Figure 2. Topographic map of study area showing erosional scars (yellow), debris fans (light blue... more Figure 2. Topographic map of study area showing erosional scars (yellow), debris fans (light blue), ore bodies (red), and the Molycorp Questa mine (black dashed line).
Gold, mercury, and other metals have been mined in the Salmon River Mountains of Idaho, USA, sinc... more Gold, mercury, and other metals have been mined in the Salmon River Mountains of Idaho, USA, since the early 1900s. The effects of historical mining were assessed using synoptic studies of biogeochemical and fisheries metrics in Sugar Creek and Monumental Creek watersheds. The Cinnabar mine site is at the headwaters of Cinnabar Creek, a tributary to Sugar Creek. Extraction and on-site processing of cinnabar and metacinnabar bearing rock through the 1970s left groundwater-flooded workings and a footprint of tailings. Mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As) were co-contaminants to downstream food webs. Concentrations of 257 ng Hg L-1 and 20.6 µg As L-1 were measured in unfiltered stream water collected approximately 4 km downstream from the Cinnabar mine site. Seston and periphyton acted as reactive biofilms where Hg was methylated. Total Hg accumulated in seston, aquatic insect larvae, adult aquatic insects, riparian spiders, and fish, at much higher concentrations (1.3 to 11.3-fold) with isotopically distinct Hg in downstream sites compared with background. Methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations in bull trout and riparian spiders (732 to 918 and 347 to 1,140 ng MeHg g-1 dry weight, respectively) were at levels concerning for consumption by humans and wildlife. The diversity of benthic insect communities was locally depressed by 12 to 20% immediately downstream of mining inputs with an absence of metal-sensitive sculpin. Monumental Creek, with historical gold mining and a geological Hg background, had Hg concentrations 2 to 3 orders of magnitude lower than in Cinnabar Creek, with eDNA confirming the presence of bull trout and sculpin in all sites. This further shows that the Cinnabar mine site has a magnified impact in the downstream ecosystem of Sugar Creek. Legacy mining activity can have ecologically important effects on downstream communities, including reduced biodiversity and increased mercury exposure of higher order consumers, including fish, birds, and humans.
This is a geochemical data set from the re-analysis of 44 rock samples collected between 1966 and... more This is a geochemical data set from the re-analysis of 44 rock samples collected between 1966 and 1970, and 107 sediment samples collected in 1966 and 1967. These samples were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey for a study investigating the mineral resources of the Idaho Primitive Area (Cater et al., 1973). The samples are from the Lower Middle Fork of the Salmon River, including the tributaries of Big Creek, Camas Creek, Brush Creek, Wilson Creek, Waterfall Creek, Ship Island Creek, Reese Creek, Stoddard Creek, and Papoose Creek. The overall objective of this study is to characterize the regional impact of legacy mining for the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area. Mary P. Rossillon (1981) explored the history of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River drainage basin, including mining. In 1864 placer gold was found on Loon Creek a tributary of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River and in 1869 considerable placer deposits were discovered at Yellowjacket Creek, a tributary ...
2021 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium IGARSS, 2021
Imaging spectroscopy (hyperspectral imaging) data have mainly been used to map surface materials ... more Imaging spectroscopy (hyperspectral imaging) data have mainly been used to map surface materials covering relatively small areas from airborne sensors over the past 20+ years. As part of the U.S. Geological Survey Integrated hyperspectral, geophysical and geochemical studies of Yellowstone National Park hydrothermal systems project, we have collected multiscale imaging spectrometer data including borehole core, field, and airborne data. These data give us the unique opportunity to map subsurface and surface alteration of shallow epithermal systems at scales ranging from microns to meters per pixel. Airborne Visible and Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS), Corescan HCI-3, HySpex VNIR-1800 and SWIR-384 imaging spectrometers, and a Riegl VZ-2000i terrestrial lidar system were used in this study. Maps utilizing spectral analysis of multiscale hyperspectral data indicate the presence of mineral assemblages consistent with epithermal deposits. Minerals such as alunite, hydrated silica, and kaolinite typically form in steam-heated cap systems and can be found in core and AVIRIS data. At depth, higher temperature fluids that are less acidic produce mixed-layer kaolinite with clay/muscovite and then montmorillonite and muscovite towards the bottom of the borehole. This transition can be seen in AVIRIS and field data at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and in borehole Corescan data at Y-12 Norris-Ii R874. Instrument specifications, collection parameters, and setup for data acquisition will be discussed as well as mapping software and preliminary results.
