Javier S谩nchez-Espa帽a, Ph.D.
Department of Natural Sciences
Earth Science and Oceanography
Education
Ph.D. in Geology (Geochemistry), 2000, Basque Country University, Spain.
B.Sc. in Geology (Field and Applied Geology), 1995, Basque Country University, Spain.
Practice Areas
- Hydro- and bio-geochemistry of low-temperature aqueous solutions.
- Geochemical modelling of water-rock and water-mineral interactions.
- Environmental mineralogy: identification and characterization of nano-crystalline minerals by high-resolution techniques (SEM, TEM, S/TEM, EELS, XAS).
- Biomineralization and microbial controls on trace metal transport in acidic mine waters.
- Geomicrobiology and biogeochemical cycling (S, Fe, C, N) in extreme environments.
- Limnophysics and limnochemistry of acidic pit lakes and high mountain lakes.
Publications and Media Placements
New publications
S谩nchez-Espa帽a, J. (2023) Geochemical, limnological and microbiological characteristics
of acidic pit lakes and their comparison with volcanic lakes. Proceedings of the 11th
Workshop on Volcanic Lakes (Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel, Azores, Portugal),
S谩nchez-Espa帽a, J.; Ilin, A.M.; Yusta, I.; van der Graaf, C.M.; S谩nchez-Andrea, I.
(2023) Fe(III) Biomineralization in the Surface Microlayer of Acid Mine Waters Catalyzed
by Neustonic Fe(II)-Oxidizing Microorganisms. Minerals 2023, 13, 508. .
Rosario-Beltr茅 A., S谩nchez-Espa帽a J., Rodr铆guez-G贸mez V., Fern谩ndez-Naranjo FJ, Bellido-Mart铆n
E, Ad谩nez-Sanju谩n P, Arranz-Gonz谩lez JC (2023) Critical Raw Materials recovery potential
from Spanish mine wastes: A national-scale preliminary assessment. Journal of Cleaner
Production, Volume 407, 2023, 137163, ISSN 0959-6526, .
Most recent papers in peer-reviewed journals (2017-2022)
Ayala-Mu帽oz, D., Macalady, J.L., S谩nchez-Espa帽a, J., Couradeau, E., Burgos, W.D. (2022) Microbial carbon, sulfur, iron, and nitrogen cycling linked to the potential remediation of a meromictic acidic pit lake. The ISME Journal, 16(12), pp. 2666鈥�2679, DOI: 10.1038/s41396-022-01320-w.
Valdez-Nu帽ez, L.F.; Ayala-Mu帽oz, D.; S谩nchez-Espa帽a, J.; S谩nchez-Andrea, I. (2022) Microbial Communities in Peruvian Acid Mine Drainages: Low-Abundance Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria With High Metabolic Activity. Geomicrobiology Journal, 39(10), pp. 867鈥�883, DOI: 10.1080/01490451.2022.2087808.
Florentino, A.P., S谩nchez-Espa帽a, J., S谩nchez-Andrea, I. (2022) Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 10, 1025093, DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1025093.
Ilin, A.M.; van der Graaf, C.M.; Yusta, I.; S谩nchez-Andrea, I.; S谩nchez-Espa帽a, J. (2022) Glycerol amendment enhances biosulfidogenesis in acid mine drainage-affected areas: An incubation column experiment. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 10, 978728 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.978728, ISSN: 2296-4185.
Ayala-Mu帽oz, D.; Burgos, W.D.; S谩nchez-Espa帽a, J.; Couradeau, E.; Macalady, J.L. (2022) Novel Microorganisms Contribute to Biosulfidogenesis in the Deep Layer of an Acidic Pit Lake. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 10, 867321, DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.867321, ISSN: 2296-4185.
S谩nchez-Espa帽a, J.; Illin, A.; Yusta, I. (2022) Metallic Copper (Cu[0]) Obtained from Cu2+-Rich Acidic Mine Waters by Two Different Reduction Methods: Crystallographic and Geochemical Aspects. Minerals 12(3), 322, DOI: 10.3390/min12030322.
S谩nchez-Espa帽a, J.; Yusta, I.; Ilin, A.; van der Graaf, C.; S谩nchez-Andrea, I. (2020) Microbial Geochemistry of the Acidic Saline Pit Lake of Brunita Mine (La Uni贸n, SE Spain). Mine Water and the Environment 39(3), pp. 535鈥�555, DOI: 10.1007/s10230-020-00655-0.
S谩nchez-Espa帽a, J.; Yusta, I.; Boehrer, B. (2020) Degassing Pit Lakes: Technical Issues and Lessons Learnt from the HERCO2 Project in the Guadiana Open Pit (Herrer铆as Mine, SW Spain). Mine Water and the Environment 39(3), pp. 517鈥�534, DOI: 10.1007/s10230-020-00654-1.
Ayala-Mu帽oz, D.; Burgos, W.D.; S谩nchez-Espa帽a, J.; Falag谩n, C.; Macalady, J.L. (2020) Metagenomic and Metatranscriptomic Study of Microbial Metal Resistance in an Acidic Pit Lake. Microorganisms, 8(9), pp. 1鈥�271350, 1350, DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8091350.
van der Graaf, C.M.; S谩nchez-Espa帽a, J.; Yusta, I.; Stams, A.J.M.; S谩nchez-Andrea, I. (2020) Biosulfidogenesis Mediates Natural Attenuation in Acidic Mine Pit Lakes. Microorganisms, 8(9), pp. 1鈥�26, 1275 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8091275, ISSN: 2076-2607.
