Ground-water-quality data from the Powder River structural basin and adjacent areas, northeastern Wyoming

Larson, L.R.; Daddow, Richard L.

doi:10.3133/ofr83939

Cited by 5 publications

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“…3). Similar analyses of water from the Wasatch Formation indicated dissolved-solids concentrations ranging from about 150 mg/L to as much as 8,200 mg/L (Larson, 1984;Larson and Daddow, 1984). Water from the Wasatch Formation also is a sodium bicarbonate or a sodium sulfate type (Hodson and others, 1973, pi.…”

Section: Aquifer Yields and Water Qualitymentioning

confidence: 93%

“…The chemical quality of water from the shallow aquifers in the basin also is variable. Chemical analyses of water from the Fort Union Formation indicated dissolved-solids concentrations ranging from about 250 mg/L to about 5,600 mg/L (Larson, 1984;Larson and Daddow, 1984). The water is mostly a sodium bicarbonate and, to a lesser extent, a sodium sulfate type (Hodson and others, 1973, pi.…”

Section: Aquifer Yields and Water Qualitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The quality of water in most alluvial aquifers also is variable, with dissolved-solids concentrations ranging from about 250 mg/L to about 6,600 mg/L (Larson, 1984;Larson and Daddow, 1984). Water in the alluvium in the southwest part of the basin and in the Powder River valley generally is more mineralized than water in the alluvium in other parts of the basin; water in the alluvium near the Bighorn Mountains and the Black Hills generally is less mineralized than water in the alluvium elsewhere in the basin (Hodson and others, 1973, pi.…”

Section: Aquifer Yields and Water Qualitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At present (1986), acid mine drainage is not a problem in the Powder River structural basin. The pH of ground water in the basin ranges from about 6.5 to 9.0 in samples from wells completed in undisturbed aquifers (Larson and Daddow, 1984) and from about 6.0 to 8.0 in samples from wells completed in spoil aquifers (Gillette Area Groundwater Monitoring Organization, 1985). Except for selenium, trace elements naturally occurring in the sediments are only sparingly soluble at the ranges of pH generally occurring in the ground water; therefore, trace elements are not a problem at present (1986).…”

Section: Long-term Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Geohydrology and potential effects of coal mining in 12 coal-lease areas, Powder River structural basin, northeastern Wyoming

Fogg¹,

Martin²,

Daddow³

1991

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The geohydrology of 12 coal-lease areas in the Powder River structural basin is described in relation to the mining proposed for each area. The description of the hydrology includes identification of recharge and discharge areas, directions of groundwater movement, and possible effects of mining. Understanding the groundwater hydrology of the 12 coal-lease areas will improve the understanding of the shallow groundwater system in the basin. The Paleocene Fort Union Formation, Eocene Wasatch Formation, and Quaternary alluvium comprise most of the surface geology of the Powder River structural basin. The most productive aquifers in the shallow groundwater system are alluvial deposits, sandstone beds, and fractured coal beds. Well yields range from less than 10 gallons per minute in many parts of the basin up to 1,000 gallons per minute from clean, coarse-grained material along some of the rivers. Water in the northern part of the basin tends to be more mineralized than water in the southern part of the basin. Median dissolved-solids concentrations for water from wells in Campbell County (northern part of the basin) was more than 1,200 milligrams per liter compared to a median value of about 400 milligrams per liter for water from wells in Converse County (southern part of the basin). The aquifers that would be affected by mining include alluvium and water-yielding coals and sandstones in the Wasatch and Fort Union Formations. Water-level declines in coal aquifers generally will extend less than ^ or 5 miles from the mines, and water-level declines in overburden sandstone aquifers generally will extend less than 2 or 3 miles from the mines. Mining of lease areas that contain extensive outcrops of permeable clinker will decrease recharge to the local groundwater flow systems. Mining of lease areas in or near locations of groundwater discharge may decrease discharge to nearby streams, springs, and flowing wells. Mining also will destroy the wells in the coal-lease areas and may affect water levels in nearby wells outside the lease areas. Mining also will affect the quality of ground water available in the lease areas. Concentrations of dissolved solids in water from spoil aquifers generally are two to three times greater than in water from undisturbed coal aquifers. Large concentrations of dissolved solids (greater than 5,000 milligrams per liter) or dissolved sulfate (greater than 3,000 milligrams per liter) or both in spoil water occasionally may render the water unsuitable for livestock watering. Water suitable for domestic use generally is available only in the southern part of the basin, and mining of lease areas in this part of the basin likely will leave spoil water unsuitable for domestic use. Excessive nitrate (greater than 100 milligrams per liter) and selenium (greater than 0.10 milligram per liter) concentrations, such as those measured in spoil water at one existing mine, could render spoil water unsuitable for livestock or domestic use.

