Geological Society of America

15 Environmental Geochemistry and Health Impacts

This session welcomes research on contaminant occurrence, fate and transport, and impacts on human and environmental health. Interdisciplinary contributions with implications for environmental remediation and natural resources management are encouraged.

Monday, 18 May 2026
1:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Alvarado G

Mining and Wildfires: Interfacial Reactions Affecting Metal Mobility

Paper number: 15-5
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 2:45 PM – 3:05 PM

Authors

Eresay Alcantar-Velasquez Presenting Author
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Lawrence Rael
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Adrian Brearley
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque , New Mexico
José Cerrato
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Johanna Blake
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Kahleya Chapman
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Katelin Fisher
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Sakshi Patil
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Eliane El Hayek El Hayek
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Angelica Benavidez
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Abdul-Mehd Ali
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Michael Spilde
University of New Mexico, Albuqurque, New Mexico
Angélica Sáenz-Trevizo,
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Abstract

We identified water-labile interfacial reactions between laboratory-burned pinewood ash and mine waste solids that influence metal mobilization. The Upper Gallinas Creek Watershed in New Mexico is affected by wildfires and mining legacy. Pinewood and mine waste sediments were sampled from the area, and the pinewood was burned at 350°C to simulate a moderate burn intensity. The desorption and dissolution of Fe, Mn, Li, Pb, and Cu was detected by ICP-MS as pH decreased over time. Release of these metals occurred after reacting 18 MΩ ultra-pure water with a mixture of pinewood ash and mine waste sediments. The highest water-labile release of Fe (931± 229 µg L^-1), Mn (201 ± 40 µg L^-1), Cu (93 ± 9 µg L^-1), Li (4 ± 0.7 µg L^-1), and Pb (5 ± 1.2 µg L^-1) occurred within 8 hours of the experiment. Additional X-ray spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis will be provided. These findings provide relevant insights about metal release from areas affected by wildfires and mining to inform watershed management.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 58, No. 4

doi: 10.1130/abs/2026RM-410555

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