What causes iron in water?
Iron can be a troublesome chemical in water supplies. Making up at least 5 percent of the earth’s crust, iron is one of the earth’s most plentiful resources. Rainwater as it infiltrates the soil and underlying geologic formations dissolves iron, causing it to seep into aquifers that serve as sources of groundwater for wells. --------------------------- I hope this is helpful.
The main naturally occurring iron minerals are magnetite, hematite, goethite and siderite. Weathering processes release the element into waters. Both mineral water and drinking water contain iron carbonate. In deep sea areas the water often contains iron fragments the size of a fist, manganese and small amounts of lime, silicon dioxide and organic compounds. Iron is applied worldwide for commercial purposes, and is produced in amounts of 500 million tons annually. Some 300 million tons are recycled. The main reason is that iron is applicable in more areas than possibly any other metal. Alloys decrease corrosivity of the metal. Steel producers add various amounts of carbon. Iron alloys are eventually processed to containers, cars, laundry machines, bridges, buildings, and even small springs. Iron compounds are applied as pigments in glass and email production, or are processed to pharmaceutics, chemicals, iron fertilizers, or pesticides. These are also applied in wood impregnation and photography. Aluminum waste products containing iron were discharged on surface water in the earlier days. Today, these are removed and applied as soil fillers. Iron compounds are applied in precipitation reactions, to remove compounds from water in water purification processes. The 59Fe isotope is applied in medical research and nuclear physics.
