Aqueous and solid tailings geochemistry of two contrasting depositional sites (water-saturated and subaerial) in a historical Pb–Zn mine tailings in Balya, Turkey were chemically and isotopically (δ³⁴S and δ¹⁸O) characterized to trace source of sulfate and elucidate oxidation pathways of sulfide mixtures. Aqueous geochemistry data of water-soluble fractions (n = 15) obtained from the batch leaching tests applied on the subaerial mine tailings (SA-MT) revealed three geochemically distinct zones: i) oxidized zone (OXZ, 10–75 cm), ii) transition zone (TZ, 75–125 cm) and iii) unoxidized zone (U-OXZ, 125–350 cm). The OXZ is characterized by a sharp decrease in sulfur and metals contents of the tailing rocks while high sulfate and metals concentrations in their water-soluble fractions. In contrast, the TZ and U-OXZ zones are mainly characterized by low sulfate but relatively high metal concentrations with slightly acidic pH values (4.9–6.2). Compared to the SA-MT tailings geochemical profiles of the pore waters of the water-saturated tailings (S-MT) showed remarkably high sulfate, Fe_tot and metals concentrations with strong acidic pH values (1.9–3.8). The δ³⁴S and δ¹⁸O values of sulfate suggest that galena and/or sphalerite are the main source of sulfate and metals at the tailings site. The differences in sulfur isotope values (Δ³⁴S_SO4-sulfide) appear to be reflective of the extend of oxidation of monosulfides (e.g. galena) under two contrasting conditions of the tailings. The large sulfur isotope differences (Δ³⁴S_SO4-sulfides ~ -4.5 ± 0.2‰) imply incomplete oxidation of monosulfides to sulfate with aqueous geochemistry record of low sulfate, high metal and slightly acidic pH values. In contrast, the small Δ³⁴S_SO4-sulfide (<1 ± 0.2‰) values indicate the tailings site where complete oxidation of monosulfides to sulfate occurred resulting in acidic condition having with high sulfate, metal concentrations. The δ¹⁸O_SO4 values were enriched than those of background water in tailings sites with the similar Δ¹⁸O_SO4–_H2O values (+8.9 to +11‰). Based on field data revealing enhanced galena and/or sphalerite oxidation relative to pyrite, the observed Δ¹⁸O_SO4–_H2O (avg., 9‰) values coupled with the relationship between δ³⁴S_SO4 values and sulfate concentration can be reflective of oxidation of monosulfides in contrast to disulfide minerals (e.g, pyrite) within polymetallic rich AMD systems.

土耳其巴利亚历史铅锌矿尾矿中两个对比沉积地点（水饱和和地下）的含水和固体尾矿地球化学在化学和同位素上（δ ³⁴ S 和 δ ¹⁸O) 表征为追踪硫酸盐的来源并阐明硫化物混合物的氧化途径。从应用于地下尾矿 (SA-MT) 的批量浸出试验中获得的水溶性部分 (n = 15) 的水性地球化学数据揭示了三个地球化学不同的区域：i) 氧化带 (OXZ, 10–75 cm), ii ) 过渡区 (TZ, 75–125 cm) 和 iii) 未氧化区 (U-OXZ, 125–350 cm)。OXZ 的特点是尾矿中硫和金属含量急剧下降，而其水溶性部分的硫酸盐和金属浓度很高。相比之下，TZ 和 U-OXZ 区的主要特点是硫酸盐含量低，但金属浓度相对较高，pH 值呈弱酸性（4.9-6.2）。_TOT和金属浓度的强酸性pH值（1.9-3.8）。硫酸盐的 δ ³⁴ S 和 δ ¹⁸ O 值表明方铅矿和/或闪锌矿是尾矿场硫酸盐和金属的主要来源。硫同位素值（Δ ³⁴ S _{SO4-硫化物}）的差异似乎反映了在尾矿的两种对比条件下单硫化物（例如方铅矿）的氧化程度。较大的硫同位素差异 (Δ ³⁴ S _{SO4-硫化物} ~ -4.5 ± 0.2‰) 意味着单硫化物不完全氧化为硫酸盐，具有低硫酸盐、高金属和微酸性 pH 值的水性地球化学记录。相比之下，小 Δ ³⁴ S_{SO4-硫化物}(<1 ± 0.2‰) 值表明尾矿位置发生单硫化物完全氧化成硫酸盐，导致酸性条件具有高硫酸盐和金属浓度。δ ¹⁸ O _SO4值比尾矿场的背景水富集，具有相似的 Δ ¹⁸ O _SO4 – _H2O值（+8.9 至 +11‰）。基于揭示方铅矿和/或闪锌矿相对于黄铁矿氧化增强的现场数据，观察到的 Δ ¹⁸ O _SO4 – _H2O（平均，9‰）值与 δ ³⁴ S _SO4之间的关系 与富含多金属的 AMD 系统中的二硫化物矿物（例如黄铁矿）相比，这些值和硫酸盐浓度可以反映单硫化物的氧化。