Data in this data release were obtained for water samples collected under Yellowstone National Pa... more Data in this data release were obtained for water samples collected under Yellowstone National Park Research Permit YELL-05194 in 2017 through the Integrated Yellowstone Studies Project funded by the Mineral Resources Program. Isotope-spiked incubations were carried out to determine methylation and demethylation potential for Frying Pan spring, Crystal Sister East, Crystal Sister West, and Turbulent Pool, which were selected based on existing data on total mercury and methylmercury concentrations (see companion data release (https://doi.org/10.5066/P9IUY03O). The data represent the experimental conditions of incubation experiments (temperature, time, and experimental spikes) and concentration data associated with each condition.
Water and sediment samples were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U... more Water and sediment samples were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at or near baseflow conditions from 2015-2017 in the East Fork South Fork Salmon River watershed near Yellow Pine, Valley County, Idaho. Soil, rock and tailings samples were collected in June 2015. Sampling focused on Cinnabar Creek, which flows through the Cinnabar mine site, and Sugar Creek, with additional sites selected to place the data into a larger watershed context. Grab samples were taken of the snowpack in January 2017. The water, soil, sediment, and rock samples were as described and the results are presented as separate water and solid data sets.
Wildfires burning in watersheds that have been mined and since revegetated pose unique risks to d... more Wildfires burning in watersheds that have been mined and since revegetated pose unique risks to downstream water supplies. A wildfire near Boulder, Colorado, that burned a forested watershed recovering from mining disturbance that occurred 80-160 years ago allowed us to 1) assess arsenic and metal contamination in streams draining the burned area for a five-year period after the wildfire and 2) determine the fire-affected hydrologic drivers that convey arsenic and metals to surface water. Most metal concentrations were low in the circumneutral waters draining the burned area. Water and sediment collected from streams downstream of the burned area had elevated arsenic concentrations during and after post-fire storms. Mining-related deposits were the main source of arsenic to streams. An increased proportion of overland flow relative to infiltration after the fire mobilized arsenic- and metal-rich surface deposits, along with wildfire ash and soil, into streams within and downstream of the burned area. The deposition of this material into stream channels resulted in the remobilization of arsenic for the five-year post-fire study period. It is also possible that enhanced subsurface flow after the fire increased contact of water with arsenic-bearing minerals exposed in underground mine workings. Other studies have reported that wildfire ash can be an important source of arsenic and metals to surface waters, but wildfire ash was not a major source of arsenic in this study. Predicted increases in frequency, size, and intensity of wildfires in the western U.S., a region with widely dispersed historical mines, suggest that the intersection of legacy mining and post-wildfire hydrologic response poses an increasing risk for water supplies.
Soil microbial communities control critical ecosystem processes such as decomposition, nutrient c... more Soil microbial communities control critical ecosystem processes such as decomposition, nutrient cycling, and soil organic matter formation. Continental scale patterns in the composition and functioning of microbial communities are related to climatic, biotic, and edaphic factors such as temperature and precipitation, plant community composition, and soil carbon, nitrogen, and pH. Although these relationships have been well explored individually, the examination of the factors that may act directly on microbial communities versus those that may act indirectly through other ecosystem properties has not been well developed. To further such understanding, we utilized structural equation modeling (SEM) to evaluate a set of hypotheses about the direct and indirect effects of climatic, biotic, and edaphic variables on microbial communities across the continental United States. The primary goals of this work were to test our current understanding of the interactions among climate, soils, an...
Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 2010
The Gibbon River in Yellowstone National Park receives inflows from several geothermal areas, and... more The Gibbon River in Yellowstone National Park receives inflows from several geothermal areas, and consequently the concentrations of many trace elements are elevated compared to rivers in non-geothermal watersheds. Water samples and discharge measurements were obtained from the Gibbon River and its major tributaries near Norris Geyser Basin under the low-flow conditions of September 2006 allowing for the identification of solute sources and their downstream fate. Norris Geyser Basin, and in particular Tantalus Creek, is the largest source of many trace elements (Al, As, B, Ba, Br, Cs, Hg, Li, Sb, Tl, W, and REEs) to the Gibbon River. The Chocolate Pots area is a major source of Fe and Mn, and the lower Gibbon River near Terrace Spring is the major source of Be and Mo. Some of the elevated trace elements are aquatic health concerns (As, Sb, and Hg) and knowing their fate is important. Most solutes in the Gibbon River, including As and Sb, behave conservatively or are minimally attenuated over 29 km of fluvial transport. Some small attenuation of Al, Fe, Hg, and REEs occurs but primarily there is a transformation from the dissolved state to suspended particles, with most of these elements still being transported to the Madison River. Dissolved Hg and REEs loads decrease where the particulate Fe increases, suggesting sorption onto suspended particulate material. Attenuation from the water column is substantial for Mn, with little formation of Mn as suspended particulates.
