title: Sources, migration and transformation of antimony contamination in the water environment of Xikuangshan, China: Evidence from geochemical and stable isotope (S, Sr) signatures.
abstract: The Xikuangshan (XKS) mine in central China is the largest antimony (Sb) mine in the world. The mining activity has seriously contaminated the waters in the area. To determine the sources, migration and transformation of Sb contamination, 32 samples from groundwater (aquifer water), surface water and mine water were collected for water chemistry, trace element and SSO4 and Sr stable isotope analyses. The results showed that the groundwater and surface water were in an oxidized environment. The SSO4 and Sr isotope compositions in the water indicated that dissolved Sb and SO4(2) originated from sulfide mineral (Sb2S3) oxidation, whereas radiogenic Sr may have been sourced from silicified limestone and stibnite in the Shetianqiao aquifer. Furthermore, a positive correlation between δ(34)SSO4 and δ(87)Sr values revealed that the Sr, S and Sb in the waters had a common contamination source, i.e., silicified limestone and stibnite, whereas the Sr, S and Sb in rock and ore were sourced from Proterozoic basement clastics. The analysis also indicated that the isotope composition of dissolved SO4(2-) had been influenced by slight bacterial SO4 reduction in the Magunao aquifer. Mining or rock collapse may have caused Shetianqiao aquifer water to contaminate the Magunao aquifer water via mixing. This study has demonstrated that the stable isotopes of (34)SSO4 and (87)Sr, combined with hydrochemical methods, are effective in tracking the sources, migration and transformation of Sb contamination.
authors.affiliation: Geological Survey, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Lumo Rd 388, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, People's Republic of China; State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Lumo Rd 388, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Lumo Rd 388, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: jw.zhou@cug.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jianwei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Lumo Rd 388, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Aiguo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Lumo Rd 388, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Cunfu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Lumo Rd 388, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, People's Republic of China; State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Lumo Rd 388, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xie
mesh_terms: D000965:Antimony / Q000032:analysis*; D002681:China; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D060587:Groundwater / Q000737:chemistry*; D008906:Mining; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013325:Strontium Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D013460:Sulfur Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D013325:Strontium Isotopes; D013460:Sulfur Isotopes; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D000965:Antimony
keywords: Antimony; Antimony contamination; Groundwater; Stable isotopes