Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-8ctnn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T14:26:42.413Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Clay-Mineral Formation in Soils Developed in the Weathering Zone of Pyrite-Bearing Schists: A Case Study from The Abandoned Pyrite Mine in Wieściszowice, Lower Silesia, SW Poland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2024

Łukasz Uzarowicz ,
Stefan Skiba ,
Michał Skiba  and
Branimir Šegvić
Łukasz Uzarowicz*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Geodesy and Cartography, Warsaw University of Technology, Pl. Politechniki 1, 00-661 Warsaw, Poland
Stefan Skiba
Affiliation:
Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University, ul. Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
Michał Skiba
Affiliation:
Institute of Geological Sciences, Jagiellonian University, ul. Oleandry 2a, 30-063 Krakow, Poland
Branimir Šegvić
Affiliation:
Institute of Applied Geosciences, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstraße 9, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany
*
* E-mail address of corresponding author: [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Intense mineral transformations that produce acid soils from weathering zones of pyritebearing rocks, including alterations of layer silicates, are of critical importance to agricultural and environmental interests in various regions of the world. To date, the transformations of layer silicates in these soils have not been studied in detail. The aim of the present investigation was to examine the weathering pathways controlling processes of clay-mineral formation in acidic soils developed near the abandoned pyrite mine in Wieściszowice (Lower Silesia, SW Poland). A sequence of soils, from weakly developed technogenic soils (located on the mine dumps) to well developed natural soils, was selected. Bulk soil material and separated clay fractions were analyzed using X-ray diffractometry, Fouriertransform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectrometry. The profiles analyzed were developed on pyrite-bearing schists containing trioctahedral Mg,Fe-chlorite and dioctahedral micas (muscovite and paragonite). Because of pyrite weathering, all the soils studied were strongly acidic (pH 2.8–4.4). Inherited chlorite and micas (K- and Na-mica) predominated in the clay fractions of soils developed on the mine dumps, whereas clays from natural soils were rich in pedogenic minerals (i.e. smectite, vermiculite, and mixed-layer minerals containing hydrated interlayers). The formation of both vermiculite and smectite at the expense of chlorite was observed in the soils studied. The transformation probably led to smectite formation via intermediate stages of mixed-layer minerals (i.e. chlorite-vermiculite, chlorite-smectite, and/or vermiculite-smectite). The process of chlorite dissolution took place simultaneously with the transformation. Micas were mainly transformed to smectite and mixedlayer mica-smectite. Neoformation of kaolinite occurring in A horizons of the soils investigated was also documented. Metal-hydroxy interlayers in Bw horizons of well developed soils were found. The process of interlayer development appeared to be pH dependent and took place at pH ⩾4.2. The processes of claymineral formation in soils developed in the weathering zone of a pyrite-bearing schist are similar to those occurring in podzols (Spodosols).

