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Distribution of selected transition and heavy metals in clastic overburden units of the Appalachian and Interior Coal Basins: water quality implications

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5933900
;
As part of a study to investigate possible sources of transition and heavy metals transported in coal mine drainage, overburden lithologies from 18 surface mines in the Appalachian and Interior Basins were sampled and analyzed for total chemistry. The mines were widely scattered geographically so that samples could be obtained of as many representative lithologies as possible. Overburden units were predominantly Pennsylvanian basin margin clastics, with some Pennsylvanian carbonates and Pleistocene sediments in the Interior Basin. Based on lithologic descriptions, relative percentages of silicon and aluminum, and gross mineralogy from semiquantitative x-ray diffraction, the average metals concentrations for overburden units were developed for two major lithologic groups: (1) quartz-rich units, including sandstones, siltstones, and silts; and (2) clay-rich units, including shales, claystones, clays and tills. Comparing the regional averages for this study with published averages for the coals of the two regions, the highest average concentrations of most metals occurred in the fine-grained (clay-rich) units of the two regions; exceptions were chromium, strontium, and lead in Interior Basin quartz-rich units; and zinc and sulfur in Interior Basin coals. Manganese concentrations were elevated in the quartz-rich units of both regions. In general, the Interior Basin quartz-rich units and coals contained high average concentrations of iron and sulfur; however, substantial quantities of neutralizers (reflected in high average calcium content and high neutralization potential) were also present in the Interior Basin clastics.
Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-31109-ENG-38
OSTI ID:
5933900
Report Number(s):
CONF-7905124-1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
012000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Mining
ACID MINE DRAINAGE
CADMIUM
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
CHROMIUM
COAL MINES
COBALT
COPPER
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
IRON
IRON COMPOUNDS
IRON SULFIDES
LEAD
LITHOLOGY
MANGANESE
METALS
MINERALS
MINES
MONITORING
NICKEL
ORES
OVERBURDEN
OXIDATION
PH VALUE
POLLUTION
PYRITE
PYRITES
SAMPLING
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR ORES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WATER POLLUTION
WATER QUALITY
ZINC