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U.S. Department of Energy
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Geochemical controls on trace element concentrations in natural waters of a proposed coal ash landfill site. Project completion report, 1 July 1974--31 December 1976

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5180190
The distributions of Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, As, and Se were studied in rocks, soils, stream sediments, and natural waters of a small upland drainage basin near a coal-fueled power plant being built in northeastern Kansas. Analyses of the total and dilute acid soluble fractions of rocks, soils, and stream sediments indicated that most trace metals are either concentrated in hydrous Mn and Fe oxides or left in clays after the weathering of the limestone and calcareous shale bedrock. Average exchangeable and chelateable concentrations of minor and trace metals ranged from <0.01% (for Cr) to 26% (for Mn) of the total amounts in soils and sediments. The dissolved trace metal concentrations in natural waters were well below recommended standards for drinking waters. The slightly acidic nature of rain and snow allowed higher dissolved metal concentrations than in the ground and surface waters.
Research Organization:
Kansas Water Resources Research Inst., Manhattan (USA)
OSTI ID:
5180190
Report Number(s):
PB-270429; CONTRIB-188
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English