Evaluation of Sulfidic Materials in Virginia Highway Corridors

Orndorff, Zenah W.; Daniels, W. Lee; Dias, Luiz Eduardo

doi:10.21000/jasmr02010645

Cited by 13 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 73 publications

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“…In an evaluation of sulfidic materials in Virginia highway corridors, Orndorff (2001) developed a statewide sulfide hazard rating map based on geology to assist in the pre-design phase of construction projects. In addition to water-quality threats, Orndorff discussed problems with fill stability, integrity of building materials, and vegetation management that occur with weathering of sulfidic rocks because of heaving and development of acidsulfate soils.…”

Section: Is Skytop Unique?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Acid-rock drainage at Skytop, Centre County, Pennsylvania, 2004

Hammarstrom¹,

Brady²,

Cravotta³

2005

Open-File Report

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Construction along Interstate Highway 99 during 2003 exposed sulfidic rock within a fresh roadcut on Bald Eagle Mountain at Skytop, near State College, in Centre County, central Pennsylvania. The cut exposed pyrite veins associated with an unmined, sandstone-hosted, zinc-lead deposit. Excavated rock was crushed and used locally as road base and fill. Within months, acidic (pH<3), metal-laden seeps and surface runoff from the crushed rock piles and roadcut raised concerns about surface-and groundwater contamination and prompted a halt in road construction and the beginning of costly remediation. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection expanded their site investigations and monitoring in response to the acid-drainage problem to determine the extent of the environmental effects at Skytop and to develop long-term remediation strategies. In addition, those agencies sought information on the source of the acid drainage and on the processes that led to the formation of acid-rock drainage at Skytop to assist them in selecting appropriate remediation for Skytop and in avoiding similar problems in other areas. A conference on "Principles of Acid Pollution Control Along Highways" was convened by the Department of Geosciences of the Pennsylvania State University and the ClearWater Conservancy in December of 2004 to facilitate information exchange between scientists, engineers, environmental professionals, and the public. The conference highlighted a number of ongoing topical studies (geology, structure, conditions of formation of the mineral deposit, nature of the acid drainage problem, potential treatments) that are underway at the Pennsylvania State University and at Juniata College, as well as presentations on general principles of weathering, acid generation, and methods of prevention and treatment. Results of USGS studies on mineralogical controls on acid-rock drainage at Skytop were summarized at the conference and are presented in this report, along with other data for rock and water samples collected during site visits between May and September of 2004. This research was conducted as part of ongoing USGS studies of the geoenvironmental behavior of mineral deposits, the characterization of mine drainage, and modeling of near-surface processes. Cover photo Aerial view of the Skytop cut on January 6, 2005 looking north. Existing Route 322 in foreground. Future I99 roadbed runs along the base of the cut. Black plastic covers one of several areas of pyritic fill as a stopgap measure to minimize water infiltration. Photograph by Keith Brady.

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Section: Is Skytop Unique?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Acid-rock drainage at Skytop, Centre County, Pennsylvania, 2004

Hammarstrom¹,

Brady²,

Cravotta³

2005

Open-File Report

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“…Thus, pyrite in the Devonian black shale present in these watersheds may be a source of As and other trace elements in stream sediment. Orndorff (2001) found pyrite in various forms in Devonian black shale (Marcellus and Millboro) exposed by roadcuts in counties immediately south and west of the study area, but As concentrations were not analyzed. Sediment concentrations of As in the current study were generally higher than concentrations in streams flowing over Mississippian Fayetteville black shale (1.6-6.2 μg/g; Ogendi et al 2007) but were much lower than concentrations in streams affected by weathering of Devonian New Albany black shale (38-98 μg/g; Tuttle et al 2009).…”

Section: Sedimentmentioning

confidence: 89%

Using watershed characteristics, sediment, and tissue of resident mollusks to identify potential sources of trace elements to streams in a complex agricultural landscape

