Critical Water Coverage during Forsterite Carbonation in Thin Water Films: Activating Dissolution and Mass Transport.

In geologic carbon sequestration, CO is injected into geologic reservoirs as a supercritical fluid (scCO). The carbonation of divalent silicates exposed to humidified scCO occurs in angstroms to nanometers thick adsorbed HO films. A threshold HO film thickness is required for carbonate precipitation, but a mechanistic understanding is lacking.

Spectral induced polarization (SIP) response of mine tailings.

Mine tailings impoundments are a source of leachates known as acid mine drainage (AMD) which can pose a contamination risk for surrounding surface and groundwater. Methodologies which can help management of this environmental issue are needed. We carried out a laboratory study of the spectral induced polarization (SIP) response of tailings from the Haveri Au-Cu mine, SW Finland.

Laboratory SIP signatures associated with oxidation of disseminated metal sulfides.

Oxidation of metal sulfide minerals is responsible for the generation of acidic waters rich in sulfate and metals. When associated with the oxidation of sulfide ore mine waste deposits the resulting pore water is called acid mine drainage (AMD); AMD is a known environmental problem that affects surface and ground waters. Characterization of oxidation processes in-situ is challenging, particularly at the field scale.