Charles N Alpers
Since 1991, as a Research Chemist with USGS, Dr. Alpers has led numerous water-quality investigations involving the environmental effects of historical mining.
This work has included research on acid mine drainage at the Iron Mountain Superfund site, including documentation of negative-pH water and associated sulfate minerals. Since 1999, he has been lead scientist for several multi-disciplinary studies regarding mercury contamination, transport, and bioaccumulation associated with historical gold mining in the Sierra Nevada and Coast Ranges of California. He is also investigating arsenic bioavailability and bioaccessibility in gold-mine waste at the Empire Mine in Grass Valley, California as part of a multi-disciplinary team involving USGS and non-USGS scientists.
The overarching theme of Dr. Alpers' research is the environmental geochemistry of metal contamination from historical mining. A secondary theme is the use of mineral deposits and areas contaminated by mining as laboratories for process-oriented research. His career has evolved from an emphasis on acid mine drainage (late 1980s to 2000) to an emphasis on mercury (since 2000) with growing interests in wetlands, arsenic, and lead.
Science and Products
Geochemical data for mercury, methylmercury, and other constituents in sediments from Englebright Lake, California, 2002
Mercury concentrations in fishes from select water bodies in Trinity County, California, 2000-2002
Geochemical characterization of water, sediment, and biota affected by mercury contamination and acidic drainage from historical gold mining, Greenhorn Creek, Nevada County, California, 1999-2001
Mercury contamination from historical gold mining in California
Characterization of waste rock associated with acid drainage at the Penn Mine, California, by ground-based visible to short-wave infrared reflectance spectroscopy assisted by digital mapping
Major and trace element composition of copiapite-group minerals and coexisting water from the Richmond mine, Iron Mountain, California
The composition of coexisting jarosite-group minerals and water from the Richmond mine, Iron Mountain, California
Total mercury concentrations in fillets of bluegill, redear sunfish, largemouth bass, and other fishes from Lake Natoma, Sacramento County, California
Conceptual model of sediment processes in the upper Yuba River watershed, Sierra Nevada, CA
Geochemistry of Mercury and other trace elements in fluvial tailings upstream of Daguerre Point Dam, Yuba River, California, August 2001
Mercury and Methylmercury concentrations and loads in Cache Creek Basin, California, January 2000 through May 2001
Summary and Synthesis of Mercury Studies in the Cache Creek Watershed, California, 2000-01
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Geochemical data for mercury, methylmercury, and other constituents in sediments from Englebright Lake, California, 2002
This report presents geochemical data from two 2002 sampling campaigns conducted in Englebright Lake on the Yuba River in northern California. A deep coring campaign was done in May-June 2002 and a shallow sampling campaign was completed in October 2002. This work assessed the chemical composition of material deposited in the reservoir between 1940, the year Englebright Dam was completed, and 2002AuthorsCharles N. Alpers, Michael P. Hunerlach, Mark C. Marvin-DePasquale, Ronald C. Antweiler, Brenda K. Lasorsa, John F. De Wild, Noah P. SnyderMercury concentrations in fishes from select water bodies in Trinity County, California, 2000-2002
No abstract available.AuthorsJason T. May, Roger L. Hothem, Charles N. AlpersGeochemical characterization of water, sediment, and biota affected by mercury contamination and acidic drainage from historical gold mining, Greenhorn Creek, Nevada County, California, 1999-2001
In 1999, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) initiated studies of mercury and methylmercury occurrence, transformation, and transport in the Bear River and Yuba River watersheds of the northwestern Sierra Nevada. Because these watersheds were affected by large-scale, historical gold extraction using mercury amalgamation beginning in the 1850s, they were selected for a pilot study of mercury transporAuthorsCharles N. Alpers, Michael P. Hunerlach, Jason T. May, Roger L. Hothem, Howard E. Taylor, Ronald C. Antweiler, John F. De Wild, David A. LawlerMercury contamination from historical gold mining in California
Mercury contamination from historical gold mines represents a potential risk to human health and the environment. This fact sheet provides background information on the use of mercury in historical gold mining and processing operations in California, with emphasis on historical hydraulic mining areas. It also describes results of recent USGS projects that address the potential risks associated witAuthorsCharles N. Alpers, Michael P. Hunerlach, Jason T. May, Roger L. HothemCharacterization of waste rock associated with acid drainage at the Penn Mine, California, by ground-based visible to short-wave infrared reflectance spectroscopy assisted by digital mapping
