Background hydrologic information in potential lignite mining areas in Mississippi, July 1982

A water-quality sampling program was initiated in 1980 to determine background hydrologic data in potential lignite mining areas of Mississippi. This report is the third in a planned five-part series to provide data to assess future impacts of mining on small streams. The data indicates that most streams in the study area have a dissolved-solids concentration less than 100 mg/. The major ion concentrations were generally less than 10 mg/. Concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and selenium in bottom material samples were below detectable limits. Cobalt, lead, zinc, copper, and chromium concentrations exceeded 10 micro-/g at all sites and maganese exceeded 1000 micro-/g at five sites. (USGS)