Molybdenum attenuation in mine wastes: insights from Mo isotopes

Posted on 2018-01-23 in Events
Jan 23, 2018

Please join us for a speciel seminar:

Tuesday 23 January 2018

Geology Room 255, 11:30 am

Presenter: Elliott Skierszkan, PhD Candidate, UBC, Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences

Title: Molybdenum attenuation in mine wastes: insights from Mo isotopes

Abstract: Proper environmental management of metal-contaminated waters requires a detailed understanding of the chemical behavior of trace metals. However, the geological complexity and heterogeneity of mine waste dumps creates challenges in identifying processes responsible for metal release and attenuation. Recent developments in analytical techniques enable geochemists to precisely measure stable isotopic compositions of most metals and metalloids in the periodic table, which has spurred growth in the application of metal isotopic signatures to trace processes controlling the mobility of metals in the environment. This presentation will focus on the investigation of molybdenum (Mo) stable isotope analyses as a geochemical tracer in acidic-pH and neutral-pH mine drainage from mine waste rock and mine tailings impoundments at a mine site in the western USA.