Evaporation-dissolution cycles in highly acidic mine-influenced waters and their control over the secondary paragenesis of sulfate salt efflorescences

Abstract

Sulfate salt efflorescent are typical minerals associated with acid mine waters. These efflorescences play relevant roles in mining environments since they are highly soluble and contain potentially toxic elements. Therefore, information about the stability and thermodynamics of these secondary minerals is essential to comprehend the possible behavior in dehydration reactions and, consequently, previewing seasonal cycles of retention-mobilization of toxic elements in mine-influenced waters. The present work aims to characterize the transition phases related to dehydration processes of mineinfluenced water collected in a mine site with extreme contamination the Rio Tinto mining area (Spain).