Keywords

Acidic SoilsAcid Sulfate WeatheringHydroxy InterlayersKaoliniteMixed-layer MineralsPyrite WeatheringSchistsSmectiteVermiculite
Type
Article
Information
Clays and Clay Minerals , Volume 59 , Issue 6 , December 2011 , pp. 581 - 594
Copyright
Copyright © Clay Minerals Society 2011

References

Aoudjit, H. Elsass, F. Righi, D. and Robert, M., 1996 Mica weathering in acidic soils by analytical electron microscopy Clay Minerals 31 319–332.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
April, R.H. Hluchy, M.M. and Newton, R.M., 1986 The nature of vermiculite in Adirondack soils and till Clays and Clay Minerals 34 549–556.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
April, R.H. Keller, D. and Driscoll, T., 2004 Smectite in Spodosols from the Adirondack Mountains of New York Clay Minerals 39 99–113.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bain, D.C., 1977 The weathering of ferruginous chlorite in a podzol from Argyllshire, Scotland Geoderma 17 193–208.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bain, D.C. and Russell, J.D., 1981 Swelling minerals in a basalt and its weathering products from Morvern, Scotland: II. Swelling chlorite Clay Minerals 16 203–212.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bain, D.C. Mellor, A. and Wilson, M.J., 1990 Nature and origin of an aluminous vermiculitic weathering product in acid soils from upland catchments in Scotland Clay Minerals 25 467–475.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Balcerzak, E. Dobrzyński, D. and Parafiniuk, J., 1992 Wpływ przeobrażeń mineralnych na skład wód w strefie wietrzenia łupków pirytonośnych w Wieściszowicach, Rudawy Janowickie, Sudety Zachodnie, Polska Annales Societatis Geologorum Poloniae 62 75–93.Google Scholar
Barnhisel, R.I. Bertsch, P.M., Dixon, J.B. and Weed, S.B., 1989 Chlorites and hydroxy-interlayered vermiculite and smectite Minerals in Soil Environments Madison, Wisconsin, USA Soil Science Society of America 729–788.Google Scholar
Bigham, J.M. Schwertmann, U. Traina, S.J. Winland, R.L. and Wolf, M., 1996 Schwertmannite and the chemical modeling of iron in acid sulphate waters Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 60 2111–2121.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bolan, N.S. Curtin, D. Adriano, D.C. and Hillel, D., 2005 Acidity Encyclopedia of Soils in the Environment Amsterdam Elsevier 11–17.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brandt, F. Bosbach, D. Krawczyk-Bärsch, E. Arnold, T. and Bernhard, G., 2003 Chlorite dissolution in the acid pHrange: A combined microscopic and macroscopic approach Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 67 1451–1461.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brindley, G.W. and Brown, G., 1980 Crystal Structures of Clay Minerals and their X-ray Identification London Mineralogical Society.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carnicelli, S. Mirabella, A. Cecchini, G. and Sanesi, G., 1997 Weathering of chlorite to a low-charge expandable mineral in a Spodosol on the Apennine Mountains, Italy Clays and Clay Minerals 45 28–41.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Churchman, G.J., 1980 Clay minerals formed from micas and chlorites in some New Zealand soils Clay Minerals 15 59–76.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
De Kimpe, C. and Miles, N., 1992 Formation of swelling clay minerals by sulfide oxidation in some metamorphic rocks and related soils of Ontario, Canada Canadian Journal of Soil Science 72 263–270.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dixon, J.B. Hosser, L.R. Senkayi, A.L. Egashira, K., Kittrick, J.A. Fanning, D.S. and Hossner, L.R., 1982 Mineralogical properties of lignite overburden as they relate to mine spoil reclamation Acid Sulfate Weathering Madison, Wisconsin, USA Soil Science Society of America Special Publication, no. 10 169–191.Google Scholar
Drits, V.A. and Sakharov, B.A., 1976 X-ray Structural Analysis of Mixed-layer Minerals Moscow Nauka.Google Scholar
