Effect of minesoils on runoff water quality at the Big Horn Mine, Wyoming

Technical Report · Fri May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981

OSTI ID:6263001

Van Luik, A E

Surface runoff from minesoils at the Big Horn Mine, Wyoming, was analyzed to assess its impact on the Tongue River water quality. Equipment was placed at two reclaimed mine spoil (minesoil) sites and at an unmined area in order to collect runoff waters after significant precipitation events. The following differences were noted between the reclaimed spoil and the unmined soils: (a) the minesoils were generally deeper, and therefore contained more total soil moisture at the time of sampling; (b) the minesoils were generally higher in the very-coarse-sand particle-size fractions at all sampled depths, while some minesoils were higher in combined silt and clay fractions at the surface; (c) ultimate infiltration rates and 1-h cumulative infiltrations were significantly lower for the minesoils; and (d) water-soluble salts were higher in the minesoils as shown by concentration levels in 1:5 extracts and by runoff water analyses at the beginning of the study.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 6263001
• Report Number(s): ANL/LRP-13; ON: DE82001607
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
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COAL MINES
DATA
DENSITY
DISPERSIONS
DISSOLUTION
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
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