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Past waste disposal practices have left large volumes of sulphidic material stockpiled in a Ramsar wetland site on the Atlantic coast of southwestern Spain, leading to severe land degradation. With the aim of addressing this legacy issue, soil core samples were collected along two transects extending from the abandoned stockpiles to the adjacent marshland and subjected to XRD, SEM-EDS, ICP-OES and ICP-MS analyses. Sulphide oxidation has been shown to be a major driver of acid generation and metal leaching into the environment. The marsh soil receiving acid discharges from the sulphide wastes contains elevated levels (in mg kg−1 ) of Pb (up to 9838), As (up to 1538), Zn (up to 1486), Cu (up to 705), Sb (up to 225) and Tl (up to 13), which are retained both in relatively insoluble secondary minerals (mainly metal sulphates and oxides) and in easily soluble hydrated salts that serve as a transitory pool of acidity and available metals. By using a number of enrichment calculation methods that relate the metal concentrations in soil and their baseline concentrations and regulatory thresholds, there is enough evidence to conclude that these pollutants may pose an unacceptable risk to human and ecological receptors, This work has been partially supported by the Andalusian Regional Government through the Research Group on Geology and Environmental Geochemistry (RNM-347). : We thank Jesús de la Rosa (University of Huelva) for his collaboration during fieldwork and for assistance with chemical analysis

Reclamation of highly degraded mine lands to a sustainable environmental quality has become a major policy concern in many countries with a long mining tradition. This paper reports the soil quality status of a historical mine site _fteen years after its reclamation, using indicators of chemical reactivity, soil fertility and health, and discusses the progress and effectiveness of the implemented measures by a comparative analysis between pre- and post-reclamation conditions. Twenty composite surface samples (0–20 cm depth) were obtained for physical and chemical characterization from the open pit mine and waste disposal area, using a strati_ed random sam- pling approach. Additionally seven sites were selected to collect topsoil samples for microbiological testing. Re- sults showed that soil quality changed noticeably over the study period (2003–2018), with overall improvements in key properties, such as structural stability, cation exchange capacity, degree of base saturation, soil organic carbon, and available phosphorus. Prior to reclamation, the mine soil was unable to support vegetation due to hyperacidity coupled with elevated levels of toxic metals and nutrient de_ciencies. The combined use of sugar beet lime and composted biosolids as a low-cost, locally available, soil amendment was effective in neutralizing both active and exchangeable acidity, and reducing the mobility, plant uptake and human bioaccessibility of trace elements. The amendment addition also enhanced soil fertility, carbon storage, nutrient availability and microbial biomass (bacteria and fungi). Revegetation with Pinus pinea and Nerium oleander has proven to be a successful strategy to create a vegetative cover aesthetically pleasant and environmentally compatible with the surrounding undisturbed landscape, although further efforts should be made to monitor over time the phytotoxic and bioaccessible levels of residual metals, notably Cd, Cu and Zn. The insights gained from this land reclamation experience provide success criteria for assisting natural attenuation in other abandoned mining sites worldwide., The authors appreciate the support provided by the University of Huelva/CBUA Open Access Author Fee Fund.

Geobrary® es una aplicación desarrollada para teléfonos móviles y tabletas con sistema operativo Android o Apple iOS (iPhone, iPad), con el propósito de poner a disposición del alumnado de Geología y de cualquier persona interesada una herramienta tecnológica que facilite el reconocimiento de visu y la identificación de minerales y fósiles comunes, de forma rápida, sencilla y gratuita, tanto en el aula como en el campo. Esta herramienta estimula la observación, descripción y comparación de ejemplares en muestras de mano, y contribuye al aprendizaje constructivo pues el usuario toma decisiones mediante el uso de claves dicotómicas que permiten llegar a la identificación del ejemplar, incluso a nivel específico. Además, la aplicación contiene información mineralógica y paleontológica básica, galerías de imágenes, acceso a bases de datos multimedia y glosario de términos, entre otros recursos., Geobrary® is a free educational application for mobile devices (smartphones and tablets) running Android or Apple iOS (iPhone, iPad). It has been developed with the aim of helping undergraduate students in Geology and any other people interested to learn how identify common minerals and fossils by visual inspection, in a quick and easy way, both in the classroom and in the field. This tool provides training in the skills of observing, describing and comparing hand specimens, and may contribute to a constructivistlearning environment based on a hierarchical decision-maker process using dichotomous keys. The m-learning application also features basic information about Mineralogy and Paleontology, photo galleries, links to multimedia databases and glossary of terms, among other educational resources.