España, J.S. Pamo, E.L. Santofimia, E. Aduvire, O. Reyes, J. and Barettino, D., 2005 Acid mine drainage in the Iberian Pyrite Belt (Odiel river watershed, Huelva, SW Spain): Geochemistry, mineralogy and environmental implications Applied Geochemistry 20 1320–1356.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Farmer, V.C. Russell, J.D. and Berrow, M.L., 1980 Imogolite and proto-imogolite allophane in spodic horizons: evidence for a mobile aluminium silicate complex in podzol formation Journal of Soil Science 31 673–684.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gillot, F. Righi, D. and Elsass, F., 2000 Pedogenic smectites in podzols from central Finland: an analytical electron microscopy study Clays and Clay Minerals 48 655–664.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gjems, O., 1960 Some notes on clay minerals in podzol profiles in Fennoscandia Clay Minerals Bulletin 4 208–211.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gustafsson, J.P. Bhattacharya, P. and Karltun, E., 1999 Mineralogy of poorly crystalline aluminium phases in the B horizon of Podzols in southern Sweden Applied Geochemistry 14 707–718.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hamer, M. Graham, R.C. Amrhein, C. and Bozhilov, K.N., 2003 Dissolution of ripidolite (Mg, Fe-Chlorite) in organic and inorganic acid solutions Soil Science Society of America Journal 67 654–661.Google Scholar
IUSS Working Group WRB, 2006 World Reference Base for Soil Resources 128.Google Scholar
Jackson, M.L., 1962 Interlayering of expansible layer silicates in soils by chemical weathering Clays and Clay Minerals 11 29–46.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jackson, M.L., 1975 Soil Chemical Analysis — Advanced Course.Google Scholar
Jaskólski, S., 1964 Złoże łupków pirytonośnych w Wieściszowicach na Dolnym Śląsku i próba wyświetlenia jego genezy Annales Societatis Geologorum Poloniae 34 29–63.Google Scholar
Kodama, H. and Brydon, J.E., 1968 A study of clay minerals in Podzol soils in New Brunswick, Eastern Canada Clay Minerals 7 295–309.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Krasil’nikov, P.V., 1997 Transformation of phyllosilicates in the course of oxidation of sulfide-containing soil-forming rocks Eurasian Soil Science 30 1117–1126.Google Scholar
Lagaly, G. Ogawa, M. Dékány, I., Bergaya, F. Theng, B. and Lagaly, G., 2006 Clay mineral organic interactions Handbook of Clay Science Amsterdam Elsevier 309–377.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lintnerová, O. Šucha, V. and Streško, V., 1999 Mineralogy and geochemistry of acid mine Fe-precipitates from the main Slovak mining regions Geologica Carpatica 50 395–404.Google Scholar
Madejová, J., 2003 FTIR techniques in clay mineral studies Vibrational Spectroscopy 31 1–10.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mazur, S. Aleksandrowski, P. Kryza, R. and Oberc-Dziedzic, T., 2006 The Variscan Orogen in Poland Geological Quarterly 50 89–118.Google Scholar
Mehra, O.P. and Jackson, M.L., 1960 Iron oxide removal from soils and clays by dithionite-citrate system buffered with sodium bicarbonate Clays and Clay Minerals, Proceedings of 7th National Conference Oxford, UK Pergamon Press 317–327.Google Scholar
Meunier, A., 2007 Soil hydroxy-interlayered minerals: a reinterpretation of their crystallochemical properties Clays and Clay Minerals 55 380–388.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moore, D.M. and Reynolds, R.C., 1997 X-ray Diffraction and the Identification and Analysis of Clay Minerals New York Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Murad, E. and Rojík, P., 2003 Iron-rich precipitates in a mine drainage environment: Influence of pH on mineralogy American Mineralogist 88 1915–1918.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mystkowski, K., 1999 ClayLab, a computer program for processing and interpretation of X-ray diffractograms of clays Conference of European Clay Groups Association, EUROCLAY 1999. Book of abstracts, Krakow, Poland 114–115.Google Scholar
Oleksynowa, K., Tokaj, J., and Jakubiec, J. (1991) Przewodnik do ćwiczeń z gleboznawstwa i geologii, cz. II, Metody laboratoryjne analizy gleby (Komornicki, T., editor). Akademia Rolnicza im. H. Kołłątaja w Krakowie, Kraków (in Polish).Google Scholar
Parafiniuk, J., 1996 Sulfate minerals and their origin in the weathering zone of the pyrite-bearing schists at Wieściszowice (Rudawy Janowickie Mts., Western Sudetes) Acta Geologica Polonica 46 353–414.Google Scholar
Parafiniuk, J. and Siuda, R., 2006 Schwertmannite precipitated from acid mine drainage in the Western Sudetes (SW Poland) and its arsenate sorption capacity Geological Quarterly 50 474–486.Google Scholar
