Ruiz Cánovas, CarlosOlías Álvarez, ManuelNieto Liñán, José Miguel2024-01-122024-01-122014Ruiz Cánovas, C., Olías, M. & Nieto, J.M. Metal(loid) Attenuation Processes in an Extremely Acidic River: The Rio Tinto (SW Spain). Water Air Soil Pollut 225, 1795 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-013-1795-70049-69791573-2932 (electrónico)https://hdl.handle.net/10272/22869This study deals with the hydrogeochemical changes and metal(loid) attenuation processes along the extremely acidic Rio Tinto (SW Spain). The geochemistry of Tinto headwaters is determined by the variability of mining discharges due to different geological, geochemical and hydrological controls. Downstream of the mining area, a decrease in most dissolved element concentrations is recorded. However, not all elements decreased its concentration to the same extent, and even some did not decrease (e.g., Ba and Pb). A group of elements formed by Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Li, Mg, Mn, Ni and Zn behaved quasi-conservatively; mainly affected by dilution, except at the lower part of the catchment where seem to be affected by sorption/coprecipitation (e.g., Cd, Cu, and Zn) or mineral dissolution processes (e.g., Al,Mg). Iron and As exhibited a non-conservative behaviour due to ochre precipitation and sorption processes, respectively. A group of elements formed by Ca, Na, Sr and Li did not behave conservatively; waters were enriched in these elements by dissolutive reactions of carbonates and aluminosilicates from bedrocks. The behaviour of Pb in the Rio Tinto is complex; values fluctuate along the river course and its solubility may be related to the nature of Fe precipitates.engAtribución-NoComercial-SinDerivadas 3.0 Españahttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/es/Acid Mine Drainage, Principal Component Analysis, Conservative Behaviour, Metal(loid) Removal, Iberian Pyrite Belt.Acid mine drainagePrincipal Component AnalysisConservative hehaviourMetal(loid) RemovalIberian Pyrite Beltjournal article10.1007/s11270-013-1795-7open access25 Ciencias de la Tierra y del Espacio