Junta de Andalucía-P09-RNM-5163 Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación del Gobierno de España-CGL2008-06270-C02- 02/CLI

Las colecciones de minerales de las universidades constituyen un valioso patrimonio geológico mueble, aunque suelen tener un uso limitado como material didáctico en las sesiones de prácticas. Los sistemas de comunicación digitales a través de internet permiten utilizar nuevos entornos didácticos virtuales y ofrecer un acceso universal a las colecciones, de modo dinámico e interactivo, proporcionando múltiples niveles de información sobre los minerales. En esta ponencia se pretende comunicar la metodología y los resultados de un proyecto de innovación docente para la creación del Museo Virtual de Mineralogía de la Universidad de Huelva, al objeto de promover la aplicación de recursos multimedia que estimulan un aprendizaje más autónomo y una mayor participación en las actividades grupales. La web se diseñó mediante una estructura hipertextual, considerando los requerimientos y características de los usuarios potenciales, con textos vinculados a bases de datos mineralógicas multimedia. El Museo Virtual de Mineralogía es un paso más en el proceso de adaptación a las TICs, para afrontar los retos que plantea el nuevo modelo educativo de enseñanza-aprendizaje y, al mismo tiempo, proyecta de forma novedosa y universal la acción formativa y divulgadora del patrimonio mineralógico, pues tiene la ventaja de permitir el acceso remoto a cualquier cibernauta interesado en sus contenidos digitales, a cualquier hora y desde cualquier lugar del mundo. The university mineral collections are a valuable geological heritage despite having a limited use as a didactic material in the practical sessions. The digital media allow the use of new virtual learning environment and offer a global access to the collections in a dynamic and interactive way, thus allowing different dimensions of information on the Science of Minerals. This presentation aims to communicate the methodology and results of a teaching innovation project conducted at the University of Huelva for the creation of a virtual museum of Mineralogy. The web technology has been used as the main tool to promote the application of multimedia resources that encourage a more independent learning and more engagement in group activities. A website has been developed through a basic hypertext structure in order to complement and globalise training and disseminative actions. The design of the web took into account the requirements of the potential users allowing an easy access to the digital contents, including links to multimedia mineralogical databases. The virtual museum of Mineralogy is a further step in the process of integrating the new information and communications technology to tackle the challenges that the modern educational system of teaching and learning brings. Furthermore, the university mineral collection is disseminated to a wide and diversified audience given that the virtual museum allows the remote access to any web user interested in their digital contents, at any time and anywhere in the world.

España Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia CGL2008-06270-C y CTM2005-05832 . España Junta de Andalucía P09-RNM-5163

En esta ponencia se presenta un mapa conceptual sobre las condiciones geoambientales del río Tinto (Huelva), uno de los ecosistemas más singulares de nuestro planeta debido a la extrema acidez y a las elevadas concentraciones de sulfatos y metales pesados que transportan sus aguas. El mapa conceptual se ha elaborado con la herramienta FreeMind (software libre basado en Java) y aborda conceptos troncales, como el origen y las fuentes de contaminación hídrica, que derivan de forma progresiva y jerárquica hacia aspectos más específicos y complejos, como el proceso de generación de aguas ácidas, el impacto ambiental sobre el medio físico, biológico y socioeconómico, y la composición química y mineralógica de los sedimentos y suelos afectados. In this paper, we present a concept map for organizing and representing knowledge about geo-environmental conditions of the Tinto River (Huelva), a unique ecosystem on Earth due to the extreme acidity and high concentrations of sulphates and heavy metals dissolved in the water. The concept map was drawn with the software FreeMind (a mind-mapping tool based on Java) showing how that specific topics, such as processes of acid mine drainage formation, environmental impacts, and chemical and mineralogical composition of sediments and soils affected, stemming from the main concepts (origin, sources and effects of water pollution).

