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Analytical Results for 42 Fluvial Tailings Cores and 7 Stream Sediment Samples from High Ore Creek, Northern Jefferson County, Montana

Open-File Report 98-215
By:  and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr98215

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  • More information: USGS Index Page
  • Document: Report (716 KB pdf)
  • Tables:
    • Table 1 (75.5 KB xlsx) - Total digestion data for major and trace elements for fluvial tailings cores taken from High Ore Creek below Comet Mine, Boulder River Watershed, Montana
    • Table 2 (41.5 KB xlsx) -Total digestion data for major and trace elements for fluvial tailings cores taken from High Ore Creek below Comet Mine, Boulder River Watershed, Montana
    • Table 3 (24 KB xlsx) - Total digestion data for major and trace elements for stream-sediment samples taken from High Ore Creek below Comet Mine, Boulder River Watershed, Montana
    • Table 4 (24 KB xlsx) - Partial-digestion data following 2M HCL-1%H2O2 leach for major and trace elements for stream-sediment samples taken from High Ore Creek below Comet Mine, Boulder River Watershed,
    • Table 5 (24.5 KB xlsx) - Total digestion data from residues following the 2M HCl -1%H2O2 extraction from stream-sediment samples, High Ore Creek, Montana
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Abstract

Metal-mining related wastes in the Boulder River basin study area in northern Jefferson County, Montana have been implicated in their detrimental effects on water quality with regard to acid-generation and toxic-metal solubility. Sediments, fluvial tailings and water from High Ore Creek have been identified as significant contributors to water quality degradation of the Boulder River below Basin, Montana. A study of 42 fluvial tailings cores and 7 stream sediments from High Ore Creek was undertaken to determine the concentrations of environmentally sensitive elements (i.e. Ag, As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) present in these materials, and the mineral phases containing those elements. Two sites of fluvial deposition of mine-waste contaminated sediment on upper High Ore Creek were sampled using a one-inch soil probe. Forty-two core samples were taken producing 247 subsamples. The samples were analyzed by ICP-AES (inductively coupled-plasma atomic emission spectroscopy) using a total mixed-acid digestion. Results of the core analyses show that the elements described above are present at very high concentrations (to 22,000 ppm As, to 460 ppm Ag, to 900 ppm Cd, 4,300 ppm Cu, 46,000ppm Pb, and 50,000 ppm Zn). Seven stream-sediment samples were also analyzed by ICP-AES for total element content and for leachable element content. Results show that the sediment of High Ore Creek has elevated levels of ore-related metals throughout its length, down to the confluence with the Boulder River, and that the metals are, to a significant degree, contained in the leachable phase, namely the hydrous amorphous iron- and manganese-hydroxide coatings on detrital sediment particles.

Suggested Citation

Fey, D.L., and Church S.E., 1998, Analytical results for 42 fluvial tailings cores and 7 stream sediment samples from High Ore Creek, northern Jefferson County, Montana: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 1998–0215, 49 p., https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/ofr98215.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Methods of Study
  • Site Descriptions
  • Discussion of Results
  • Summary and Conclusions
  • References Cited
  • Discussion of Results in Tables A1 Through A6
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Analytical results for forty-two fluvial tailings cores and seven stream sediment samples from High Ore Creek, northern Jefferson County, Montana
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 98-215
DOI 10.3133/ofr98215
Year Published 1998
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Abandoned Mine Lands Initiative, Central Mineral and Environmental Resources Science Center, Toxic Substances Hydrology Program
Description Report: iii, 49 p.; 5 Tables
Country United States
State Montana
County Jefferson County
Other Geospatial Boulder River Watershed, High Ore Creek
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details