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Upper Animas River Study Area | USGS Abandoned Mine Lands Initiative Completed

By Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center September 28, 2007

This is a section of the USGS Abandoned Mine Lands Initative (AMLI) site.

Upper Animas River Watershed, Colorado Study Area

The Animas River watershed is one of many watersheds in the western United States where historical mining has left a legacy of acid mine drainage and elevated concentrations of potentially toxic trace elements. Many abandoned mine lands are located on or directly affect Federal land. Cleaning up these Federal lands and restoring these watersheds will require a substantial investment of resources and many years of work. As part of a cooperative effort with Federal land-management agencies, the U.S. Geological Survey implemented an Abandoned Mine Lands Initiative in 1997. One of the two watersheds studied under the initiative was the Animas River watershed in Colorado.

 

map showing study locations in CO and MT
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Location of demonstration watersheds for the Abandoned Mine Lands Initiative. From Kimball and others, 2006, doi:10.21000/JASMR06020944.

This is a section of the USGS Abandoned Mine Lands Initative (AMLI) site.

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Red Mountain, Colorado

USGS Abandoned Mine Lands Initiative

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conducted an Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) Initiative during the fiscal years 1997 through 2001 to provide technical assistance in support of Federal Land Management Agency (FLMA) actions to remediate contamination associated with abandoned hard rock mining activities. This initiative was part of a larger strategy by the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S...
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Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center
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USGS Abandoned Mine Lands Initiative

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conducted an Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) Initiative during the fiscal years 1997 through 2001 to provide technical assistance in support of Federal Land Management Agency (FLMA) actions to remediate contamination associated with abandoned hard rock mining activities. This initiative was part of a larger strategy by the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S...
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organization structure flow chart

The Plan | USGS Abandoned Mine Lands Initiative

This is a section of the USGS Abandoned Mine Lands Initative (AMLI) site. A Plan for the USGS Abandoned Mine Lands Initiative, 1997 - 2001 Prepared by: The USGS Initiative Implementation Team, and the Colorado and Montana Watershed Teams
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Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center
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The Plan | USGS Abandoned Mine Lands Initiative

This is a section of the USGS Abandoned Mine Lands Initative (AMLI) site. A Plan for the USGS Abandoned Mine Lands Initiative, 1997 - 2001 Prepared by: The USGS Initiative Implementation Team, and the Colorado and Montana Watershed Teams
Learn More
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abandoned mine in mountains

Boulder River Study Area | USGS Abandoned Mine Lands Initiative

This is a section of the USGS Abandoned Mine Lands Initative (AMLI) site. Boulder River Watershed, Montana Study Area
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Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center
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Boulder River Study Area | USGS Abandoned Mine Lands Initiative

This is a section of the USGS Abandoned Mine Lands Initative (AMLI) site. Boulder River Watershed, Montana Study Area
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Below are publications associated with this project.

Integrated investigations of environmental effects of historical mining in the Animas River Watershed, San Juan County, Colorado

This publication comprises a Volume Contents of chapters (listed below) and a CD-ROM of data (contents shown in column at right). The Animas River watershed in southwest Colorado is one of many watersheds in the western United States where historical mining has left a legacy of acid mine drainage and elevated concentrations of potentially toxic trace elements in surface streams. U.S. Geological
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program, Colorado Water Science Center, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center
Filter Total Items: 42

A GIS and statistical approach to identify variables that control water quality in hydrothermally altered and mineralized watersheds, Silverton, Colorado, USA

Hydrothermally altered bedrock in the Silverton mining area, southwest Colorado, USA, contains sulfide minerals that weather to produce acidic and metal-rich leachate that is toxic to aquatic life. This study utilized a geographic information system (GIS) and statistical approach to identify watershed-scale geologic variables in the Silverton area that influence water quality. GIS analysis of mine
Authors
Douglas B. Yager, Raymond H. Johnson, Barnaby W. Rockwell, Jonathan S. Caine, Kathleen S. Smith
By
Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center

Using spatially detailed water-quality data and solute-transport modeling to improve support total maximum daily load development

Spatially detailed mass-loading studies and solute-transport modeling using OTIS (One-dimensional Transport with Inflow and Storage) demonstrate how natural attenuation and loading from distinct and diffuse sources control stream water quality and affect load reductions predicted in total maximum daily loads (TMDLs). Mass-loading data collected during low-flow from Cement Creek (a low-pH, metal-ri
Authors
Katherine Walton-Day, Robert L. Runkel, Briant A. Kimball
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Colorado Water Science Center, Utah Water Science Center

Evaluating remedial alternatives for an acid mine drainage stream: A model post audit

A post audit for a reactive transport model used to evaluate acid mine drainage treatment systems is presented herein. The post audit is based on a paired synoptic approach in which hydrogeochemical data are collected at low (existing conditions) and elevated (following treatment) pH. Data obtained under existing, low-pH conditions are used for calibration, and the resultant model is used to predi
Authors
Robert L. Runkel, Briant A. Kimball, Katherine Walton-Day, Philip L. Verplanck, Robert E. Broshears
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Colorado Water Science Center, Utah Water Science Center

An approach to quantify sources, seasonal change, and biogeochemical processes affecting metal loading in streams: Facilitating decisions for remediation of mine drainage

