| Abstract: | From 1967 until 1986, uranium mine dewatering increased dissolved gross alpha, gross beta, uranium and radium activities and dissolved selenium and molybdenum concentrations in the Puerco River as indicated by time trends, areal patterns involving distance from the mines and stream discharge. Additionally, increased dissolved uranium concentrations were identified in groundwater. Total mass of uranium and gross alpha activity released to the Puerco River by mine dewatering were estimated as 560 Mg(560 ?? 106 g) and 260 Ci, respectively. In comparison, a uranium mill tailings pond spill on 16 July 1979, released an estimated 1.5 Mg of uranium and 46 Ci of gross alpha activity. Mass balance calculations for alluvial groundwater indicate that most of the uranium released did not remain in solution. Sorption of uranium on sediments and uptake of uranium by plants probably removed the uranium from solution. -from Authors |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 70017107 |
| Citation Author: | Van Metre, P. C.; Gray, J. R. |
| Citation Contributing Office: | |
| Citation Datum: | |
| Citation Day: | |
| Citation Edition: | |
| Citation Editor: | |
| Citation End Page: | 480 |
| Citation Issue: | 5 |
| Citation Keywords: | |
| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Hydrological Sciences Journal/Journal des Sciences Hydrologiques |
| Citation LatN: | |
| Citation LatS: | |
| Citation LonE: | |
| Citation LonW: | |
| Citation Month: | |
| Citation No Pagination: | |
| Citation Number Of Pages: | 18 |
| Citation Online Only Flag: | |
| Citation Phsyical Description: | |
| Citation Projection: | |
| Citation Public Comments: | |
| Citation Publisher: | |
| Citation Series: | |
| Citation Series Code: | |
| Citation Series Number: | |
| Citation Search Results Text: | Effects of uranium mining discharges on water quality in the Puerco River basin, Arizona and New Mexico; 1992; Article; Journal; Hydrological Sciences Journal/Journal des Sciences Hydrologiques; Van Metre, P. C.; Gray, J. R. |
| Citation Start Page: | 463 |
| Citation Volume: | 37 |
| Citation Year: | 1992 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Effects of uranium mining discharges on water quality in the Puerco River basin, Arizona and New Mexico; 1992; Article; Journal; Hydrological Sciences Journal/Journal des Sciences Hydrologiques; Van Metre, P. C.; Gray, J. R. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| Date Other: | Wed, 1 Jan 1992 00:00 -0600 |
| Publisher: | |
