Acidification adjacent to an elemental sulfur stockpile. I. Mineral weathering

Soil pH values below 3.0 are measured in soil material located adjacent to stockpiles of elemental sulfur on sour gas plant sites. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of extreme acidity on the changes and redistribution of major chemical and mineralogical components in soil alon...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian journal of soil science 1992-05, Vol.72 (2), p.113-126
Main Authors: Warren, C.J, Dudas, M.J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ACID SOILS
ACIDIFICACION
ACIDIFICATION
ALTERATION ATMOSPHERIQUE
ANTHROPOGENIC SOILS
AZUFRE
CONTAMINACION
CONTAMINATION
CONTENIDO MINERAL
METEORIZACION
MINERAL CONTENT
MINERAL PHASES
MINERALOGIA
MINERALOGIE
MINERALOGY
POLLUTED SOILS
POLLUTION DU SOL
POLUCION DEL SUELO
PROPIEDADES FISICO-QUIMICAS SUELO
PROPRIETE PHYSICOCHIMIQUE DU SOL
SOIL CHEMICOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SOIL POLLUTION
SOL ACIDE
SOL ANTHROPOGENE
SOUFRE
SUELO ACIDO
SUELOS ANTROPOGENICOS
SULPHUR
TENEUR EN ELEMENTS MINERAUX
WEATHERING
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Summary:Soil pH values below 3.0 are measured in soil material located adjacent to stockpiles of elemental sulfur on sour gas plant sites. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of extreme acidity on the changes and redistribution of major chemical and mineralogical components in soil along the side of a 25-year-old elemental sulfur block. Soil samples, obtained from pits located 2 m from the side of the sulfur block, were analyzed for total content of Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, Na, K, and Ti. Sand and clay separates were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, and physical and chemical methods to identify and quantify mineral phases. Carbonate, Fe-containing primary minerals, chlorite, smectite, and plagioclase feldspars were either partially or completely dissolved in soil having pH values of about 2.1. Clay-sized mica and kaolinite were apparently not affected by the acidity. Calcium carbonate and Ca-feldspars dissolved in the presence of H 2 SO 4 to form gypsum. Iron dissolved from minerals in the acidified surface layer was deposited primarily as oxyhydroxides at the interface of acidic and calcareous materials to form an indurated layer about 10–15 cm thick. Jarosite precipitated within the acidic material just above the indurated layer. Key words: Elemental sulfur, anthropogenic acidification, mineral weathering, acid soils
ISSN:0008-4271
1918-1841
DOI:10.4141/cjss92-011