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507027 
Journal Article 
Distribution of rare earth elements in an alluvial aquifer affected by acid mine drainage: the Guadiamar aquifer (SW Spain) 
Olias, M; Ceron, JC; Fernandez, I; De la Rosa, J 
2005 
Yes 
Environmental Pollution
ISSN: 0269-7491
EISSN: 1873-6424 
135 
1 
53-64 
English 
This work analyses the spatial distribution, the origin, and the shale-normalised fractionation patterns of the rare earth elements (REE) in the alluvial aquifer of the Guadiamar River (south-western Spain). This river received notoriety in April 1998 for a spill that spread a great amount of slurry (mainly pyrites) and acid waters in a narrow strip along the river course. Groundwaters and surface waters were sampled to analyse, among other elements, the REEs. Their spatial distribution shows a peak close to the mining region, in an area with low values of pH and high concentrations of sulphates and other metals such as Zn, Cu, Co, Ni, Pb, and Cd. The patterns of shale-normalised fractionation at the most-contaminated points show an enrichment in the middle rare earth elements (MREE) with respect to the light (LREE) and heavy (HREE) ones, typical of acid waters. The Ce-anomaly becomes more negative as pH increases, due to the preferential fractionation of Cc in oxyhydroxides of Fe. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 
acid mine drainage-; aznalcollar mine spill; groundwater pollution; Guadiamar River; rare earth elements (REEs); sulfate soils; groundwater; waters; fractionation; geochemistry; lake; aznalcollar; oxidation; patterns; behavior