Hydrogeochemical investigations of historic mining districts, central western slope of Colorado, including influence on surface-water quality
Data Series
73
By: J. Thomas Nash
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Abstract
This report describes reconnaissance hydrogeochemical investigations of 22 mining districts on the Western Slope of Colorado in the Gunnison and Uncompahgre National Forests and adjacent public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management. Sources and fates of contaminants from historic mines, mine waste, and mill tailings are interpreted from chemical analyses for 190 samples of surface waters; 185 samples of mined rocks, mill tailings, and altered rocks; and passive leach analyses of 116 samples of those mineralized materials. Short reaches of several headwater streams show relatively low level effects of historic mining; the headwaters of the Uncompahgre River are highly contaminated by mines and unmined altered rocks in the Red Mountain district. There is encouraging evidence that natural processes attenuate mine-related contamination in most districts.
Study Area
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Hydrogeochemical investigations of historic mining districts, central western slope of Colorado, including influence on surface-water quality |
| Series title | Data Series |
| Series number | 73 |
| DOI | 10.3133/ds73 |
| Edition | Version 1.0 |
| Year Published | 2002 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Contributing office(s) | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Description | xi, 168 p. |
| Time Range Start | 1997-06-01 |
| Time Range End | 1999-09-30 |
| Country | United States |
| State | Colorado |
| Online Only (Y/N) | N |
| Additional Online Files (Y/N) | Y |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |