Oxidative dissolution of hydrothermal mixed-sulphide ore: An assessment of current knowledge in relation to seafloor massive sulphide mining

摘要

The weathering process of seafloor massive sulphide (SMS) deposits can be considered analogous to weathering of terrestrial volcanogenic massive sulphides (VMS) deposits. However, in the context of SMS deposits, the process occurs in chemically buffered waters of near neutral pH, resulting in the formation of insoluble Fe oxy-hydroxide minerals including goethite and hematite as well as sulphates such as jarosite. As a result of this precipitation, it is commonly assumed that any SMS deposit is unlikely to exhibit a significant loss of metals (dissolution and release of heavy metals) into the water column. However, galvanic interactions have never been considered in this seafloor context, whilst they have already been shown to have the ability to increase dissolution significantly in terrestrial deposits. If heavy metal release is not temporally balanced by precipitation of oxide phases, there is the potential that these metal occurrences lose economic value. This is specifically significant if there is an industrial focus on exploiting deposits associated with hydrothermal vents that have been inactive for some time. Not only this, but the geochemistry of weathering products 'gossans' that are formed have the potential to be used as tools for exploration. Furthermore, it is unknown what impact galvanic coupling may have with regards to anthropogenic release of heavy metals during seafloor mining of deposits associated with either active or inactive vents (disturbance of sediment, plume generation and dewatering process). This environmental impact needs to be addressed prior to the formulation of regulations for deep-sea mining by the International Seabed Authority.