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By Columbia Environmental Research Center February 26, 2019

Mining activities have the potential to release harmful substances into the soil, air and water. Extraction and processing produce tailings piles that can contain radioactive elements, mercury, and heavy metals; leach ponds of cyanide and brine solutions; metallic dust; and waste rock. Environmental contamination at mine sites can be particularly challenging to evaluate due to the variety of substances present and their potential to move from terrestrial to aquatic habitats as well as into plants, animals and the atmosphere. USGS has capabilities and expertise that can aid with site characterization, injury determination, and restoration. 

To learn more about how USGS science supports the NRDAR program contact Jo Ellen Hinck, the USGS NRDAR Coordinator.

Return to USGS Science for DOI Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR) Program

 

Browse USGS publications related to NRDA mining cases.

 

Examples of assessment and restoration activities are listed below.

 

Assessment Projects

 

  • Mercury Fluxes from Mercury Mines and Natural Sources to Wetlands and Their Impact on Biota

                  Principal Investigator - Josh Ackerman

Media
Image: Phosphate Mine Pile
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
A phosphate mine tailing pile taken in the Southern Coastal Plain Ecoregion (FL) in July 2006.
  • In-situ Toxicity Testing of Crayfish

                Principal Investigators - Danielle Cleveland

  • Effects of Methylmercury on Birds and Toxicity Benchmarks for Injury

                Principal Investigator - Josh Ackerman

  • Chemical Characterization and Histological and Biochemical Effects of Lead Exposure on Breeding Songbirds

                 Principal Investigators - Danielle Cleveland, Julia Lankton, Barnett Rattner, and Natalie Karouna-Renier

  • Sediment Metal Concentrations and Substrate Characteristics in a Lead Mining District

                  Principal Investigators - Danielle Cleveland

Media
Mussel kill Deep Fork River, OK
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Mussel kill downstream of the effluent discharge in the Deep Fork River in Oklahoma.
  • Mussel Injury from Metals in a Lead Mining District 

                 Principal Investigators - John Besser and Danielle Cleveland

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restoration Projects

 

Media
UAS technology
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Remotely sensed data complement data collected using standard field observation techniques to document site conditions following disasters and to provide short- and long-term ecological monitoring of restoration progress.

 

  • UAS Data Collection for Restoration at the Questa Mine (New Mexico)

                   Principal Investigator - Matt Struckhoff

                 Principal Investigator - Matt Struckhoff

  • Vegetation surveys to support Restoration at St. Francois County Bonehole Restoration Site

                  Principal Investigator - Matt Struckhoff

 

 

 

 

 

Media
NRDAR Cases
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

 

 

Explore the NRDAR Case Map and Document Library to learn more about individual cases.

 

 

 

 

 

Return to USGS Science for DOI Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR) Program

 

 

 

No Result Found

Below are USGS publications associated with mining activities for specific NRDAR cases.

Filter Total Items: 20

Toxic exposure of songbirds to lead in the Southeast Missouri Lead Mining District Toxic exposure of songbirds to lead in the Southeast Missouri Lead Mining District

Mining and smelting in the Southeast Missouri Lead Mining District has caused widespread contamination of soils with lead (Pb) and other metals. Soils from three study sites sampled in the district contained from approximately 1,000–3,200 mg Pb/kg. Analyses of earthworms [33–4,600 mg Pb/kg dry weight (dw)] collected in the district showed likely high Pb exposure of songbirds preying on...
Authors
W. Nelson Beyer, J. Christian Franson, John B. French, Thomas May, Barnett A. Rattner, Valerie I. Shearn-Bochsler, Sarah E. Warner, John Weber, David Mosby
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, National Wildlife Health Center, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Phytotoxicity of zinc and manganese to seedlings grown in soil contaminated by zinc smelting Phytotoxicity of zinc and manganese to seedlings grown in soil contaminated by zinc smelting

Historic emissions from two zinc smelters have injured the forest on Blue Mountain near Palmerton, Pennsylvania, USA. Seedlings of soybeans and five tree species were grown in a greenhouse in a series of mixtures of smelter-contaminated and reference soils and then phytotoxic thresholds were calculated. As little as 10% Palmerton soil mixed with reference soil killed or greatly stunted...
Authors
W. N. Beyer, C.E. Green, M. Beyer, R. L. Chaney
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Effects of mining-associated lead and zinc soil contamination on native floristic quality Effects of mining-associated lead and zinc soil contamination on native floristic quality

