identify the formed As-bearing minerals. The results reveal that in the first stages of oxidation, As released from arsenopyrite is adsorbed/substituted in the jarosite structure partially inhibiting its dissolution. When pH values in the system slightly increase As-jarosite transforms into schwertmannite, where the released As could be re-adsorbed or co-precipitated. When the available adsorption sites become oversaturated with As, the precipitation of amorphous ferric arsenates may occur. The latter, likely constitute the more labile As fractions in the sediments and are therefore the main phases contributing As to the nearby environments. These amorphous and labile phases are more abundant in the uppermost layers of the profiles, where oxidation has taken place for a more prolonged time-lapse. The described transformations are enhanced by the acidic pH, the absence of minerals attenuating the acidity and the high sulfate and As concentrations in pore water.

The role of Fe(III) modified montmorillonite on fluoride mobility: adsorption experiments and competition with phosphate

Fluoride adsorption onto Fe(III) modified montmorillonite was investigated using batch experiments. The effect of reaction time, pH, ionic strength and phosphate, as a competitive anion, was evaluated. Kinetics indicated that adsorption obeys a pseudo-first-order rate law which involves two steps. The fast one (bulk transport/surface reaction) occurs instantaneously. The slower (diffusion in pores) takes hours to complete. The adsorption rate increases by increasing the fluoride concentration and by decreasing pH. The presence of phosphate reduces fluoride adsorption and reveals that both ions are in competition for surface sites. The reduction in fluoride adsorption when phosphate is present depends on the order of adsorbate addition. The higher fluoride adsorption occurs when both anions are added simultaneously, whereas when either fluoride or phosphate is added first, the fluoride adsorption is lower. The presence of fluoride does not have a measurable effect on phosphate adsorption. The results obtained contribute to our understanding of the mobility of fluoride in surface water which has naturally high levels of fluoride, in both the presence and absence of phosphate.