Colloid-Borne Uranium and Other Heavy Metals in the Water of a Mine Drainage Gallery

The water of a mine drainage gallery was investigated for its contents of colloid-borne heavy metals with empha-sis on uranium. About 1 mg/L of colloid particles of 100 to 300 nm in size were found. They consist of a matrix of Fe and Al oxyhydroxides and are formed when anoxic slightly acidic shaft waters mix with oxic near-neutral gal-lery water. The colloid matrix bears toxic trace elements metals such as As, Pb, and Cu. Carbonato and aquo complexes prevent the uranyl from being adsorbed to the colloids in the unaltered gallery water. Acidification destroys these complexes: up to 50 mass percent of the uranium is attached to the colloids in the slightly acidic pH region. Further acidification converts the uranyl again to a "non-colloidal" form. The heavy metals are most likely bound to the Fe and Al colloids as inner sphere surface complexes.