We assessed the quality of plant communities across a range of lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) soil concentrations at a variety of sites associated with Pb mining in southeast Missouri, USA. In a novel application, two standard floristic quality measures, Mean Coefficient of Conservatism (Mean C) and Floristic Quality Index (FQI), were examined in relation to concentrations of Pb and Zn, soil...
Authors
Matthew A. Struckhoff, Esther D. Stroh, Keith W. Grabner
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Effects of historical lead–zinc mining on riffle-dwelling benthic fish and crayfish in the Big River of southeastern Missouri, USA Effects of historical lead–zinc mining on riffle-dwelling benthic fish and crayfish in the Big River of southeastern Missouri, USA

The Big River (BGR) drains much of the Old Lead Belt mining district (OLB) in southeastern Missouri, USA, which was historically among the largest producers of lead–zinc (Pb–Zn) ore in the world. We sampled benthic fish and crayfish in riffle habitats at eight sites in the BGR and conducted 56-day in situ exposures to the woodland crayfish (Orconectes hylas) and golden crayfish...
Authors
A.L. Allert, R.J. DiStefano, J.F. Fairchild, C. J. Schmitt, M.J. McKee, J.A. Girondo, W. G. Brumbaugh, T.W. May
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Effects of mining-derived metals on riffle-dwelling crayfish in southwestern Missouri and southeastern Kansas, USA Effects of mining-derived metals on riffle-dwelling crayfish in southwestern Missouri and southeastern Kansas, USA

Riffle-dwelling crayfish populations were sampled at 16 sites in 4 tributaries of the Spring River located within the Tri-State Mining District in southwest Missouri. Crayfish density, physical habitat quality, and water quality were examined at each site to assess the ecological effects of mining-derived metals on crayfish. Metals (lead, zinc, and cadmium) were analyzed in samples of...
Authors
Ann L. Allert, Robert J. DiStefano, Christopher J. Schmitt, James F. Fairchild, William G. Brumbaugh
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Laboratory toxicity and benthic invertebrate field colonization of Upper Columbia River sediments: Finding adverse effects using multiple lines of evidence Laboratory toxicity and benthic invertebrate field colonization of Upper Columbia River sediments: Finding adverse effects using multiple lines of evidence

From 1930 to 1995, the Upper Columbia River (UCR) of northeast Washington State received approximately 12 million metric tons of smelter slag and associated effluents from a large smelter facility located in Trail, British Columbia, approximately 10 km north of the United States–Canadian border. Studies conducted during the past two decades have demonstrated the presence of toxic...
Authors
J.F. Fairchild, N.E. Kemble, A.L. Allert, W. G. Brumbaugh, C.G. Ingersoll, B. Dowling, C. Gruenenfelder, J.L. Roland
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Relating injury to the forest ecosystem near Palmerton, PA, to zinc contamination from smelting Relating injury to the forest ecosystem near Palmerton, PA, to zinc contamination from smelting

The forest on Blue Mountain, near Lehigh Gap, has been injured by emissions from two historical zinc (Zn) smelters in Palmerton, PA, located at the northern base of the mountain. The uppermost mineral soil and lower litter from sites along a transect, just south of the ridgetop, contained from 64 to 4400 mg/kg Zn. We measured forest metrics at 15 sampling sites to ascertain how forest...
Authors
W. Nelson Beyer, Cairn Krafft, Stephen Klassen, Carrie E. Green, Rufus L. Chaney
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Impact of mine and natural sources of mercury on water, sediment, and biota in Harley Gulch adjacent to the Abbott-Turkey Run mine, Lake County, California Impact of mine and natural sources of mercury on water, sediment, and biota in Harley Gulch adjacent to the Abbott-Turkey Run mine, Lake County, California

Executive Summary Stable-isotope data indicate that there are three sources of water that effect the composition and Hg concentration of waters in Harley Gulch: (1) meteoric water that dominates water chemistry during the wet season; (2) thermal water effluent from the Turkey Run mine that effects the chemistry at sample site HG1; and (3) cold connate groundwater that dominates water...
Authors
James J. Rytuba, Roger L. Hothem, Brianne E. Brussee, Daniel N. Goldstein
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Mineral Resources Program, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center

Mining activities have the potential to release harmful substances into the soil, air and water. Extraction and processing produce tailings piles that can contain radioactive elements, mercury, and heavy metals; leach ponds of cyanide and brine solutions; metallic dust; and waste rock. Environmental contamination at mine sites can be particularly challenging to evaluate due to the variety of substances present and their potential to move from terrestrial to aquatic habitats as well as into plants, animals and the atmosphere. USGS has capabilities and expertise that can aid with site characterization, injury determination, and restoration. 