S谩nchez-Espa帽a, J.; Falag谩n, C.; Ayala, C.; Wendt-Potthoff, K. (2020) Adaptation of Coccomyxa sp. to Extremely Low Light Conditions Causes Deep Chlorophyll and Oxygen Maxima in Acidic Pit Lakes. Microorganisms (2020), 8(8), 1218, DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8081218.
S谩nchez-Espa帽a, J.; Vegas, J.; Morellon, M.; Mata, M.P.; Garc铆a, J.A.R. (2019) Hydrogeochemical characteristics of the Saliencia lakes (Somiedo Natural Park, NW Spain): Trophic state and relationship with anthropogenic pressures. Bolet铆n Geol贸gico y Minero 130 (2): 251-269, DOI: 10.21701/bolgeomin.130.2.003.
S谩nchez-Espa帽a, J.; Yusta, I. (2019) Coprecipitation of Co2+, Ni2+ and Zn2+ with Mn(III/IV) Oxides Formed in Metal-Rich Mine Waters. Minerals 9(4), 226, DOI: 10.3390/min9040226, ISSN: 2075-163X.
Diez-Ercilla, M.; Falag谩n, C.; Yusta, I.; S谩nchez-Espa帽a, J. (2019) Metal mobility and mineral transformations driven by bacterial activity in acidic pit lake sediments: evidence from column experiments and sequential extraction. Journal of Soils and Sediments 19, p. 1527鈥�1542, DOI: 10.1007/s11368-018-2112-2.
S谩nchez-Espa帽a, J; Reyes, J. (2019) Comparing Schwertmannite and Hydrobasaluminite Dissolution in Ammonium Oxalate (pH 3.0): Implications for Metal Speciation Studies by Sequential Extraction. Minerals 9(1), 57, DOI: 10.3390/min9010057.
S谩nchez-Espa帽a, J.; Wang, K.; Falag谩n, C.; Yusta, I.; Burgos, W.D. (2018) Microbially mediated aluminosilicate formation in acidic anaerobic environments: A cell-scale chemical perspective. Geobiology 16-1, 88-103, DOI: 10.1111/gbi.12269.
S谩nchez-Espa帽a, J.; Mata, M.P.; Vegas, J.; Morell贸n, M.; Rodriguez, J.A.; Salazar, A.; Yusta, I. (2018) Limnochemistry of the remote, high mountain lake marbor茅 (ordesa and monte perdido national park, central pyrenees): Stratification dynamics and trace metal anomalies. Limnetica 37 (1): 85-103, DOI: 10.23818/limn.37.08EID: 2-s2.0-85049134947, ISSN: 19891806 02138409.
S谩nchez-Espa帽a, J.; Mata, M.P.; Vegas, J.; Morell贸n, M.; Rodr铆guez, J.A.; Salazar, 脕.; Yusta, I.; Chaos, A.; P茅rez-Mart铆nez, C.; Navas, A. (2017) Anthropogenic and climatic factors enhancing hypolimnetic anoxia in a temperate mountain lake. Journal of Hydrology 555, 832-850, DOI: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2017.10.049, ISSN: 00221694.
Falag谩n, C.; Yusta, I.; S谩nchez-Espa帽a, J.; Johnson, D.B. (2017) Biologically-induced precipitation of aluminium in synthetic acid mine water. Minerals Engineering 106, 79-85, DOI: 10.1016/j.mineng.2016.09.028, ISSN: 08926875.
Selected books or book chapters (2017-2022)
Florentino, A.P.; S谩nchez-Espa帽a, J.; S谩nchez-Andrea, I. (2022) Advances in biosulfidogenic processes (Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Special Volume and e-book), (6 chapters), Editor: Frontiers (Lausanne, Switzerland).
S谩nchez-Espa帽a, J.; Yusta, I.; Boehrer, B. (2021) Monitorizaci贸n y an谩lisis de la desgasificaci贸n del lago de la Corta Guadiana (Minas de Herrer铆as, Huelva). Serie Informes T茅cnicos del IGME, Vol. N潞 13, Editor: Instituto Geol贸gico y Minero de Espa帽a (Madrid).
S谩nchez-Espa帽a, J. (2021) Lagos Asesinos: Todo lo que debes saber sobre uno de los fen贸menos naturales m谩s enigm谩ticos del planeta, Editor: Los Libros de la Catarata (Serie Planeta Tierra), Madrid, 136 pp., ISBN: 978-84-1352-195-4.
Mata, P.; S谩nchez-Espa帽a, J.; Vegas, J.; Rodr铆guez, J.A.; Morell贸n, M.; Salazar, A.; Navas, A.; L贸pez-Vicente, M.; Valero, B. (2017) Evaluaci贸n y seguimiento del cambio global en tres lagos de alta monta帽a de parques nacionales (Enol, Marbor茅 y La Caldera): Indicadores f铆sico-qu铆micos (CLAM). En Amengual, P. (Ed.) "Proyectos de investigaci贸n en Parques Nacionales: 2012-2015. Naturaleza y Parques Nacionales. Serie Investigaciones en la Red", p. 287-306, Editor: OAPN-MAPAMA, Madrid. ISBN: 978-84-8014-907-5.
Schultze, M., Boehrer, B., Wendt-Potthoff, K., S谩nchez-Espa帽a, J., Castendyk, D. (2017) Meromictic pit lakes: Case studies from Spain, Germany and Canada and General aspects of management and modelling. In Gulati, R., Zadereev, E. & Degermendzhi, A. (Eds.), Ecology of Meromictic Lakes, Ecological Studies 228, Chapter 9, pp. 235-275, Editor: Springer, Heidelberg (Amsterdam, The Netherlands). ISBN: 978-3-319-49143-1.