Questa baseline and pre-mining ground-water quality investigation. 2. Low-flow (2001) and snowmelt (2002) synoptic/tracer water chemistry for the Red River, New Mexico

Abstract

Water analyses are reported for 259 samples collected from the Red River, New Mexico, and its tributaries during low-flow (2001) and spring snowmelt (2002) tracer studies. Water samples were collected along a 20-kilometer reach of the Red River beginning just east of the town of Red River and ending at the U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging station located east of Questa, New Mexico. The study area was divided into three sections where separate injections and synoptic sampling events were performed during the low-flow tracer study. During the spring snowmelt tracer study, three tracer injections and synoptic sampling events were performed bracketing the areas with the greatest metal loading into the Red River as determined from the low-flow tracer study. The lowflow tracer synoptic sampling events were August 17, 20, and 24, 2001. The synoptic sampling events for the spring snowmelt tracer were March 30, 31, and April 1, 2002. Stream and large inflow water samples were sampled using equal-width and depth-integrated sampling methods and composited into half-gallon bottles. Grab water samples were collected from smaller inflows. Stream temperatures were measured at the time of sample collection. Samples were transported to a nearby central processing location where pH and specific conductance were measured and the samples processed for chemical analyses. Cations, trace metals, iron redox species, and fluoride were analyzed at the U.S. Geological Survey laboratory in Boulder, Colorado. Cations and trace metal concentrations were determined using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Arsenic concentrations were determined using hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry, iron redox species were measured using ultraviolet-visible spectrometry, and fluoride concentrations were determined using an ion-selective electrode. Alkalinity was measured by automated titration, and sulfate, chloride, and bromide were analyzed by ion chromatography at the U.S. Geological Survey laboratory in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Electrical Conductivity of Electrolytes Found In Natural Waters from (5 to 90) °C

“…To ensure that the electrical conductivity data reported in this study encompass a large range of natural waters, a water quality database with nearly 1800 water samples including acid mine waters, geothermal waters, seawater, dilute mountain waters, and river water impacted by municipal wastewater was compiled, and the range of electrical conductivity, pH, temperature, and the maximum solute molality were determined (Table ). The majority of the water quality data can be found in a series of reports on Yellowstone National Park, − the Questa Baseline and Pre-Mining Ground Water Quality investigation, − the Boulder Creek Watershed, and the Leviathan Mine drainage basin . Additional, unpublished water quality data generated by our laboratory for samples from Summitville Mine, CO, Upper Animas River, CO, and San Diego Bay, CA, are included in the database.…”

What was the groundwater quality before mining in a mineralized region? Lessons from the Questa project

“…Hydrologic studies for this project include compilations of historical surface-and ground-water quality data Maest et al, 2004); synoptic/tracer studies with mass loading and other water-quality trends of the Red River (McCleskey et al, 2003;Kimball, et al, 2006); reactiontransport modeling of the Red River (Ball et al, 2005); hydrology and water balance for the Red River Valley (Naus and McAda, 2006); ground-water geochemistry of selected wells undisturbed by mining in the Red River Valley Nordstrom et al, 2005); and quality assurance and quality control of water analyses (McCleskey et al, 2004). A listing of Questa baseline and pre-mining ground-water quality reports is online (Questa, 2005).…”

Mineral Solubility and Weathering Rate Constraints on Metal Concentrations in Ground Waters of Mineralized Areas Near Questa, New Mexico1

“…Caine, USGS, written communication, 2005); depth to bedrock measurements (Powers and Burton, 2004), leaching studies of scars and waste-rock piles (K. Smith, USGS, written communication, 2005); mineralogy and mineral chemistry and its potential effect on ground-water quality (Plumlee et al, 2005); environmental geology and debris-flow hazards of the Red River Valley (Ludington et al, 2004); lake sediment chemistry (Church et al, 2005); and geomorphology and its effect on ground-water flow (K. Vincent, USGS, written communication, 2005). Hydrologic studies for this project include compilations of historical surface-and ground-water quality data (LoVetere et al, 2004;; synoptic/tracer studies with mass loading and other water-quality trends of the Red River (McCleskey et al, 2003;B. Kimball, K. Nordstrom, R. Runkel, K. Vincent, and P. Verplanck, USGS, written communication, 2005); reaction-transport modeling of the Red River (Ball et al, 2005); hydrology and water balance for the Red River Valley (C. Naus and D. McAda, USGS, written communication, 2005); ground-water geochemistry of selected wells undisturbed by mining in the Red River Valley (Naus et al, 2005;Nordstrom et al, 2005); and quality assurance and quality control of water analyses (McCleskey et al, 2004).…”