Two samples of mine wastes were selected from an abandoned deposit at the Natural Park Estero Domingo Rubio, in order to determine the fractionation and relative mobility of some heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn). The chemical partitioning of elements was conducted by a six-step sequential extraction scheme developed for Te-rich materials. The results showed high pseudototal concentrations of heavy metals (up to 3249 mgL1 Pb, 1670 mgL1 Zn and 625 mgL1 Cu). A large proportion of these potentially toxic metals are easily mobilisable at the present acidic and oxidant conditions, because most of them are bound to soluble and/or exchangeable phases (up to 84% Pb) and oxidisable phases (up to 91%Zn, 83% Cd and 71% Cu) ofthe wastes

Las intensas actividades extractivas y metalúrgicas que se han desarrollado en la comarca de Riotinto (Huelva), especialmente desde mediados del siglo XIX, han generado un espacio minero muy degradado, con voluminosas escombreras y extensos terreros, innumerables diques y balsas, y profundas cortas a cielo abierto (Fig. 1). Estos pasivos ambientales afectan a la calidad del agua, suelo y aire de la comarca minera, y pueden representar un riesgo para los ecosistemas y la calidad de vida de sus habitantes (Fernández-Caliani, 2008). Es bien conocida la carga contaminante de metales pesados que soportan las aguas ácidas del río Tinto (e.g. Galán et al., 2003; Olías et al., 2006), y los suelos del entorno (Rufo et al., 2007; López et al., 2008). Sin embargo, actualmente se desconocen los niveles y composición del material atmosférico particulado, a pesar del impacto que puede tener sobre la salud de las personas y ecosistemas. En este trabajo se avanzan los primeros resultados sobre la composición mineralógica y las concentraciones totales de metales de las partículas sedimentables en la cuenca minera de Riotinto.

Two samples of mine wastes were selected from an abandoned deposit at the Natural Park Estero Domingo Rubio, in order to determine the fractionation and relative mobility of some heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn). The chemical partitioning of elements was conducted by a six-step sequential extraction scheme developed for Te-rich materials. The results showed high pseudototal concentrations of heavy metals (up to 3249 mgL1 Pb, 1670 mgL1 Zn and 625 mgL1 Cu). A large proportion of these potentially toxic metals are easily mobilisable at the present acidic and oxidant conditions, because most of them are bound to soluble and/or exchangeable phases (up to 84% Pb) and oxidisable phases (up to 91%Zn, 83% Cd and 71% Cu) ofthe wastes