The Cinnabar and Fern mine sites in central Idaho are primary source areas for elevated mercury a... more The Cinnabar and Fern mine sites in central Idaho are primary source areas for elevated mercury and arsenic entering the South Fork of the Salmon River, which provides critical spawning habitat for bull trout and Chinook salmon. Mercury mineralization is hosted by carbonate rocks, which generate waters dominated by Ca 2+ and HCO 3 at pH 7 to 9. A synoptic sampling was conducted on headwater tributaries to determine geologic background concentrations and quantify trace metal concentrations in stream water associated with historical mining. Geologic background concentrations in unfiltered Cinnabar Creek water were 8-14 ng Hg L-1 and 4.8-9.5 µg As L-1. Immediately downstream from the mine site, concentrations increased to 257 ng Hg L-1 and 20.6 µg As L-1. Groundwater inflow diluted these concentrations by approximately half before the confluence of Cinnabar Creek with Sugar Creek. As expected, mercury and arsenic concentrations increased downstream in Sugar Creek below the confluence with Cinnabar Creek. However, the final downstream reach on Sugar Creek showed an increase in unfiltered mercury, methylmercury, and iron concentrations relative to the upstream reach. This increase is associated with historical mining activity in a mineralized area of carbonate rock that intersects the reach.
ABSTRACT Salinization is a global threat to the quality of streams and rivers, but it can have ma... more ABSTRACT Salinization is a global threat to the quality of streams and rivers, but it can have many causes. Oil and gas development were investigated as one of several potential causes of changes in the salinity of Muddy Creek, which drains 2470 km 2 of mostly public land in Wyoming, U.S.A. Stream discharge and salinity vary with seasonal snowmelt and define a primary salinity–discharge relationship. Salinity, measured by specific conductance, increased substantially in 2009 and was 53–71% higher at low discharge and 33–34% higher at high discharge for the years 2009–2012 compared to 2005–2008. Short-term processes (e.g., flushing of efflorescent salts) cause within-year deviations from the primary relation but do not obscure the overall increase in salinity. Dissolved elements associated with increased salinity include calcium , magnesium, and sulfate, a composition that points to native soil salts derived from marine shales as a likely source. Potential causes of the salinity increase were evaluated for consistency by using measured patterns in stream chemistry, slope of the salinity–discharge relationship, and inter-annual timing of the salinity increase. Potential causes that were inconsistent with one or more of those criteria included effects from precipitation, evapotranspiration, reservoirs, grazing, irrigation return flow, groundwater discharge, discharge of energy co-produced waters, and stream habitat restoration. In contrast, surface disturbance of naturally salt-rich soil by oil and gas development activities, such as pipeline, road, and well pad construction, is a reasonable candidate for explaining the salinity increase. As development continues to expand in semiarid lands worldwide, the potential for soil disturbance to increase stream sali-nity should be considered, particularly where soils host substantial quantities of native salts. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Figure 2. Topographic map of study area showing erosional scars (yellow), debris fans (light blue... more Figure 2. Topographic map of study area showing erosional scars (yellow), debris fans (light blue), ore bodies (red), and the Molycorp Questa mine (black dashed line).
Gold, mercury, and other metals have been mined in the Salmon River Mountains of Idaho, USA, sinc... more Gold, mercury, and other metals have been mined in the Salmon River Mountains of Idaho, USA, since the early 1900s. The effects of historical mining were assessed using synoptic studies of biogeochemical and fisheries metrics in Sugar Creek and Monumental Creek watersheds. The Cinnabar mine site is at the headwaters of Cinnabar Creek, a tributary to Sugar Creek. Extraction and on-site processing of cinnabar and metacinnabar bearing rock through the 1970s left groundwater-flooded workings and a footprint of tailings. Mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As) were co-contaminants to downstream food webs. Concentrations of 257 ng Hg L-1 and 20.6 µg As L-1 were measured in unfiltered stream water collected approximately 4 km downstream from the Cinnabar mine site. Seston and periphyton acted as reactive biofilms where Hg was methylated. Total Hg accumulated in seston, aquatic insect larvae, adult aquatic insects, riparian spiders, and fish, at much higher concentrations (1.3 to 11.3-fold) with isotopically distinct Hg in downstream sites compared with background. Methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations in bull trout and riparian spiders (732 to 918 and 347 to 1,140 ng MeHg g-1 dry weight, respectively) were at levels concerning for consumption by humans and wildlife. The diversity of benthic insect communities was locally depressed by 12 to 20% immediately downstream of mining inputs with an absence of metal-sensitive sculpin. Monumental Creek, with historical gold mining and a geological Hg background, had Hg concentrations 2 to 3 orders of magnitude lower than in Cinnabar Creek, with eDNA confirming the presence of bull trout and sculpin in all sites. This further shows that the Cinnabar mine site has a magnified impact in the downstream ecosystem of Sugar Creek. Legacy mining activity can have ecologically important effects on downstream communities, including reduced biodiversity and increased mercury exposure of higher order consumers, including fish, birds, and humans.
