Abstract The Nalunaq deposit, Greenland, is a hypozonal, shear zone-hosted, Au deposit. The shear zone has previously been interpreted as having undergone four stages of deformation, accompanied by fluid flow and vein formation. Coupled with previous trapping T estimates, fluid inclusion data are consistent with the trapping of fluids with salinities between 28 and 45 wt% NaCl equiv., from 300 to 475°C during D 2 and D 3 , with pressure varying between c. 800 and 100 MPa. The range reflects pressure cycling during seismic slip-related depressurization events. D 4 fluids were lower salinity and trapped from 200 to 300°C, at c. 50–200 MPa during late-stage normal faulting. The variation in major element chemistry is consistent with the ingress of hypersaline, granitoid equilibrated fluids into the shear zone system and mixing with fluids that had reacted with the host metamorphic rocks. D 4 -stage fluids represent the ingress of meteoric fluids into the system. Gold contents in inclusion fluids range from c. 300 to 10 mg kg −1 . These data are consistent with the high- P–T solubility of Au as AuHS(H 2 S) 3 0 complexes, and Au deposition by decompression and cooling. The high salinities also suggest Au transport as chloride complexes may have been possible. Gold distribution was modified by the release of chemically bound or nanoscale Au during sulfide oxidation at the D 4 stage.

Abstract Heat pumps extract heat energy from a low-temperature source and transfer it to a higher temperature sink, usually via a closed loop of volatile ‘refrigerant’ fluid in a compression/expansion cycle. They can be efficiently used for space heating (and cooling), extracting heat from seawater, rivers, lakes, groundwater, rocks, sewage, or mine water. Electrical energy powers the heat pump’s compressor. The ratio of total heat output to electrical energy input, called the coefficient of performance, typically ranges from 3.0 to 6.0. The use of mine water for space heating or cooling purposes has been demonstrated to be feasible and economic in applications in Scotland, Canada, Norway, and the USA. Mine water is an attractive energy resource due to: (1) the high water storage and water flux in mine workings, representing a huge renewable enthalpy reservoir; (2) the possibility of re-branding a potentially polluting environmental liability as a ‘green’ energy resource; and (3) the development of many mine sites as commercial/industrial parks with large space heating/cooling requirements. The exothermic nature of the pyrite oxidation reaction (> 1000 kJ/mol) implies added benefits if closed-loop systems can harness the chemical energy released in mine-waste tips. An appreciation of geochemistry also assists in identifying and solving possible problems with precipitation reactions occurring in heat pump systems.

Abstract The San José Mine is a mothballed Ag-Sn mine near Oruro on the Bolivian Altiplano. A groundwater risk assessment has been carried out considering: (i) the current mine water pumping operation; (ii) potential future mine flooding; and (iii) mine waste leachate, at risk sources. Mine flooding rates have been simulated using two models (MIFIM and MODFLOW), with input data based on the observed water inflow distribution and calculated mine volumes. Mine water chemistry has been characterized by field analyses. Transport of contaminants in groundwater in the Quaternary sedimentary aquifer complex surrounding the mine has been assessed by empirical data and hydraulic-geochemical modelling using MODFLOW and MPATH. Empirical and modelled data suggest that no risk is (or will be) posed to Oruro’s public water supply wellfields at Challapamapa. Continued pumping and discharge of mine water poses a potential risk to surface water recipients and private groundwater abstractions located alongside these.

Abstract Not all water from coal or metal mines is acidic. Circum-neutral or alkaline mine drainage may be due to: (i) a low content of sulphide minerals; (ii) the presence of monosulphides rather than pyrite or marcasite; (iii) a large pyrite grain-size limiting oxidation rate; (iv) neutralization of acid by carbonate or basic silicate minerals; (v) engineering factors (introduction of lime dust for explosion prevention; cement or rock flour during construction works); (vi) neutralization of acid by naturally highly alkaline groundwaters; (vii) circulating water not coming into effective contact with sulphide minerals; and (viii) oxygen not coming into direct contact with sulphide minerals or influent water being highly reducing.