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Pyrite weathering

Iron sulfide (aka pyrite or fool's gold) weathers in the air, releasing sulfuric acid, and iron that then oxidizes and stains the rock.
— Pyrite in mine tailings undergoes the same weathering process.  Because such tailings are produced in huge volumes, and they are ground up fine creating a lot of surface area, the scale of acid production is much higher, leading to acid mine drainage pollution.

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Photo taken by Bretwood Higman, Erin McKittrick

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By Ground Truth Trekking

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