Metal cycling along the northwestern Seward Peninsula, Alaska: A possible natural cause of metal contamination in the arctic: A section in Geologic studies in Alaska by the U.S. Geological Survey, 1997
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Abstract
The northwestern Seward Peninsula was targeted for detailed geochemical study after evaluation of data collected during the NURE reconnaissance-level program indicated anomalously high arsenic (60-635 ppm) concentrations in stream sediments. The arsenic is associated with tin skarn, greisen, and replacement deposits in the western Seward Peninsula. Surficial sampling of waters and sediments indicate that arsenic is being transported detritally but that solution transport is insignificant. Our new data indicate that sediments downstream from these tin occurrences are characterized by anomalous values of As (85- 530 ppm) and Sn (14-36 ppm), as well as consistent anomalies of Ag, Be, Cu, Sb, and W. Stream sediments collected from drainages underlain by slate, but distal to the exposed tin occurrences, are characterized by background levels of As ( 10-60 ppm), Li (16-80 ppm), Sn (5-14 ppm), and W (5-10 ppm). These background levels for As and Sn are much higher than concentrations in typical slates and suggest a broad, weak hydrothermal alteration during mineral-deposit formation in much of the study area. A consistent pattern of Ca>>Mg>Na>K and generally alkaline pH (7 .2-8.2) characterize waters throughout the study area. Dissolved sulfate concentrations range from 10 to 40 ppm for waters draining slates and from 3 to 20 ppm for water draining carbonates. The waters collected in areas of known tin occurrences in the Potato Mountain area are characterized by increased dissolved sulfate (43-75 ppm) and are generally acidic (pH 4.7-6.5), but most trace metals are at or below detection limits. Dissolved arsenic concentrations in the areas of known tin occurrences are at or below 2 ppb. Our data suggest that detrital arsenic and tin from mineral occurrences may be naturally entering the nearshore marine environment.
Study Area
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Metal cycling along the northwestern Seward Peninsula, Alaska: A possible natural cause of metal contamination in the arctic: A section in Geologic studies in Alaska by the U.S. Geological Survey, 1997 |
| Series title | Professional Paper |
| Series number | 1614 |
| DOI | 10.3133/70180433 |
| Year Published | 1999 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Publisher location | Denver, CO |
| Contributing office(s) | Alaska Science Center, Central Mineral and Environmental Resources Science Center |
| Description | 15 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Report |
| Larger Work Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Larger Work Title | Geologic studies in Alaska by the U.S. Geological Survey, 1997 (Professional Paper 1614) |
| First page | 123 |
| Last page | 137 |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Other Geospatial | Seward Peninsula |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |