Contamination of Great Smoky Mountains trout streams by exposed anakeesta formations

Journal Article · Mon Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1979 · J. Environ. Qual.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq1979.00472425000800040019x· OSTI ID:5613465

Bacon, J R; Maas, R P

Anakeesta formations, prevalent geologic deposits in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP), when exposed to air and water release an acid and heavy metal containing leachate into several GSMNP streams, rendering them virtually lifeless. Anakeesta pyrite affecting Beech Flats Creek was exposed during the construction of US Highway 441, while exposures affecting Alum Cave Creek and Walker Prong are naturally occurring. The road cut on US 441 at Beech Flats Creek acts as point source of various contaminants. The acidity increases 100-fold (pH 6.7 to 4.7) in the several hundred meters where the stream flows through a road cut fill area. Manganese and zinc were the main metallic ions introduced at the road cut. The zinc increased from 6 to nearly 220 ppB and the manganese increased from an undetectable level to over 250 ppB. Seasonal variations below the road show a high concentration near 550 ppB in the summer to a low concentration near 100 ppB in the winter for both manganese and zinc. Both manganese and zinc showed the dilution effect expected going downstream away from the road cut. Alum Cave Creek and Walker Prong showed much lower levels of manganese and zinc and no point source could be located. The results of the present study should prove useful to National Park personnel in making management decisions. This is especially important in view of several proposed new roads in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

• Research Organization: Western Carolina Univ., Cullowhee, NC
• OSTI ID: 5613465
• Journal Information: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States) Vol. 8:4; ISSN JEVQA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520100* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CONTAMINATION
DATA FORMS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
IRON COMPOUNDS
IRON SULFIDES
LEAD
MANGANESE
METALS
MINERALS
MONITORING
NATURE RESERVES
NORTH AMERICA
NORTH CAROLINA
ORES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
POLLUTION
PYRITE
PYRITES
RESOURCES
SEDIMENTS
SOUTHEAST REGION
SULFATES
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR ORES
SURFACE WATERS
TABLES
TENNESSEE
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA
WATER POLLUTION
WATER QUALITY
ZINC