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Minerals
Special Issues
Geochemical and Mineralogical Characterization of Sediments in Aquatic Environments
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Geochemical and Mineralogical Characterization of Sediments in Aquatic Environments

A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Mineralogy and Biogeochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2022) | Viewed by 4938

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Željko Pogačnik

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Guest Editor
Georudeko, D.O.O., Anhovo 1, 5210 Deskle, Slovenia
Interests: sedimentological and structural processes affecting heterogeneous units of mass transport deposits; industrial mineral deposits; environmental mineralogy and geochemistry; hydraulic binders for eco-remediation of contaminated sediments
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Matej Dolenec

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Guest Editor
Department of Geology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Interests: mineralogy, petrology, applied geochemistry, isotope geochemistry; X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF); mineral deposit;
Dr. Miloš Miler

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Geological Survey of Slovenia, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Interests: environmental mineralogy and geochemistry; environmental forensics; identification of pollution sources and source contribution; individual particle analysis; micromineralogy and micromorphology of solid inorganic pollutants; fate of metallic pollutants
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Minerals discusses the indirect and direct factors affecting the ecological and toxicological characterization of aquatic sediments in recent and fossil geological records. It questions how climate change and Anthropocene activities indirectly and directly affect processes in sedimentation environments and whether their consequences can already be recorded and identified in the following recent environments: (i) Lacustrine sediments: what can we learn from the genesis of sediments in older geological records compared to recent lake/dam sedimentation environments? (ii) Lagoon sediments: how does climate change affect the sedimentation cycles and their mineral communities and trace elements concentration? (iii) Marine and river beds environments: what do the natural climate change records indicate, and can the data predict future sedimentation in the river deltas and their sediment characteristics? Can we manage sediments in an environmentally friendly way according to the possible reuse of river delta/marine sediments, taking into account their geochemical and mineralogical properties? (iv) Cave sediments: in which cases can they be used as reference values to monitor changes in the environment, and can these sediments already be used as ecological indicators of the Anthropocene?

Dr. Željko Pogačnik
Dr. Matej Dolenec
Dr. Miloš Miler
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Minerals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sedimentation cycles
  • analytical techniques
  • biomineralogy
  • sustainable exploitation
  • sedimentary records
  • environmental mineralogy
  • exploration and mining geology

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 8254 KiB  
Article
Solid Carriers of Potentially Toxic Elements and Their Fate in Stream Sediments in the Area Affected by Iron Ore Mining and Processing
by Saša Kos, Nina Zupančič, Mateja Gosar and Miloš Miler
Minerals 2022, 12(11), 1424; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/min12111424 - 10 Nov 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1453
Abstract
The potential environmental impact of historical mining and ore processing on stream sediments and water was studied in a small siderite iron ore deposit with diverse sulfide mineral paragenesis. The main aim was to characterize solid carriers of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in [...] Read more.
The potential environmental impact of historical mining and ore processing on stream sediments and water was studied in a small siderite iron ore deposit with diverse sulfide mineral paragenesis. The main aim was to characterize solid carriers of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in stream sediments and mine waste, to understand their fate in fluvial systems. General mineralogy (X-ray powder diffraction) and individual solid PTE carriers (scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy) were correlated with the geochemical composition of stream sediments, mine waste, and stream waters (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry). Primary solid PTE carriers were pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, Hg-bearing sphalerite, galena, and siderite. Slightly alkaline and oxidizing conditions in stream water promoted the transformation of primary phases into secondary PTE carriers. Fe(Mn)-oxide/oxyhydroxides were major sinks for Pb, Zn, and As. Compared to background levels, Co (14.6 ± 2.1 mg/kg), Cu (30 ± 2.9 mg/kg), Ni (32.1 ± 2.9 mg/kg), Pb (64.5 ± 16.4 mg/kg), Zn (175.3 ± 22.5 mg/kg), As (81.1 ± 63.7 mg/kg), and Hg (2 ± 0.8 mg/kg) were elevated in mining area. Mine waste contained similar PTE carriers as stream sediments, but much higher PTE contents. Prevailingly low PTE concentrations in streams, with the exception of As (1.97 ± 2.4 µg/L) and Zn (4.5 ± 5.7 µg/L), indicate the stability of PTE carriers. Environmental effects were not significant, and additional monitoring is recommended. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geochemical and Mineralogical Characterization of Sediments in Aquatic Environments)
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22 pages, 3588 KiB  
Article
Characterization of Atmospheric Deposition as the Only Mineral Matter Input to Ombrotrophic Bog
by Valentina Pezdir, Martin Gaberšek and Mateja Gosar
Minerals 2022, 12(8), 982; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/min12080982 - 02 Aug 2022
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Abstract
Ombrotrophic peatlands contain a very small percentage of mineral matter that they receive exclusively from atmospheric deposition. Mineral matter deposited on the Šijec bog was characterized using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). We collected solid atmospheric deposition from snow, [...] Read more.
Ombrotrophic peatlands contain a very small percentage of mineral matter that they receive exclusively from atmospheric deposition. Mineral matter deposited on the Šijec bog was characterized using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). We collected solid atmospheric deposition from snow, rainwater, and using passive samplers. Samples were collected at average atmospheric conditions and after two dust events. Size, morphology, and chemical composition of individual particles were determined. We distinguished four main particle groups: silicates, carbonates, organic particles, and Fe-oxyhydroxides. Silicate particles are further divided into quartz and aluminosilicates. Proportions of these groups vary between samples and between sample types. In all samples, silicate particles predominate. Samples affected by dust events are richer in solid particles. This is well observed in passive deposition samples. Carbonates and organic particles represent smaller fractions and are probably of local origin. Iron-oxyhydroxides make up a smaller, but significant part of particles and are, according to their shape and chemical composition, of both geogenic and anthropogenic origin. Estimated quantity and percentage of main groups vary throughout the year and are highly dependent on weather conditions. Dust events represent periods of increased deposition and contribute significantly to mineral matter input to peatlands. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geochemical and Mineralogical Characterization of Sediments in Aquatic Environments)
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18 pages, 5702 KiB  
Article
Elemental Associations in Stream and Alluvial Sediments of the Savinja and Voglajna Rivers (Slovenia, EU) as a Result of Natural Processes and Anthropogenic Activities
by Gorazd Žibret
Minerals 2022, 12(7), 861; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/min12070861 - 05 Jul 2022
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Abstract
Stream and alluvial sediments of the Savinja and Voglajna rivers were sampled, and sediment fractions <0.063 and 0.063–0.125 mm were analyzed on the content of 60 of the main and trace elements. The objective was to determine elemental associations and identify possible sources [...] Read more.
Stream and alluvial sediments of the Savinja and Voglajna rivers were sampled, and sediment fractions <0.063 and 0.063–0.125 mm were analyzed on the content of 60 of the main and trace elements. The objective was to determine elemental associations and identify possible sources of these associations. Differences of Al/Ti oxides ratio (9.7–26) can be attributed to the variations in the source rocks, while the K/Al oxides ratio indicates erosional or depositional river regime and variation in source rocks. One anthropogenic and three natural associations of elements were identified. The anthropogenic association (Ag, In, Sb, Cu, As, Zn, Pb, Cd, Bi, Mo and Sn) is linked to historic Zn smelting in the Celje area, and the subsequent erosion of the material from inadequately managed pyrometallurgical waste deposit. The second association (Li, Sc, Al, V, Cs and Ga) is linked to clay minerals, the third one (Mg, Ca and Te) to carbonate rocks, and the fourth one (Hf, Zr) to the heavy mineral fraction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geochemical and Mineralogical Characterization of Sediments in Aquatic Environments)
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