Open pits, which remain after uranium (U) mining operations cease, can form meromictic lakes that develop suitable conditions for the containment of dissolved and colloidal metals. In this study, the distribution and speciation of U, nickel (Ni), and arsenic (As) in the water column of two meromictic pit lakes was investigated at the decommissioned Cluff Lake mine in northern Saskatchewan. The 28 m deep and older D pit had a chemocline at a 13 m depth, below which it turned anoxic and its meromixis was controlled by iron (Fe) cycling. Below the chemocline both Fe(III) and As(V) were reduced to Fe(II) and As(III), respectively. Iron cycling had a large effect on U distribution because reducing conditions prevented sulfide oxidation and a drop in pH in deeper layers. Metal-reducing bacteria were found to be present at, and below, the chemocline. In the deeper (90 m), larger and more recently flooded DJX pit, two chemoclines were observed at depths of 15 and 65 m. Both were linked to sharp U and Ni concentration gradients. Unlike the D pit, a transition to reducing conditions was not observed in the DJX pit’s water column. However, colloidal U, primarily associated with aluminum oxyhydroxides, was found below the first chemocline. Overall, the meromixis type determined the distribution and speciation of metals and bacteria in the investigated pit lakes, thus providing insights into the use of pit lakes as a potential bioremediation strategy.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Research Article|
March 01, 2018
Biogeochemistry of U, Ni, and As in two meromictic pit lakes at the Cluff Lake uranium mine, northern Saskatchewan
Konstantin von Gunten;
a
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, 1-26 Earth Sciences Building, Edmonton, T6G 2R3, Canada.Corresponding author: Konstantin von Gunten (email: vongunte@ualberta.ca).
Search for other works by this author on:
Tyler Warchola;
Tyler Warchola
a
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, 1-26 Earth Sciences Building, Edmonton, T6G 2R3, Canada.
Search for other works by this author on:
Mark W. Donner;
Mark W. Donner
b
Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, 751 General Services Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H1, Canada.
Search for other works by this author on:
Manuel Cossio;
Manuel Cossio
a
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, 1-26 Earth Sciences Building, Edmonton, T6G 2R3, Canada.
Search for other works by this author on:
Weiduo Hao;
Weiduo Hao
a
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, 1-26 Earth Sciences Building, Edmonton, T6G 2R3, Canada.
Search for other works by this author on:
Christopher Boothman;
Christopher Boothman
c
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom.
Search for other works by this author on:
Jonathan Lloyd;
Jonathan Lloyd
c
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom.
Search for other works by this author on:
Tariq Siddique;
Tariq Siddique
b
Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, 751 General Services Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H1, Canada.
Search for other works by this author on:
Camille A. Partin;
Camille A. Partin
d
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 114 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada.
Search for other works by this author on:
Shannon L. Flynn;
Shannon L. Flynn
a
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, 1-26 Earth Sciences Building, Edmonton, T6G 2R3, Canada.
Search for other works by this author on:
Arden Rosaasen;
Arden Rosaasen
e
AREVA Resources Canada, 817 45 St W, Saskatoon, SK S7K 3X5, Canada.
Search for other works by this author on:
Kurt O. Konhauser;
Kurt O. Konhauser
a
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, 1-26 Earth Sciences Building, Edmonton, T6G 2R3, Canada.
Search for other works by this author on:
Daniel S. Alessi
Daniel S. Alessi
a
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, 1-26 Earth Sciences Building, Edmonton, T6G 2R3, Canada.
Search for other works by this author on:
Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences (2018) 55 (5): 463–474.
Article history
received:
03 Jul 2017
accepted:
21 Feb 2018
first online:
15 May 2018
Citation
Konstantin von Gunten, Tyler Warchola, Mark W. Donner, Manuel Cossio, Weiduo Hao, Christopher Boothman, Jonathan Lloyd, Tariq Siddique, Camille A. Partin, Shannon L. Flynn, Arden Rosaasen, Kurt O. Konhauser, Daniel S. Alessi; Biogeochemistry of U, Ni, and As in two meromictic pit lakes at the Cluff Lake uranium mine, northern Saskatchewan. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 2018;; 55 (5): 463–474. doi: https://doi.org/10.1139/cjes-2017-0149
Download citation file:
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Email alerts
Index Terms/Descriptors
Latitude & Longitude
Citing articles via
Related Articles
R – Goldschmidt Abstracts 2013
Mineralogical Magazine
D – Goldschmidt Abstracts 2013
Mineralogical Magazine
V – Goldschmidt Abstracts 2013
Mineralogical Magazine
N – Goldschmidt Abstracts 2013
Mineralogical Magazine
O – Goldschmidt Abstracts 2013
Mineralogical Magazine
T – Goldschmidt Abstracts 2013
Mineralogical Magazine
Related Book Content
Carbonate and evaporite sedimentation at Clinton Lake, British Columbia, Canada
Paleoclimate and Basin Evolution of Playa Systems
Chapter 13 Hazards associated with mining and mineral exploitation in Cornwall and Devon, SW England
Geological Hazards in the UK: Their Occurrence, Monitoring and Mitigation – Engineering Group Working Party Report
Critical Elements in Carlin, Epithermal, and Orogenic Gold Deposits
Rare Earth and Critical Elements in Ore Deposits
Rare-Element Granitic Pegmatites
Rare Earth and Critical Elements in Ore Deposits
Chapter 11 Coal mining subsidence in the UK
Geological Hazards in the UK: Their Occurrence, Monitoring and Mitigation – Engineering Group Working Party Report
Chapter 2: Metallogeny of the Neoarchean Malartic Gold Camp, Québec, Canada
Geology of the World’s Major Gold Deposits and Provinces