Mineralogical Change of Acid Sulfate Weathering of Hydrothermally Altered Pyritic Andesite

Oxidation of pyrite has caused a serious environmental problem such as the acidification of soil and surface water. The mineralogical change of acid sulfate weathering of hydrothermally altered andesite which contained 11.8% of pyrite and was exposed in atmosphere by lay out works for a residential area and a golf course was studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electronmicroscopes. Ferrihydrite, jarosite, and an unidentified water soluble phase were observed as weathering products of the andesite. Under electronmicroscopes, showed aggregate of platy microcrystals; jarosite was platy morphology: water soluble Phase was columnar. Morphology of fresh Pyrite in the andesite changed from pyritrohedron to cubic in its frequency with increasing its particle size. The drainage water was acidic (pH 3.5) and in an equilibrium state with both ferrihydrite and jarosite.