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Analysis of institutional authors

Diaz Curiel, Jesus MariaAuthor

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June 9, 2019
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Negative pH values in an open-air radical environment affected by acid mine drainage. Characterization and proposal of a hydrogeochemical model

Publicated to:Science Of The Total Environment. 644 1244-1253 - 2018-12-10 644(), DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.381

Authors: Sarmiento, Aguasanta M.; Antonio Grande, Jose; Luis, Ana T.; Miguel Davila, Jose; Carlos Fortes, Juan; Santisteban, Maria; Curiel, Jesus; Luisa de la Torre, Maria; Ferreira da Silva, Eduardo;

Affiliations

Dept Biol, CESAM Associated Lab, Campus Santiago, P-3810193 Aveiro, Portugal - Author
Dept Geosci, GeoBioTec Res Unit, Campus Santiago, P-3810193 Aveiro, Portugal - Author
Univ Huelva, Higher Tech Sch Engn, Dept Min Mech Energet & Construct Engn, Sustainable Min Engn Res Grp, Palos De La Frontera 21819, Huelva, Spain - Author
Univ Huelva, Sci & Technol Ctr Huelva, Dept Water Min & Environm, Huelva 21004, Spain - Author
Univ Politecn Madrid, Environm Geochem & Engn Lab LI2GA, C Alenza 4, Madrid 28003, Spain - Author
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Abstract

This paper presents the finding of a singular environment polluted by acid mine drainage in the Iberian Pyrite Belt. This situation is regulated by particular conditions, thus the analysed values can be considered as extreme, not only because of the high concentrations of toxic elements, but also due to the extreme low pH, reaching an average negative pH of - 1.56, never found before in open-air environments contaminated by acid mine drainage. Concentrations up to 59 g/L of Fe, 2.4 g/L of Al, 740 mg/L of As, 4.3 mg/L of Co, 5.3 mg/L of Ge, 4.8 mg/L of Sb, inter alia, can be found dissolved in these polluted waters. The main aims of the present work are the physicochemical characterization and the toxicity assessment of these radical polluted waters. In addition, a hydrogeochemical model of the system will be proposed, which justifies the extreme pH value and the extraordinarily high concentrations of toxic elements, even for acid mine drainage polluted environments. Extreme acidity and metal and sulphate concentrations in the Radical Environment are due to several processes of different nature, mainly driven by the geochemistry of the minerals presents in the endorheic character of the basin. The extremely acidic nature of these waters control the Fe species present in them, being FeHSO4+ the mainly Fe specie representing 94% of total. High toxicity of these waters has been detected due to the absence of any diatoms species. (c) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All Xrights reserved.

Keywords

acid mine drainageiberian pyrite beltAcid mine drainageCorbicula-flumineaDiatom communitiesFuzzy-logicIberian pyrite beltMining area portugalNegative ph valuesOdiel riversStream sedimentsSw spainTintoWaters

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Science Of The Total Environment due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2018, it was in position 27/251, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Environmental Sciences.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from the Field Citation Ratio (FCR) of the Dimensions source, it yields a value of: 3.45, which indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: Dimensions Jul 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-07-09, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 20
  • Scopus: 35

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-07-09:

  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 40 (PlumX).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • Assignment of a Handle/URN as an identifier within the deposit in the Institutional Repository: https://oa.upm.es/85758/

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Portugal.