Historical mining has left complex problems in catchments throughout the world. Land managers are faced with making cost-effective plans to remediate mine influences. Remediation plans are facilitated by spatial mass-loading profiles that indicate the locations of metal mass-loading, seasonal changes, and the extent of biogeochemical processes. Field-scale experiments during both low- and high-flo
Authors
B. A. Kimball, R.L. Runkel, K. Walton-Day
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program, Colorado Water Science Center

Geochemical data for Upper Mineral Creek, Colorado, under existing ambient conditions and during an experimental pH modification, August 2005

Mineral Creek, an acid mine drainage stream in south-western Colorado, was the subject of a water-quality study that employed a paired synoptic approach. Under the paired synoptic approach, two synoptic sampling campaigns were conducted on the same study reach. The initial synoptic campaign, conducted August 22, 2005, documented stream-water quality under existing ambient conditions. A second syno
Authors
Robert L. Runkel, Briant A. Kimball, Judy I. Steiger, Katherine Walton-Day
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program, Colorado Water Science Center

Copper isotope fractionation in acid mine drainage

We measured the Cu isotopic composition of primary minerals and stream water affected by acid mine drainage in a mineralized watershed (Colorado, USA). The δ65Cu values (based on 65Cu/63Cu) of enargite (δ65Cu = −0.01 ± 0.10‰; 2σ) and chalcopyrite (δ65Cu = 0.16 ± 0.10‰) are within the range of reported values for terrestrial primary Cu sulfides (−1‰ < δ65Cu < 1‰). These mineral samples show lower δ
Authors
B.E. Kimball, R. Mathur, A.C. Dohnalkova, A.J. Wall, R.L. Runkel, S.L. Brantley
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program

A comparison of pre- and post-remediation water quality, Mineral Creek, Colorado

Pre- and post-remediation data sets are used herein to assess the effectiveness of remedial measures implemented in the headwaters of the Mineral Creek watershed, where contamination from hard rock mining has led to elevated metal concentrations and acidic pH. Collection of pre- and post-remediation data sets generally followed the synoptic mass balance approach, in which numerous stream and inflo
Authors
R.L. Runkel, K.E. Bencala, B. A. Kimball, K. Walton-Day, P. L. Verplanck
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center

Application of iron and zinc isotopes to track the sources and mechanisms of metal loading in a mountain watershed

Here the hydrogeochemical constraints of a tracer dilution study are combined with Fe and Zn isotopic measurements to pinpoint metal loading sources and attenuation mechanisms in an alpine watershed impacted by acid mine drainage. In the tested mountain catchment, δ56Fe and δ66Zn isotopic signatures of filtered stream water samples varied by ∼3.5‰ and 0.4‰, respectively. The inherent differences i
Authors
D.M. Borrok, R. B. Wanty, Ridley W. Ian, P. J. Lamothe, B. A. Kimball, P. L. Verplanck, R.L. Runkel
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program, Colorado Water Science Center, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center

Naturally acidic surface and ground waters draining porphyry-related mineralized areas of the Southern Rocky Mountains, Colorado and New Mexico

Acidic, metal-rich waters produced by the oxidative weathering and resulting leaching of major and trace elements from pyritic rocks can adversely affect water quality in receiving streams and riparian ecosystems. Five study areas in the southern Rocky Mountains with naturally acidic waters associated with porphyry mineralization were studied to document variations in water chemistry and processes
Authors
P. L. Verplanck, D. Kirk Nordstrom, D. J. Bove, G.S. Plumlee, R.L. Runkel
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program

Understanding contaminants associated with mineral deposits

Interdisciplinary studies by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) have resulted in substantial progress in understanding the processes that controlthe release of metals and acidic water from inactive mines and mineralized areas,the transport of metals and acidic water to streams, andthe fate and effect of metals and acidity on downstream ecosystems.The potential environmental effects associated with
Authors
Philip L. Verplanck
By
Energy and Minerals Mission Area, Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Denver Microbeam Laboratory, Spectroscopy Lab

Metals fate and transport modelling in streams and watersheds: state of the science and USEPA workshop review

Metals pollution in surface waters from point and non-point sources (NPS) is a widespread problem in the United States and worldwide (Lofts et al., 2007; USEPA, 2007). In the western United States, metals associated with acid mine drainage (AMD) from hardrock mines in mountainous areas impact aquatic ecosystems and human health (USEPA, 1997a; Caruso and Ward, 1998; Church et al., 2007). Metals fat
Authors
B.S. Caruso, T.J. Cox, Robert L. Runkel, M.L. Velleux, Kenneth E. Bencala, D. Kirk Nordstrom, P.Y. Julien, B. A. Butler, Charles N. Alpers, A. Marion, Kathleen S. Smith
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program, Colorado Water Science Center

Environmental effects of historical mining in the Animas River watershed, southwestern Colorado

The U.S. Geological Survey has completed an extensive environmental study of the effects of historical mining on water and sediment quality and aquatic and riparian habitat in the Animas River watershed upstream from Silverton, Colorado. Results from this study are being used by Federal and State agencies and by the local watershed stakeholders group to implement remediation and cleanup activities
Authors
Stan E. Church
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Environmental Health Program, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center