The boundary between the Ossa Morena and the South Portuguese zones is outlined by the Aracena metamorphic belt. The main characteristics of this region of the Iberian Massif are divided into lithologic, structural, metamorphic, magmatic, geochemical, isotopic and experimental points of view and presented in this paper. The Aracena metamorphic belt is divided into two main domains: the oceanic domain is composed of MORB-derived metabasites (the Acebuches metabasites) and a former accretionary prism. The continental domain comprises aluminous gneisses and migmatites, calc-silicate rocks, leucocratic gneisses, marbles, amphibolites, syn- to post-tectonic noritic intrusions with high-Mg andesite (boninitic affinities) composition, as well as post tectonic acid-to-basic intrusive rocks. The Acebuches metabasites were firstly affected by a high-temperature/low-pressure event, which currently shows an inverted metamorphic gradient, and is related to SW verging thrusting. The thermal peak related to this metamorphic event displays an age gradient in such a way that older ages have been obtained towards the west. The lower half of the Acebuches metabasite pile was later affected by a mylonitic deformation and a retrometamorphism related to the Southern Iberian Shear Zone. Four ductile deformation phases have been defined in the continental domain: CD-D1 was related to the formation of km-scale recumbent folds. CD-D2 could be associated with an extensional collapse or a gravity spreading, and is coeval with a high-temperature/low-pressure metamorphic event that affected the continental domain and gave place to several migmatitic complexes. CD-D3 produced symmetric upright folds and CD-D4 generated south-verging thrusts and thrusts accommodation folds. The main characteristics of the Aracena metamorphic belt are interpreted as the result of a trench-trench-ridge triple junction evolution. According to the proposed model, the oceanic ridge-trench interaction led to the formation of a slab-free window beneath the continental margin, which provoked the upwelling of the underlying astenosphere and a subsequent thermal rebound. This triple junction migrated along the continental margin towards the east, which gave place to the generation of a high-temperature/low-pressure metamorphic belt in the contact between the Ossa Morena and the South Portuguese zones., El contacto entre las zonas de Ossa Morena y Sudportuguesa está subrayado por la banda metamórfica de Aracena. Las características principales de esta región del macizo Ibérico pueden considerarse desde distintos puntos de vista: litológico, estructural, metamórfico, magmático, geoquímica, isotópico y experimental, y así se presentan en este artículo. La banda metamórfica de Aracena está dividida en dos dominios principales: el dominio oceánico está formado por metabasitas derivadas de un MORB (las metabasitas de Acebuches) y por un antiguo prisma de acrección. El dominio continental incluye gneises y migmatitas alumínicos, rocas de silicatos cálcicos, gneises leucocráticos, mármoles, anfibolitas, intrusiones sin/post-tectónicas de noritas ricas en Mg (con afinidad boninítica), así como rocas intrusivas post-tectónicas de composición ácida a básica. Las metabasitas de Acebuches sufrieron, en primer lugar, un metamorfismo de alta temperatura/baja presión que, en la actualidad, presenta un gradiente metamórfico invertido, y que estaba relacionado con un cabalgamiento vergente al SO. El pico térmico asociado a este evento metamórfico muestra un gradiente de edad, de forma que las edades más antiguas han sido obtenidas en el extremo oeste. La mitad inferior de la pila metabasítica de Acebuches fue afectada posteriormente por una deformación milonítica y un retrometamorfismo asociados a la zona de cizalla Sudibérica. Cuatro fases de deformación dúctil han sido definidas en el dominio continental: la fase CD-D1 estuvo relacionada con la generación de pliegues recumbentes de escala kilométrica. La fase CD-D2 se puede asociar a un colapso extensional, y es contemporánea con un metamorfismo de alta temperatura/baja presión que afectó al dominio continental y generó diversos complejos migmatíticos. La fase CD-D3 produjo pliegues simétricos verticales, mientras que la fase CD-D4 dio lugar a cabalgamientos vergentes al sur a los que se asociaron pliegues de propagación. Las principales características de la banda metamórfica de Aracena se interpretan como el resultado de la evolución de un punto triple de tipo fosa-fosa-dorsal. De acuerdo con el modelo propuesto, la interacción entre la dorsal y la zona de subducción dio como resultado la formación de una ventana astenosférica bajo el margen continental cabalgante, lo cual provocó el ascenso de la astenosfera y el consecuente rebote térmico. Esta unión triple migro a lo largo del margen continental hacia el este, lo que generó un cinturón metamórfico de alta temperatura/baja presión en el contacto entre las zonas de Ossa Morena y Sudportuguesa.