Prior to remediation at the abandoned Cu-Zn Penn Mine in the Foothills massive sulfide belt of the Sierra Nevada, CA, acid mine drainage (AMD) was created, in part, by the subaerial oxidation of sulfides exposed on several waste piles. To support remediation efforts, a mineralogical study of the waste piles was undertaken by acquiring reflectance spectra (measured in the visible to short-wave infrAuthorsS.I.C. Montero, G.H. Brimhall, Charles N. Alpers, G.A. SwayzeMajor and trace element composition of copiapite-group minerals and coexisting water from the Richmond mine, Iron Mountain, California
Copiapite-group minerals of the general formula AR4(SO4)6(OH)2·nH2O, where A is predominantly Mg, Fe2+, or 0.67Al3+, R is predominantly Fe3+, and n is typically 20, are among several secondary hydrous Fe sulfates occurring in the inactive mine workings of the massive sulfide deposit at Iron Mountain, CA, a USEPA Superfund site that produces extremely acidic drainage. Samples of copiapite-group minAuthorsH.E. Jamieson, C. Robinson, Charles N. Alpers, R. Blaine McCleskey, D. Kirk Nordstrom, Ronald C. PetersonThe composition of coexisting jarosite-group minerals and water from the Richmond mine, Iron Mountain, California
Jarosite-group minerals accumulate in the form of stalactites and fine-grained mud on massive pyrite in the D drift of the Richmond mine, Iron Mountain, California. Water samples were collected by placing beakers under the dripping stalactites and by extracting pore water from the mud using a centrifuge. The water is rich in Fe3+ and SO4 2−, with a pH of approximately 2.1, which is significantly hAuthorsHeather E. Jamieson, Clare Robinson, Charles N. Alpers, D. Kirk Nordstrom, Alexei Poustovetov, Heather A. LowersTotal mercury concentrations in fillets of bluegill, redear sunfish, largemouth bass, and other fishes from Lake Natoma, Sacramento County, California
This study was conducted during September-October 2002 to verify preliminary findings of elevated total mercury concentrations in skinless fillets of sportfishes inhabiting Lake Natoma. Although we measured total mercury concentrations, most mercury in fish flesh occurs in the methylated form. In August 2000, other investigators collected a small number of fish containing mercury concentrations thAuthorsM. K. Saiki, B.A. Martin, T.W. May, Charles N. AlpersConceptual model of sediment processes in the upper Yuba River watershed, Sierra Nevada, CA
This study examines the development of a conceptual model of sediment processes in the upper Yuba River watershed; and we hypothesize how components of the conceptual model may be spatially distributed using a geographical information system (GIS). The conceptual model illustrates key processes controlling sediment dynamics in the upper Yuba River watershed and was tested and revised using field mAuthorsJennifer A. Curtis, Lorraine E. Flint, Charles N. Alpers, S.M. YarnellGeochemistry of Mercury and other trace elements in fluvial tailings upstream of Daguerre Point Dam, Yuba River, California, August 2001
This study was designed to characterize the particle-size distribution and the concentrations of total mercury (HgT), methylmercury (MeHg), and other constituents in sediments trapped behind Daguerre Point Dam, a 28-foot-high structure on the lower Yuba River in California. The results of the study will assist other agencies in evaluating potential environmental impacts from mobilization of sedimeAuthorsMichael P. Hunerlach, Charles N. Alpers, Mark Marvin-DiPasquale, Howard E. Taylor, John F. DeWildMercury and Methylmercury concentrations and loads in Cache Creek Basin, California, January 2000 through May 2001
Concentrations and mass loads of total mercury and methylmercury in streams draining abandoned mercury mines and near geothermal discharge in Cache Creek Basin, California, were measured during a 17-month period from January 2000 through May 2001. Rainfall and runoff averages during the study period were lower than long-term averages. Mass loads of mercury and methylmercury from upstream sources tAuthorsJoseph L. Domagalski, Charles N. Alpers, Darrell G. Slotton, Thomas H. Suchanek, Shaun M. AyersSummary and Synthesis of Mercury Studies in the Cache Creek Watershed, California, 2000-01
This report summarizes the principal findings of the Cache Creek, California, components of a project funded by the CALFED Bay?Delta Program entitled 'An Assessment of Ecological and Human Health Impacts of Mercury in the Bay?Delta Watershed.' A companion report summarizes the key findings of other components of the project based in the San Francisco Bay and the Delta of the Sacramento and San JoaAuthorsJoseph L. Domagalski, Darell Slotton, Charles N. Alpers, Thomas H. Suchanek, Ronald Churchill, Nicolas Bloom, Shaun M. Ayers, John Clinkenbeard - News