Reclamation of Smelter-Damaged Lands

Winterhalder, Keith

doi:10.2134/agronmonogr41.c33

Cited by 6 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 54 publications

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“…Groundwater in the upper mine workings should not experience such strong temperature increases from the geothermal gradient because of the atmospheric influence on mine air from the multitude of portals and adits that were created during the 100+ years of mining-240 km of tunnels and 9.6 km of inclined shafts, raises, and winzes [19]. Although, an area on the 5 Level in the pyritic zone was used as a greenhouse because of continuously warm and humid conditions [58]. Mine water that is relatively cold (e.g., 5WM in Figure 8) likely reflects the entrance of more direct snowmelt to flowpaths that feed these sites, while warmer mine water (e.g., 5GH2 in Figure 8) likely reflects warmer source waters-longer overland flowpaths and/or pyrite oxidation/geothermal warming.…”

Section: Source Waters and Mine Water Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Isotope Discrimination of Source Waters, Flowpaths, and Travel Times at an Acid-Generating, Lead–Zinc–Silver Mine, Silver Valley, Idaho, USA

Langman,

Gaddy,

Link

et al. 2023

Water

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Precipitation infiltrates into the lead–zinc–silver Bunker Hill Mine, oxidizes pyrite, and produces acidic waters that discharge from the mine portal. The metasedimentary geology and alteration from 100+ yr of mining provide a heterogeneous environment for source water infiltration and flow within the mine. A university–industry partnership was developed to trace the mine water sources, flowpaths, and travel times to identify potential areas for infiltration reduction. Snowpack, creek, and mine water samples were collected over a 1-year period for the analysis of δ2H, δ18O, and 3H, along with the in situ measurement of temperature, specific conductance, pH, dissolved oxygen, and flow. The isotope tracers were used to identify the source waters, unmix mine water as it moved deeper in the mine, and examine flowpaths in and near the acid-generating pyritic zone. The results indicate creek water infiltrating relatively quickly through the anthropogenically-modified pathways and causing the largest amount of acidic water in the upper levels of the mine. Slower, natural pathways associated with faults, fractures, and bedding planes produce mostly neutral waters with the source waters typically originating at higher elevations. Travel times ranged from <1 to 22 years with shorter pathways to the upper levels of the mine and increasing contributions deeper in the mine from pathways containing older, higher-elevation snowmelt. These slower and older inflows were identified by depleted δ18O values, smaller 3H concentrations, the dampening of the variability of the isotope signals, and pH increases. Reduction of infiltration zones near the upper workings of the mine likely will decrease the acidic waters in the upper levels of the mine, but the higher elevation infiltration zones will continue to contribute snowmelt-derived waters at all mine levels.

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Section: Source Waters and Mine Water Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Isotope Discrimination of Source Waters, Flowpaths, and Travel Times at an Acid-Generating, Lead–Zinc–Silver Mine, Silver Valley, Idaho, USA

Langman,

Gaddy,

Link

et al. 2023

Water

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Industrial barrens: extreme habitats created by non-ferrous metallurgy

Kozlov

Zvereva

2006

Rev Environ Sci Biotechnol

108

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Industrial barrens are bleak open landscapes evolved due to deposition of airborne pollutants, with only small patches of vegetation surrounded by bare land. These extreme environments appeared as a by-product of human activities about a century ago. The comparative analysis of information available from 36 industrial barrens worldwide allowed to identify factors and conditions that are necessary and sufficient for the appearance of these specific habitats. Vast majority of industrial barrens is associated with non-ferrous smelters, located predominantly in mountainous or hilly landscapes. Development of industrial barrens starts from gradual decline of vegetation due to severe pollution impact accompanied by other human-induced disturbances (primarily clearcutting) and is usually concluded by a fire, facilitated by accumulation of woody debris. Since vegetation recovery is hampered by soil toxicity caused by extreme contamination by heavy metals, soils remain bare and suffer from erosion enhanced by altered microclimate. In spite of general reduction in biodiversity, industrial barrens still support a variety of life, including regionally rare and endangered species, as well as populations that evolved specific adaptations to the harsh and toxic environment. Recently, most industrial barrens show some signs of natural recovery due to emission decline or closure of responsible polluters; some of barren sites have been or are being successfully revegetated. The remaining industrial barrens offer unique opportunities for conducting 'basic' ecological research, in particular for testing some general theories in an evolutionary novel stressful environment; some of barren habitats deserve conservation for scientific and educational purposes.

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Suitability of European Aspen (Populus tremula) for Rehabilitation of Severely Polluted Areas

Kozlov

Zverev

2022

Russ J Ecol

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Reclamation of Smelter-Damaged Lands

Cited by 6 publications

References 54 publications

Isotope Discrimination of Source Waters, Flowpaths, and Travel Times at an Acid-Generating, Lead–Zinc–Silver Mine, Silver Valley, Idaho, USA

Isotope Discrimination of Source Waters, Flowpaths, and Travel Times at an Acid-Generating, Lead–Zinc–Silver Mine, Silver Valley, Idaho, USA

Industrial barrens: extreme habitats created by non-ferrous metallurgy

Suitability of European Aspen (Populus tremula) for Rehabilitation of Severely Polluted Areas

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