Ciparis

Schreiber

Voshell

2011

Environ Monit Assess

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Trace elements used in animal feed additives can be introduced to aquatic environments through application of manures from animal feeding operations to agricultural land as fertilizer. The use of poultry feed additives containing arsenic (As) is of particular concern in the Shenandoah River watershed (Virginia, USA), an agricultural landscape with a high density of poultry operations. This study investigated the relationship between watershed characteristics of Shenandoah River tributaries and trace element concentrations in streambed sediment and tissue of resident mollusks, including: Asian clams (Corbicula fluminea), which are commonly used biomonitors, and pleurocerid snails (Leptoxis carinata), which are generally understudied. Results failed to support the primary hypothesis of a predictive relationship between watershed densities of poultry operations and As concentrations in sediment and mollusk tissue. However, there were statistical relationships between land use in tributary watersheds and other trace elements in sediment (Cu, Mn, Pb, Zn) and tissue (Cd, Hg, Pb). Principal components analysis of the sediment data suggested a possible geologic source of As at some sites. Tissue concentrations of As were significantly higher in snails than in clams, but clams accumulated higher concentrations of other trace elements (Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb, Se). Snails may be useful biomonitors of environmental As, but appear to be less suitable than clams for studies of landscape sources of other trace elements.

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“…2007b). Runoff and leachate from ASSs can adversely affect aquatic communities, agricultural, engineering works and beneficial use of the environment (Orndorff and Daniels 2002). The ASSs generate H 2 SO 4 that brings their pH from 6–7 to below 4, and sometimes to as low as 2.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reclamation of a Badarkhali hot spot of acid sulfate soil in relation to rice production by basic slag and aggregate size treatments under modified plain–ridge–ditch techniques

Khan

Kabir

Bhuiyan

et al. 2008

Soil Science and Plant Nutrition

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A field experiment was conducted for the reclamation of a Badarkhali hot spot of acid sulfate soil manipulated by flash leaching followed by basic slag (BS) at 10 t ha−1 (BS10) and 20 t ha−1 (BS20) and aggregate sizes (A) of soil less than 20 mm (A20) and less than 30 mm (A30) treatments under two different techniques (Tech 1: pyrite layer at top, jarosite layer at middle and topsoil at the bottom of the ridge; Tech 2: topsoil at top, pyrite layer at middle and jarosite layer at the bottom of the ridge). Responses to two cultivars of rice (Pizam [local cultivar] and BR 14 [high yielding cultivar]) with the treatments were evaluated. The initial soil had a very low pH(H2O) 4.0 and a high electrical conductivity (EC) of 1.4 m S−1, and the pyrite content was 68 g kg−1. The exchangeable Mg content of the soil was approximately twice that of Ca and the Al content was at a highly toxic level. The average soil data of all the treatments, except for the control plots (where no amendment was applied), after harvesting of rice increased by 1.1 units for soil pH and 17–524% for the contents of N, P, Ca and Mg, while the concentrations of Fe, Al, Na, Cl− and SO42– decreased by 30–94% compared with the initial soil. The maximum growth and yield of rice grains (4.4 t ha−1) were obtained by the Pizam compared with the BR 14 (4.0 t ha−1) in the A20BS20 treatment in the ridges of Tech 2. The lowest grain yields of 0.02 (BR 14) and 0.07 t ha−1 (Pizam) were recorded for the control plots. The other treatments also resulted in significantly (P ≤ 0.05) improved performance on rice production. The highest N, P, K, Ca and Mg contents in the shoots of BR 14 and Pizam rice were obtained under the A20BS20 treatment followed by the A20BS10 ≥ A30BS20 treatments. Application of A20BS20 under Tech 2 is the most appropriate reclamation option and the local Pizam is the most suitable rice for this soil.

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Evaluation of Sulfidic Materials in Virginia Highway Corridors

Cited by 13 publications

References 73 publications

Acid-rock drainage at Skytop, Centre County, Pennsylvania, 2004

Acid-rock drainage at Skytop, Centre County, Pennsylvania, 2004

Using watershed characteristics, sediment, and tissue of resident mollusks to identify potential sources of trace elements to streams in a complex agricultural landscape

Reclamation of a Badarkhali hot spot of acid sulfate soil in relation to rice production by basic slag and aggregate size treatments under modified plain–ridge–ditch techniques

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