Minerals List and General Comments "More Definitive

SDMS Document ID 1061442 Huebnerite MnW04 76 20 Scheelite CaW04 80 20 Uranium Uraninite Combined U02 50-85 21 andUO Pitchblende 3 21 Coffinite USi04 75 21 Carnotite K,O2U2OgV205.nH,O 60 UA 21 * Mineral formula is approximate only. **NOTES: The following general comments apply only to the minerals in this list. More definitive information should be sought on trace element sources, especially for sources of As, Cd and Be. 1 Au Gold will not oxidize with ease in natural solutions, is not toxic, and is generally insoluble. 2 Ag Silver, in dissolved form, is extremely toxic to aquatic life, though it is not so much so to mammals. 3 Fe Iron at high concentrations may be chronically toxic to aquatic life as Fe-hydroxide may coat eggs, cement sandy or gravelly substrates, and inhibit the reproduction or growth of aquatic life of various forms. However, iron from these particular major ore minerals, is strongly insoluble in natural solutions, and therefore not of considerable environmental consequence. 4 Cu Copper is very soluble over a broad range of natural conditions, and is extremely toxic to aquatic life. 5 Pb Lead is extremely toxic to aquatic life. All of these Pb minerals require acidic solutions in order to dissolve. 6 Zn Zinc is extremely toxic to aquatic life. Zinc is commonly present as small inclusions in chalcopyrite, so should be especially evaluated in rocks that are known to contain copper • sulfides. 7 Sn Tin, much like gold, is strongly insoluble, and not of much environmental concern. 8 Ni Nickel is extremely toxic to aquatic life, although the mineral gamierite is only weakly soluble in natural solutions. Ni toxicity is rare in Colorado waters. Elevated Ni in water occurs most often where acid drainage dissolves it from major rock forming minerals, where it is present as a trace element. Nickel sulfide ores have not been found in Colorado. 9 Cr Chromium is not generally released to the environment in significant quantities from the mineral chromite as this mineral is not soluble in natural, circum-neutral pH solutions. 10 Mn Manganese, in these major ore minerals, is not soluble in circum-neutral pH, natural solutions. Manganese is most environmentally available when present as a trace element in other more soluble, albeit common, rock-forming minerals, and at low pH. Current water quality criteria are being re-evaluated, and standards levels may soon be lowered for this element. 11 Al For practical purposes, aluminum in these common ore minerals is insoluble. However, Al occurs as a major element in many of the most common rock forming minerals in the earth's crust (e.g., clays, micas, feldspars, and amphiboles, for example). As such, it is most exposed to the environment when very low pH solutions from acid rock drainage are not contained. 18 Zinc Sphalerite ZnS 67 6 Smithsonite ZnCO, 52 6 Hemimorphite H,ZnSiO5 54 6 Zincite ZnO 80 6 Tin Cassiterite SnO, 78 7 Stannite Cu,SFeS'SnS, 27 7 Nickel Pentlandite (Fe,Ni)S 22 8 __ Garnierite H,(Ni,Mg)SiO,.H,O 8 Chromium Chromite FeOCrA 68 9 Manganese Pyrolusite MnO, 63 10 Psilomelane Mn,Ov*H20 45 10 Braunite 3Mn,O^MnSiO, 69 10 Manganite Mn,OvH,O 62 10 Aluminum Bauxite A1,0,-2H,0 39 11 Antimony Stibnite Sb,S, 71 12 Arsenic Proustite Ag.AsS, 13 Pyrargyrite Ag^SbS, 14 Arsenopyrite FeAsS 14 Beryllium Beryl Be,Al,Si6018 5 14 Bismuth Bismuthinite Bi,S, 81 15 __ Cadmium (Various) _- 15 Cobalt Smaltite CoAs2 28 17 Cobaltite CoAsS 35 18 Mercury Cinnabar HgS 86 19 Molybdenum Molybdenite MoS, 60 19 Wulfenite PbMo04 39 19 Tungsten Wolframite CFe,Mn)WO, 76 20 17.

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