To learn more about how USGS science supports the NRDAR program contact Jo Ellen Hinck, the USGS NRDAR Coordinator.

Return to USGS Science for DOI Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR) Program

 

Browse USGS publications related to NRDA mining cases.

 

Examples of assessment and restoration activities are listed below.

 

Assessment Projects

 

  • Mercury Fluxes from Mercury Mines and Natural Sources to Wetlands and Their Impact on Biota

                  Principal Investigator - Josh Ackerman

Media
Image: Phosphate Mine Pile
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
A phosphate mine tailing pile taken in the Southern Coastal Plain Ecoregion (FL) in July 2006.
  • In-situ Toxicity Testing of Crayfish

                Principal Investigators - Danielle Cleveland

  • Effects of Methylmercury on Birds and Toxicity Benchmarks for Injury

                Principal Investigator - Josh Ackerman

  • Chemical Characterization and Histological and Biochemical Effects of Lead Exposure on Breeding Songbirds

                 Principal Investigators - Danielle Cleveland, Julia Lankton, Barnett Rattner, and Natalie Karouna-Renier

  • Sediment Metal Concentrations and Substrate Characteristics in a Lead Mining District

                  Principal Investigators - Danielle Cleveland

Media
Mussel kill Deep Fork River, OK
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Mussel kill downstream of the effluent discharge in the Deep Fork River in Oklahoma.
  • Mussel Injury from Metals in a Lead Mining District 

                 Principal Investigators - John Besser and Danielle Cleveland

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restoration Projects

 

Media
UAS technology
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Remotely sensed data complement data collected using standard field observation techniques to document site conditions following disasters and to provide short- and long-term ecological monitoring of restoration progress.

 

  • UAS Data Collection for Restoration at the Questa Mine (New Mexico)

                   Principal Investigator - Matt Struckhoff

                 Principal Investigator - Matt Struckhoff

  • Vegetation surveys to support Restoration at St. Francois County Bonehole Restoration Site

                  Principal Investigator - Matt Struckhoff

 

 

 

 

 

Media
NRDAR Cases
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

 

 

Explore the NRDAR Case Map and Document Library to learn more about individual cases.

 

 

 

 

 

Return to USGS Science for DOI Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR) Program

 

 

 

No Result Found

Below are USGS publications associated with mining activities for specific NRDAR cases.

Filter Total Items: 20

Toxic exposure of songbirds to lead in the Southeast Missouri Lead Mining District Toxic exposure of songbirds to lead in the Southeast Missouri Lead Mining District

Mining and smelting in the Southeast Missouri Lead Mining District has caused widespread contamination of soils with lead (Pb) and other metals. Soils from three study sites sampled in the district contained from approximately 1,000–3,200 mg Pb/kg. Analyses of earthworms [33–4,600 mg Pb/kg dry weight (dw)] collected in the district showed likely high Pb exposure of songbirds preying on...
Authors
W. Nelson Beyer, J. Christian Franson, John B. French, Thomas May, Barnett A. Rattner, Valerie I. Shearn-Bochsler, Sarah E. Warner, John Weber, David Mosby
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, National Wildlife Health Center, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Phytotoxicity of zinc and manganese to seedlings grown in soil contaminated by zinc smelting Phytotoxicity of zinc and manganese to seedlings grown in soil contaminated by zinc smelting

Historic emissions from two zinc smelters have injured the forest on Blue Mountain near Palmerton, Pennsylvania, USA. Seedlings of soybeans and five tree species were grown in a greenhouse in a series of mixtures of smelter-contaminated and reference soils and then phytotoxic thresholds were calculated. As little as 10% Palmerton soil mixed with reference soil killed or greatly stunted...
Authors
W. N. Beyer, C.E. Green, M. Beyer, R. L. Chaney
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Effects of mining-associated lead and zinc soil contamination on native floristic quality Effects of mining-associated lead and zinc soil contamination on native floristic quality

