Geochemical investigation of UMTRAP designated site at Shiprock, New Mexico
This is one in a series of site specific geochemical investigations performed on the inactive uranium mill tailings included in the Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action (UMTRA) Project. The objectives of the investigation are to characterize the geochemistry, to determine the contaminant distribution resulting from the former milling activities and tailings, and to infer chemical pathways and transport mechanisms from the contaminant distribution. The results will be used to model contaminant migration and to develop criteria for long-term containment media such as a cover system which is impermeable to contaminant migration. This report assumes a familiarity with the hydrologic conditions of the site and the geochemical concepts underlying the investigation. The results reported are based on a sampling of waters and solid material from the background, the area adjacent to the site, and the site. The solid samples are water extracted to remove easily soluble salts and acid extracted to remove carbonates and hydroxides. The waters, water extracts, and solid samples were analyzed for the major and trace elements. The report includes the methods of sampling, sample processing, analysis, and data interpretation. Major conclusions are: (1) no contamination of the San Juan River; (2) traces of tailings at the base of the bluff below the tailings; (3) surface contamination of uranium, vanadium, and associated trace metals in the drainage from the former ore storage area and in the flood plain below the upper tailings; (4) salts and associated trace metals migrate to the surface of the tailings; and (5) acid has penetrated the soils below the tailings, however, the trace metals have precipitated at the tailings/soil interface. 32 refs., 20 figs., 6 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Geochemistry and Environmental Chemistry Research, Inc., Rapid City, SD (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-82AL18797
- OSTI ID:
- 6513544
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/UMT-0233; GECR-825; ON: DE85014476
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Data for the geochemical investigation of UMTRAP designated site at Mexican Hat, Utah
Geochemical investigation of UMTRAP designated site at Durango, Colorado
Related Subjects
Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
520300 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
58 GEOSCIENCES
580400* -- Geochemistry-- (-1989)
ABANDONED SITES
ACTINIDES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMISTRY
CONTAMINATION
DATA
DATA ANALYSIS
ELEMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FEDERAL REGION VI
FEED MATERIALS PLANTS
GEOCHEMISTRY
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROLOGY
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INFORMATION
METALS
MILL TAILINGS
NEW MEXICO
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUMERICAL DATA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
RADIOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS
REMEDIAL ACTION
SAMPLING
SOILS
SOLID WASTES
TAILINGS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
URANIUM
USA
VANADIUM
WASTES
WATER