The boundary between the Ossa Morena and the South Portuguese zones is outlined by the Aracena metamorphic belt. The main characteristics of this region of the Iberian Massif are divided into lithologic, structural, metamorphic, magmatic, geochemical, isotopic and experimental points of view and presented in this paper. The Aracena metamorphic belt is divided into two main domains: the oceanic domain is composed of MORB-derived metabasites (the Acebuches metabasites) and a former accretionary prism. The continental domain comprises aluminous gneisses and migmatites, calc-silicate rocks, leucocratic gneisses, marbles, amphibolites, syn- to post-tectonic noritic intrusions with high-Mg andesite (boninitic affinities) composition, as well as post tectonic acid-to-basic intrusive rocks. The Acebuches metabasites were firstly affected by a high-temperature/low-pressure event, which currently shows an inverted metamorphic gradient, and is related to SW verging thrusting. The thermal peak related to this metamorphic event displays an age gradient in such a way that older ages have been obtained towards the west. The lower half of the Acebuches metabasite pile was later affected by a mylonitic deformation and a retrometamorphism related to the Southern Iberian Shear Zone. Four ductile deformation phases have been defined in the continental domain: CD-D1 was related to the formation of km-scale recumbent folds. CD-D2 could be associated with an extensional collapse or a gravity spreading, and is coeval with a high-temperature/low-pressure metamorphic event that affected the continental domain and gave place to several migmatitic complexes. CD-D3 produced symmetric upright folds and CD-D4 generated south-verging thrusts and thrusts accommodation folds. The main characteristics of the Aracena metamorphic belt are interpreted as the result of a trench-trench-ridge triple junction evolution. According to the proposed model, the oceanic ridge-trench interaction led to the formation of a slab-free window beneath the continental margin, which provoked the upwelling of the underlying astenosphere and a subsequent thermal rebound. This triple junction migrated along the continental margin towards the east, which gave place to the generation of a high-temperature/low-pressure metamorphic belt in the contact between the Ossa Morena and the South Portuguese zones. El contacto entre las zonas de Ossa Morena y Sudportuguesa está subrayado por la banda metamórfica de Aracena. Las características principales de esta región del macizo Ibérico pueden considerarse desde distintos puntos de vista: litológico, estructural, metamórfico, magmático, geoquímica, isotópico y experimental, y así se presentan en este artículo. La banda metamórfica de Aracena está dividida en dos dominios principales: el dominio oceánico está formado por metabasitas derivadas de un MORB (las metabasitas de Acebuches) y por un antiguo prisma de acrección. El dominio continental incluye gneises y migmatitas alumínicos, rocas de silicatos cálcicos, gneises leucocráticos, mármoles, anfibolitas, intrusiones sin/post-tectónicas de noritas ricas en Mg (con afinidad boninítica), así como rocas intrusivas post-tectónicas de composición ácida a básica. Las metabasitas de Acebuches sufrieron, en primer lugar, un metamorfismo de alta temperatura/baja presión que, en la actualidad, presenta un gradiente metamórfico invertido, y que estaba relacionado con un cabalgamiento vergente al SO. El pico térmico asociado a este evento metamórfico muestra un gradiente de edad, de forma que las edades más antiguas han sido obtenidas en el extremo oeste. La mitad inferior de la pila metabasítica de Acebuches fue afectada posteriormente por una deformación milonítica y un retrometamorfismo asociados a la zona de cizalla Sudibérica. Cuatro fases de deformación dúctil han sido definidas en el dominio continental: la fase CD-D1 estuvo relacionada con la generación de pliegues recumbentes de escala kilométrica. La fase CD-D2 se puede asociar a un colapso extensional, y es contemporánea con un metamorfismo de alta temperatura/baja presión que afectó al dominio continental y generó diversos complejos migmatíticos. La fase CD-D3 produjo pliegues simétricos verticales, mientras que la fase CD-D4 dio lugar a cabalgamientos vergentes al sur a los que se asociaron pliegues de propagación. Las principales características de la banda metamórfica de Aracena se interpretan como el resultado de la evolución de un punto triple de tipo fosa-fosa-dorsal. De acuerdo con el modelo propuesto, la interacción entre la dorsal y la zona de subducción dio como resultado la formación de una ventana astenosférica bajo el margen continental cabalgante, lo cual provocó el ascenso de la astenosfera y el consecuente rebote térmico. Esta unión triple migro a lo largo del margen continental hacia el este, lo que generó un cinturón metamórfico de alta temperatura/baja presión en el contacto entre las zonas de Ossa Morena y Sudportuguesa.