We assessed the quality of plant communities across a range of lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) soil concentrations at a variety of sites associated with Pb mining in southeast Missouri, USA. In a novel application, two standard floristic quality measures, Mean Coefficient of Conservatism (Mean C) and Floristic Quality Index (FQI), were examined in relation to concentrations of Pb and Zn, soil...
Authors
Matthew A. Struckhoff, Esther D. Stroh, Keith W. Grabner
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Effects of historical lead–zinc mining on riffle-dwelling benthic fish and crayfish in the Big River of southeastern Missouri, USA Effects of historical lead–zinc mining on riffle-dwelling benthic fish and crayfish in the Big River of southeastern Missouri, USA

The Big River (BGR) drains much of the Old Lead Belt mining district (OLB) in southeastern Missouri, USA, which was historically among the largest producers of lead–zinc (Pb–Zn) ore in the world. We sampled benthic fish and crayfish in riffle habitats at eight sites in the BGR and conducted 56-day in situ exposures to the woodland crayfish (Orconectes hylas) and golden crayfish...
Authors
A.L. Allert, R.J. DiStefano, J.F. Fairchild, C. J. Schmitt, M.J. McKee, J.A. Girondo, W. G. Brumbaugh, T.W. May
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Effects of mining-derived metals on riffle-dwelling crayfish in southwestern Missouri and southeastern Kansas, USA Effects of mining-derived metals on riffle-dwelling crayfish in southwestern Missouri and southeastern Kansas, USA

Riffle-dwelling crayfish populations were sampled at 16 sites in 4 tributaries of the Spring River located within the Tri-State Mining District in southwest Missouri. Crayfish density, physical habitat quality, and water quality were examined at each site to assess the ecological effects of mining-derived metals on crayfish. Metals (lead, zinc, and cadmium) were analyzed in samples of...
Authors
Ann L. Allert, Robert J. DiStefano, Christopher J. Schmitt, James F. Fairchild, William G. Brumbaugh
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Laboratory toxicity and benthic invertebrate field colonization of Upper Columbia River sediments: Finding adverse effects using multiple lines of evidence Laboratory toxicity and benthic invertebrate field colonization of Upper Columbia River sediments: Finding adverse effects using multiple lines of evidence

From 1930 to 1995, the Upper Columbia River (UCR) of northeast Washington State received approximately 12 million metric tons of smelter slag and associated effluents from a large smelter facility located in Trail, British Columbia, approximately 10 km north of the United States–Canadian border. Studies conducted during the past two decades have demonstrated the presence of toxic...
Authors
J.F. Fairchild, N.E. Kemble, A.L. Allert, W. G. Brumbaugh, C.G. Ingersoll, B. Dowling, C. Gruenenfelder, J.L. Roland
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Columbia Environmental Research Center

Relating injury to the forest ecosystem near Palmerton, PA, to zinc contamination from smelting Relating injury to the forest ecosystem near Palmerton, PA, to zinc contamination from smelting

The forest on Blue Mountain, near Lehigh Gap, has been injured by emissions from two historical zinc (Zn) smelters in Palmerton, PA, located at the northern base of the mountain. The uppermost mineral soil and lower litter from sites along a transect, just south of the ridgetop, contained from 64 to 4400 mg/kg Zn. We measured forest metrics at 15 sampling sites to ascertain how forest...
Authors
W. Nelson Beyer, Cairn Krafft, Stephen Klassen, Carrie E. Green, Rufus L. Chaney
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Impact of mine and natural sources of mercury on water, sediment, and biota in Harley Gulch adjacent to the Abbott-Turkey Run mine, Lake County, California Impact of mine and natural sources of mercury on water, sediment, and biota in Harley Gulch adjacent to the Abbott-Turkey Run mine, Lake County, California

Executive Summary Stable-isotope data indicate that there are three sources of water that effect the composition and Hg concentration of waters in Harley Gulch: (1) meteoric water that dominates water chemistry during the wet season; (2) thermal water effluent from the Turkey Run mine that effects the chemistry at sample site HG1; and (3) cold connate groundwater that dominates water...
Authors
James J. Rytuba, Roger L. Hothem, Brianne E. Brussee, Daniel N. Goldstein
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Mineral Resources Program, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center
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