title: Characterization of water reservoirs affected by acid mine drainage: geochemical, mineralogical, and biological (diatoms) properties of the water.
abstract: This work presents a combination of geochemical, mineralogical, and biological data obtained in water reservoirs located in one of the most paradigmatic mining regions, suffering from acid mine drainage (AMD) problems: the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB). Four water reservoirs located in the Spanish sector of the IBP, storing water for different purposes, were selected to achieve an environmental classification based on the effects of AMD: two mining dams (Gossan and Águas Ácidas), a reservoir for industrial use (Sancho), and one with water used for human supply (Andévalo). The results indicated that the four reservoirs are subject to the effect of metallic loads from polluted rivers, although with different levels: Águas Ácidas > Gossan > Sancho ≥ Andévalo. In accordance, epipsammic diatom communities have differences in the respective composition and dominant taxa. The dominant diatoms in each reservoir indicated acid water: Pinnularia acidophila and Pinnularia aljustrelica were found in the most acidic dams (Gossan and Águas Ácidas, with pH <3), Pinnularia subcapitata in Sancho (pH 2.48-5.82), and Eunotia exigua in Andévalo (pH 2.34-6.15).
authors.affiliation: ICT, Institute of Earth Sciences, Pole of the University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal. teresav@dct.uminho.pt.|CIPIMS, Universidad de Huelva, Campus de la Rábida, Ctra. Palos de la Frontera s/n. 21819, Palos de la Frontera, Huelva, Spain. teresav@dct.uminho.pt.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Valente
authors.affiliation: ICT, Institute of Earth Sciences, Pole of the University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.|CIPIMS, Universidad de Huelva, Campus de la Rábida, Ctra. Palos de la Frontera s/n. 21819, Palos de la Frontera, Huelva, Spain.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.affiliation: GEOBIOTEC, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: S F P
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.affiliation: GEOBIOTEC, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Delgado
authors.affiliation: ICT, Institute of Earth Sciences, Pole of the University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.|CIPIMS, Universidad de Huelva, Campus de la Rábida, Ctra. Palos de la Frontera s/n. 21819, Palos de la Frontera, Huelva, Spain.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: CIPIMS, Universidad de Huelva, Campus de la Rábida, Ctra. Palos de la Frontera s/n. 21819, Palos de la Frontera, Huelva, Spain.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Grande
authors.affiliation: CIPIMS, Universidad de Huelva, Campus de la Rábida, Ctra. Palos de la Frontera s/n. 21819, Palos de la Frontera, Huelva, Spain.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: de la Torre
authors.affiliation: ICT, Institute of Earth Sciences, Pole of the University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.|CIPIMS, Universidad de Huelva, Campus de la Rábida, Ctra. Palos de la Frontera s/n. 21819, Palos de la Frontera, Huelva, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santisteban
mesh_terms: D000143:Acids; D017377:Diatoms / Q000187:drug effects; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D007501:Iron; D008906:Mining; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D013440:Sulfides; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D000143:Acids; D013440:Sulfides; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C011342:pyrite; D007501:Iron
keywords: Acid mine drainage; Acidophilic taxa; Clay size fraction; Diatom community; Iberian Pyrite Belt; Iron-rich minerals