Processes of attenuation of dissolved arsenic downstream from historic gold mine sites, New Zealand

Mine and processing sites in the mesothermal gold deposits of the Reefton gold field, New Zealand, generate extremely high dissolved As concentrations (up to 59 mg/L). Attenuation of these waters takes place by at least one of the three mechanisms: (1) precipitation of the secondary arsenic mineral scorodite, (2) chemisorption onto iron oxyhydroxide (HFO) and (3) dilution with regional catchment water. The presence and effectiveness of these mechanisms vary among the three studied catchments. A strong physiochemical control on arsenic attenuation was identified due to a chemical gradient within the gold field itself and processing methods, which can generate site specific arsenic minerals, such as arsenolite. Precipitation of scorodite only occurs in the presence of dissolving arsenolite, which is a roasting by-product present at two of the studied sites. Abundant HFO is generated in the pyritic mesothermal part of the gold field, and here chemisorption onto HFO is the dominant attenuation process. In the non-pyritic part of the gold field, HFO is mainly produced as a result of ankerite dissolution but only where sufficiently exposed mineralised rock is present. In the absence of significant adsorption sites, dissolved As is attenuated only via less effective dilution and ecosystem guidelines are exceeded over kilometres downstream from the mineralised zone until drainage waters are diluted by regional catchment water. Catchment morphology was identified as a major control on dilution. Despite the presence of strong As point sources upstream, mine-related As contributes b10% to the regional As river load in all three catchments. On a regional scale As mobility across a wide range of pH regimes reveals a strong control of scorodite, which has already been observed locally.