Regional and temporal variability of the isotope composition (O, S) of atmospheric sulphate in the region of Freiberg, Germany, and consequences for dissolved sulphate in groundwater and river water.

The isotope composition of dissolved sulphate and strontium in atmospheric deposition, groundwater, mine water and river water in the region of Freiberg was investigated to better understand the fate of these components in the regional and global water cycle. Most of the isotope variations of dissolved sulphates in atmospheric deposition from three locations sampled bi- or tri-monthly can be explained by fractionation processes leading to lower [Formula: see text] (of about 2-3‰) and higher [Formula: see text] (of about 8-10‰) values in summer compared with the winter period. These samples showed a negative correlation between [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] values and a weak positive correlation between [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] values.

Galena oxidation investigations on oxygen and sulphur isotopes.

Batch experiments with the lead sulphide ore mineral galena were carried out in order to get information about the oxidation mechanisms and to contribute to the understanding of field data, especially those obtained from the mining-affected sites. Results indicate that oxygen and sulphur isotopes of dissolved sulphate may be useful tools for the investigation of galena oxidation mechanisms. However, some methodological modifications are necessary to obtain sufficient sulphate yields, which are a prerequisite for the reduction of the analytical uncertainty.

The influence of pyrite grain size on the final oxygen isotope difference between sulphate and water in aerobic pyrite oxidation experiments.

Oxidation experiments with different pyrite grain sizes (63-100, 100-140, 140-180 microm) were carried out to investigate the oxygen and sulphur isotope composition of sulphate produced under aerobic acid conditions, which may help to understand oxidation mechanisms and to interpret data from natural sites. Long-term experiments with grain size 63-100 microm showed that constant delta (18)O(SO4) values were not achieved before 100 days. The final oxygen isotope difference between water and sulphate indicates that a small proportion of molecular oxygen is incorporated into sulphate even in the later course of the oxidation due to sulphite oxidation by molecular oxygen.

Lead and strontium isotopes as indicators for mixing processes of waters in the former mine 'Himmelfahrt Fundgrube', Freiberg (Germany).

To pinpoint the origin and mixing processes of mine waters, different mine water types from the polymetallic sulphide ore deposit 'Himmelfahrt Fundgrube' (Freiberg, Germany) were analysed by thermal ionisation mass spectrometry using lead and strontium isotope ratios. Results show that the lead isotope composition of different mine waters results from a mixture of at least two sources: released lead from oxidised sulphide ores (mainly galena) and anthropogenic lead from groundwater. Furthermore, there are indications for an additional lead source.