Mineralogical approach in elucidation of contamination mechanism for toxic trace elements in the environment: Special reference to arsenic contamination in groundwater

• This short review describes the importance of use of TEM for environmental mineralogy.
• The mineral-microbe interaction has key importance for As behavior in environment.
• The role of mineralogy is emphasized for disclosing As-contamination mechanism.

Mineralogy and mineral-microbe interactions play a significant role in the environmental contamination of toxic trace elements in groundwater and wetland ecosystems. This review has described the importance of use of TEM that is an essential tool to study the environmental mineralogy and mineral-microbe interactions. Biomineralization process that can advance the succession and evolution of biosphere on the earth has also been summarized briefly. This study explained the role of minerals to control the mechanism of adsorption, desorption, mobility and transport of toxic trace elements, especially arsenic (As) in the groundwater. Finally, this review has explored the evolution of As contamination in groundwater of the Quaternary age deposits including the Holocene and Pleistocene with special reference to groundwater of Bangladesh, West Bengal (India), Vietnam and Inner Mongolia (China).