ORIGINAL RESEARCH
High Antimony Source and Geochemical Behaviors
in Mine Drainage Water in China’s Largest
Antimony Mine
More details
Hide details
1
Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Shaanxi, P.R. China
2
Key Laboratory of Mine Geological Hazards Mechanism and Control, Shaanxi, P.R. China
3
North China Institute of Science and Technology, Hebei, P.R. China
4
National Engineering Research Center of Coal Mine Water Hazard Control, Suzhou University, Anhui, P.R. China
Submission date: 2019-10-07
Final revision date: 2019-11-26
Acceptance date: 2019-12-01
Online publication date: 2020-04-07
Publication date: 2020-06-08
Corresponding author
Chunming Hao
North China Institute of Science and Technology, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2020;29(5):3663-3673
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
The Sb source and the formation process of high Sb-contaminated mine water have not been well
investigated. In this study, 11 mine water samples, 2 rainwater samples, 4 surface water samples, 4 D3x4
(MA) water samples, and 4 D3s4 (SA) water samples were collected from the largest antinomy mine in
China. The δ34S, δ18O, and δ2H data and the water-rock interactions were analyzed to reveal the source of
Sb and geochemical behaviors of the mine drainage water. The Sb concentrations in mine water samples
are 238-2420 times higher than the maximum acceptable Sb concentration (0.005 mg/L), according
to China’s national drinking water quality standards. The chemical composition of the mine water is
Ca-Na-SO4, and the SA water is the main source of the mine water. It is also revealed that the Sb
pollutant in the mine water is derived from the oxidation of stibnite. Moreover, the soluble oxygen
in the mine water and the ion-exchange interaction between the mine water and surrounding rocks
also contribute to the formation of high Sb-contaminated mine water. This study provides valuable
information for Sb pollutant source control and water body protection in a mine area.