Righi, D. and Meunier, A., 1991 Characterization and genetic interpretation of clays in an acid brown soil (Dystrochrept) developed in a granitic saprolite Clays and Clay Minerals 39 519–530.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Righi, D. Petit, S. and Bouchet, A., 1993 Characterization of hydroxy-interlayered vermiculite and illite/smectite interstratified minerals from the weathering of chlorite in Cryorthod Clays and Clay Minerals 41 484–495.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Righi, D. Räisänen, M.L. and Gillot, F., 1997 Clay mineral transformations in podzolized tills in central Finland Clay Minerals 32 531–544.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Righi, D. Huber, K. and Keller, C., 1999 Clay formation and podzol development from postglacial moraines in Switzerland Clay Minerals 34 319–332.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ross, G.J. and Kodama, H., 1974 Experimental transformation of a chlorite into a vermiculite Clays and Clay Minerals 22 205–211.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ross, G.J. Wang, C. Ozkan, A.I. and Rees, H.W., 1982 Weathering of chlorite and mica in a New Brunswick podzol developed on till derived from chlorite-mica schist Geoderma 27 255–267.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Russell, J.D. Fraser, A.R. and Wilson, M.J., 1994 Infrared methods Clay Mineralogy: Spectroscopic and Chemical Determinative Methods London Chapman & Hall 11–67.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Singh, B. Wilson, M.J. McHardy, W.J. Fraser, A.R. and Merrington, G., 1999 Mineralogy and geochemistry of ochre sediments from acid mine drainage near a disused mine in Cornwall, UK Clay Minerals 34 301–317.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Siuda, R., 2003 Mineralogy and geochemistry of iron ochres from the weathering zone of pyrite deposits at Wieściszowice, Lower Silesia Mineralogical Society of Poland — Special Papers 22 193–196.Google Scholar
Skiba, M., 2007 Clay mineral formation during podzolization in an alpine environment of the Tatra Mountains, Poland Clays and Clay Minerals 35 618–634.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Skiba, M. and Skiba, S., 2005 Chemical and mineralogical index of podzolization of the granite regolith soils Polish Journal of Soil Science 38 153–161.Google Scholar
Staffa, M., 1998 Słownik geografii turystycznej Sudetów, t. 5, Rudawy Janowickie Wrocław Wydawnictwo I-BIS.Google Scholar
Środoń, J., Bergaya, F. Theng, B. and Lagaly, G., 2006 Identification and quantitative analysis of clay minerals Handbook of Clay Science Amsterdam Elsevier 765–787.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Šucha, V. Dubiková, M. Cambier, P. Elsass, F. and Pernes, M., 2002 Effect of acid mine drainage on the mineralogy of a dystric cambisol Geoderma 110 151–167.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
t’Serstevens, A. Rouxhet, P.G. and Herbillon, A.J., 1978 Alteration of mica surfaces by water and solutions Clay Minerals 13 401–410.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Uzarowicz, and Skiba, S., 2011 Technogenic soils developed on mine spoils containing iron sulphides: Mineral transformations as an indicator of pedogenesis Geoderma 163 95–108.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Uzarowicz, Skiba, S. Skiba, M. and Michalik, M., 2008 Mineral transformations in soils on spoil heaps of an abandoned pyrite mine in Wieściszowice (Rudawy Janowickie Mts., Lower Silesia, Poland) Polish Journal of Soil Science 41 183–193.Google Scholar
van der Marel, H.W. and Beutelspacher, H., 1976 Atlas of Infrared Spectroscopy of Clay Minerals and their Admixtures Amsterdam Elsevier.Google Scholar
van Reeuwijk, L.P., 2002 Procedures for Soil Analysis, Technical Paper 9 The Netherlands ISRIC, Wageningen.Google Scholar
Vicente, M.A. Razzaghe, M. and Robert, M., 1977 Formation of aluminium hydroxy vermiculite (intergrade) and smectite from mica under acidic conditions Clay Minerals 12 101–112.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilson, M.J., 1999 The origin and formation of clay minerals in soils: past, present and future perspectives Clay Minerals 34 7–25.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilson, M.J., 2004 Weathering of primary rock-forming minerals: processes, products and rates Clay Minerals 39 233–266.CrossRefGoogle Scholar