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2067146 
Journal Article 
Aluminium precipitates formed downstream of springs in a mountainous environment 
Magne SAETHER, O; Follestad, B 
1999 
1 
Water, Air, and Soil Pollution
ISSN: 0049-6979
EISSN: 1573-2932 
BIOSIS/00/28193 
114 
1-2 
1-2 
eng 
BIOSIS COPYRIGHT: BIOL ABS. Areas a few square metres in size, devoid of higher vegetation other than moss, have been mapped at 600-700 m above sea level in the mountains of the western part of central Norway. The moss is covered by a grey precipitate during dry summer periods. The precipitate has been identified by ICP-AES analysis of HNO3-extract, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as an aluminium(Al)-hydroxide, probably amorphous Al-hydroxide and diaspore (Al(OH)3), containing 21-25% Al by er-codes MINTEQA2 and ALCHEMI and are found to be saturated with respect to amorphous Al(OH)3. This study raises the very important question as to what extent a lower pH in the influent meltwater may leach out more aluminium and possibly lead to the formation of larger amounts of precipitate.