Investigating mine drainage through the study of sulphur isotopes and microbial activity

Introduction

Mine drainage is formed particularly through the oxidation of sulphide minerals. This can lead to environmental acidification and the dissolution of metals, which can hamper aquatic and soil ecosystems. Sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) mitigates this process by reducing sulphate to sulphide and precipitating metals.

The aim of the project is to investigate whether the sulphur isotopic composition (δ³⁴S) can be used as an indicator of SRB activity, and to assess how environmental conditions influence the efficiency of microbial communities and the quality of leachate.

Research questions
1. Can sulphur isotope analysis (δ³⁴S) be used as an indicator of SRB activity under subarctic conditions?
2. How do varying conditions affect the efficiency of naturally developing SRB microbial communities in controlling mine drainage?
3. How do leachate quality and metal dissolution differ between field lysimeters and actual waste rock piles, and how the performance of natural microbial communities differs in real conditions compared to experimental setups?

The results will provide new insights into the sulphur cycle, microbial activity, and the transport of contaminants in mining environments. This knowledge can be used to develop more effective and sustainable solutions for mine water treatment, waste management, and mine closure. The study supports environmental impact assessment and the development of best available techniques.

Partners: University of Helsinki

The coordinator of the project: GTK

Funding authority: K.H. Renlund Foundation

Contact person: Kaisa Turunen

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