Water quality impacts from mining in the Black Hills, South Dakota, USA

Journal Article · Wed Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 1996 · Environmental Geology and Water Sciences

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s002540050026· OSTI ID:387342

Rahn, P H; Davis, A D; Webb, C J ^[1]; Nichols, A D ^[2]

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1. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, SD (United States)
2. Versar, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN (United States)

The focus of this research was to determine if abandoned mines constitute a major environmental hazard in the Black Hills. Many abandoned gold mines in the Black Hills contribute acid and heavy metals to streams. In some areas of sulfide mineralization local impacts are severe, but in most areas the impacts are small because most ore deposits consist of small quartz veins with few sulfides. Pegmatite mines appear to have negligible effects on water due to the insoluble nature of pegmatite minerals. Uranium mines in the southern Black Hills contribute some radioactivity to surface water, but he impact is limited because of the dry climate and lack of runoff in that area. 26 refs.

• OSTI ID: 387342
• Journal Information: Environmental Geology and Water Sciences, Journal Name: Environmental Geology and Water Sciences Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 27; ISSN EGWSEI; ISSN 0177-5146
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CONTAMINATION
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
MINING
SOUTH DAKOTA
SURFACE WATERS
URANIUM MINES