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Section: Aquifer Yields and Water Qualitymentioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Aquifer Yields and Water Qualitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Aquifer Yields and Water Qualitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Long-term Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Geohydrology and potential effects of coal mining in 12 coal-lease areas, Powder River structural basin, northeastern Wyoming

Fogg¹,

Martin²,

Daddow³

1991

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“…A few of the principal reports about results of the Northern Great Plains study are still in preparation (1983). Selected reports of results to date are: Lobmeyer (1980), Levings (198la, 1981b), Levings and others (1981), Downey (1982aDowney ( , 1982b, Larson and Daddow (1984), and Lenfest (1984).…”

Section: Algae Are Indicators Of Water Qualitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrology of area 50, Northern Great Plains and Rocky Mountain coal provinces, Wyoming and Montana

Lowry¹,

Wilson²

1983

Open-File Report

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Area 50 includes the entire Powder River Basin and the upstream parts of the Belle Fourche and Cheyenne River basins a total of 20,676 square miles. The information in this report will be useful to Federal agencies in leasing and management of Federal coal lands, to surfacemine owners, operators and others preparing permit applications, and to regulatory authorities. The report represents a summary of the results to date of the waterresources investigations of the U.S. Geological Survey, conducted in cooperation with State and other Federal agencies. Groundwater data water levels, well yields, and water quality are available for about 3,000 wells in Area 50. Water levels in 800 wells completed in the Wyodak-Anderson coal were collected during 1981 by mining companies and others, resulting in a compilation of water-level data for the coal and overburden in the mine areas of Campbell County, Wyoming. Groundwater supplies suitable for stock and domestic use can be developed from wells less than 500 feet deep in most of the area. Deeper wells generally are needed to obtain larger yields. The Madison Limestone usually is considered where large supplies are sought; however, because the permeability of the formation is principally secondary, large-yield wells are not always obtained. Recharge to aquifers occurs mainly in the outcrop areas near their southern, western, and eastern extents. Small quantities of water flow northward out of the area through the Madison and Lower Cretaceous aquifers. Movement in the coal aquifers is complex. Eighty-four percent of the wells and springs sampled yield water with dissolved-solids concentrations greater than the recommended national secondary drinking-water standard of 500 milligrams per liter. Nearly all sources sampled, however, yield water suitable for livestock. Manganese and iron concentrations in water from some aquifers are large enough to be objectionable for domestic supplies because of taste and staining problems. The chemical quality of the ground water is controlled by the solubility of the minerals that comprise the rocks, the reactions that occur as water moves through the rocks, the water temperature and pH, and the length of time during which the water is in contact with the rocks. This report represents a summary of the results of water-resources investigations to date in northeastern Wyoming and southeastern Montana. The U.S. Geological Survey has collected hydrologic data and made interpretive hydrologic studies in the area for decades. Much of the work has been done in cooperation with State and other Federal agenciesparticularly the Wyoming State Engineer, Wyoming

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Groundwater Geochemical Variation and Controls in Coal Seams and Overlying Strata in the Shennan Mining Area, Shaanxi, China

et al. 2022

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Ground-water-quality data from the Powder River structural basin and adjacent areas, northeastern Wyoming

Cited by 5 publications

References 0 publications

Geohydrology and potential effects of coal mining in 12 coal-lease areas, Powder River structural basin, northeastern Wyoming

Geohydrology and potential effects of coal mining in 12 coal-lease areas, Powder River structural basin, northeastern Wyoming

Hydrology of area 50, Northern Great Plains and Rocky Mountain coal provinces, Wyoming and Montana

Groundwater Geochemical Variation and Controls in Coal Seams and Overlying Strata in the Shennan Mining Area, Shaanxi, China

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