Assessment of water resources in lead-zinc mined areas in Cherokee County, Kansas, and adjacent areas
A study was conducted to evaluate water resources problems related to abandoned lead and zinc mines in Cherokee County, Kansas, and adjacent areas in Missouri and Oklahoma. Past mining activities have caused changes in the geohydrology of the area. Discharge of mine-contaminated groundwater to Tar Creek occurs in Oklahoma from drill holes and shafts where the potentiometric surface of the shallow aquifer is above the land surface. Pumping of the deep aquifer has resulted in a potential for downward movement of water from the shallow aquifer. Water from mines in the eastern area contained dissolved solids concentrations of < 500 mg/L a median pH of 3.9, sulfate concentrations that ranged between 98 and 290 mg/L, and median concentrations for zinc of 37,600 micrograms/L (ug/L) for lead of 240 ug/L, for cadmium of 180 ug/L, for iron of 70 ug/L, for manganese of 240 ug/L, and for silica of 15 mg/L. Water from mines in the western area contained dissolved solids concentrations of generally > 500 mg/L, a median pH of 6.8, sulfate concentrations that ranged between 170 and 2,150 mg/L, and median concentrations for zinc of 3,200 ug/L for lead of 0 ug/L. No conclusive evidence of lateral migration of water from the mines into domestic well water supplies in the shallow aquifer was found in the study area in Kansas. Effects of abandoned lead and zinc mines on tributaries of the Spring River in the eastern area are most severe in Short Creek. Drainage from tailings cause large concentrations of sulfate, zinc, and cadmium in Tar Creek in Kansas. Compared with four other major streams in the western area in Kansas, Tar Creek contained the largest low flow concentrations of sulfate (910 mg/L), zinc (5,800 ug/L), and cadmium (40 ug/L). 45 refs., 23 figs., 26 tabs.
- OSTI ID:
- 5764510
- Resource Relation:
- Related Information: USGS Water-Supply Paper 2268
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
GROUND WATER
CONTAMINATION
KANSAS
WATER POLLUTION
MISSOURI
OKLAHOMA
ABANDONED SHAFTS
CADMIUM
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
IRON
LEAD
MANGANESE
MONITORING
SILICA
STREAMS
SULFATES
ZINC
CHALCOGENIDES
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION VI
FEDERAL REGION VII
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MASS TRANSFER
METALS
MINE SHAFTS
MINERALS
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
SHAFT EXCAVATIONS
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SURFACE WATERS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA
WATER
540320* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)