Arsenic forms in the mine-polluted sediments of Moira Lake, Ontario / by Jose M. Azcue and Jerome O. Nriagu.: En13-5/94-27E-PDF

"The sediments of Moira Lake, Ontario, have accumulated large quantities of arsenic and toxic metals since the 1830's when mining began in its drainage basin. Despite the fact that the mine activities ceased in 1961, leachates from the abandoned mine wastes still deliver large quantities (about 3.5 Mg.y⁻¹) of arsenic to the lake. The As concentrations at the top of the sediments average about 545 µg.g⁻¹, with maximal concentrations of about 1000 µg.g⁻¹ occurring at depths of 23-27 cm. Approximately 56% of the As in the sediments is bound to the iron and manganese oxides. Observed changes in the profiles of As bound to the different chemical fractions suggest that some of the oxide-bound As is being converted to the residual phases. In view of the dominant form of As in the sediments, changes in the Eh or pH may trigger the release of large quantities of As to the overlying water"--Page 405.

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