Geochemical processes of iron and manganese in a seasonally stratified lake affected by coal-mining drainage in China

Lake water, pore water, and sediments were sampled in a seasonally stratified lake affected by coal-mining drainage. Contrasting geochemical processes of iron and manganese in summer were investigated by studying the seasonal distributions of iron and manganese species in the water column, pore water, and sediments. The results show that iron buildup in the water during summer was mainly from the gradual dissolution of particulate matter due to the pH decrease, whereas manganese oxide reduction and manganese-bound carbonate dissolution near the sediment–water interface were mainly responsible for manganese accumulation in the stratified hypolimnion. The geochemical processes of iron and manganese in the sediments during early diagenesis were also discussed in terms of the possible influence on the overlying water. Received: November 29, 1999 / Accepted: June 30, 2000