Hydrogeochemistry of the vadose zone in unmined and reclaimed deposits at Big Brown Lignite Mine, East Texas

Book · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:5243174

Dutton, A R

Six sampling stations in the vadose zone - one in unmined mud, three in unmined sand, and two in reclaimed mud deposits - were operated from August 1979 to May 1981. The extent of seasonal variation in vadose-water content and in water chemical composition was studied by repeated sampling in each facies. Lithology, vadose-zone hydrology, and hydrochemistry were investigated by thin-section petrography, exchangeable-cation analysis, neutron-moisture geophysical logging, and water sampling using suction lysimeters. The author states that hydrogeochemistry of the vadose zone appears to be controlled by recharge rate, mineralogy, and history of each site. He concludes that low-permeability argillaceous deposits in the Calvert Bluff Formation most likely function as confining beds that retard vadose-water flow from reclaimed land to juxtaposed aquifiers, thus limiting the impact of mining on ground-water quality.

• OSTI ID: 5243174
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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58 GEOSCIENCES
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BROWN COAL
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMISTRY
COAL
COAL MINES
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FEDERAL REGION VI
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOCHEMISTRY
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROLOGY
LIGNITE
LITHOLOGY
LYSIMETERS
MATERIALS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MINES
MINING
NEUTRON LOGGING
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROGRAPHY
RADIOACTIVITY LOGGING
ROCKS
SAMPLING
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SURFACE MINING
TEXAS
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
USA
VARIATIONS
WATER
WATER CHEMISTRY
WELL LOGGING