This is a geochemical data set from the re-analysis of 44 rock samples collected between 1966 and... more This is a geochemical data set from the re-analysis of 44 rock samples collected between 1966 and 1970, and 107 sediment samples collected in 1966 and 1967. These samples were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey for a study investigating the mineral resources of the Idaho Primitive Area (Cater et al., 1973). The samples are from the Lower Middle Fork of the Salmon River, including the tributaries of Big Creek, Camas Creek, Brush Creek, Wilson Creek, Waterfall Creek, Ship Island Creek, Reese Creek, Stoddard Creek, and Papoose Creek. The overall objective of this study is to characterize the regional impact of legacy mining for the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area. Mary P. Rossillon (1981) explored the history of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River drainage basin, including mining. In 1864 placer gold was found on Loon Creek a tributary of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River and in 1869 considerable placer deposits were discovered at Yellowjacket Creek, a tributary ...
2021 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium IGARSS, 2021
Imaging spectroscopy (hyperspectral imaging) data have mainly been used to map surface materials ... more Imaging spectroscopy (hyperspectral imaging) data have mainly been used to map surface materials covering relatively small areas from airborne sensors over the past 20+ years. As part of the U.S. Geological Survey Integrated hyperspectral, geophysical and geochemical studies of Yellowstone National Park hydrothermal systems project, we have collected multiscale imaging spectrometer data including borehole core, field, and airborne data. These data give us the unique opportunity to map subsurface and surface alteration of shallow epithermal systems at scales ranging from microns to meters per pixel. Airborne Visible and Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS), Corescan HCI-3, HySpex VNIR-1800 and SWIR-384 imaging spectrometers, and a Riegl VZ-2000i terrestrial lidar system were used in this study. Maps utilizing spectral analysis of multiscale hyperspectral data indicate the presence of mineral assemblages consistent with epithermal deposits. Minerals such as alunite, hydrated silica, and kaolinite typically form in steam-heated cap systems and can be found in core and AVIRIS data. At depth, higher temperature fluids that are less acidic produce mixed-layer kaolinite with clay/muscovite and then montmorillonite and muscovite towards the bottom of the borehole. This transition can be seen in AVIRIS and field data at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and in borehole Corescan data at Y-12 Norris-Ii R874. Instrument specifications, collection parameters, and setup for data acquisition will be discussed as well as mapping software and preliminary results.
Data in this data release were obtained for water samples collected under Yellowstone National Pa... more Data in this data release were obtained for water samples collected under Yellowstone National Park Research Permit YELL-05194 in 2017 through the Integrated Yellowstone Studies Project funded by the Mineral Resources Program. Isotope-spiked incubations were carried out to determine methylation and demethylation potential for Frying Pan spring, Crystal Sister East, Crystal Sister West, and Turbulent Pool, which were selected based on existing data on total mercury and methylmercury concentrations (see companion data release (https://doi.org/10.5066/P9IUY03O). The data represent the experimental conditions of incubation experiments (temperature, time, and experimental spikes) and concentration data associated with each condition.
Water and sediment samples were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U... more Water and sediment samples were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at or near baseflow conditions from 2015-2017 in the East Fork South Fork Salmon River watershed near Yellow Pine, Valley County, Idaho. Soil, rock and tailings samples were collected in June 2015. Sampling focused on Cinnabar Creek, which flows through the Cinnabar mine site, and Sugar Creek, with additional sites selected to place the data into a larger watershed context. Grab samples were taken of the snowpack in January 2017. The water, soil, sediment, and rock samples were as described and the results are presented as separate water and solid data sets.
Wildfires burning in watersheds that have been mined and since revegetated pose unique risks to d... more Wildfires burning in watersheds that have been mined and since revegetated pose unique risks to downstream water supplies. A wildfire near Boulder, Colorado, that burned a forested watershed recovering from mining disturbance that occurred 80-160 years ago allowed us to 1) assess arsenic and metal contamination in streams draining the burned area for a five-year period after the wildfire and 2) determine the fire-affected hydrologic drivers that convey arsenic and metals to surface water. Most metal concentrations were low in the circumneutral waters draining the burned area. Water and sediment collected from streams downstream of the burned area had elevated arsenic concentrations during and after post-fire storms. Mining-related deposits were the main source of arsenic to streams. An increased proportion of overland flow relative to infiltration after the fire mobilized arsenic- and metal-rich surface deposits, along with wildfire ash and soil, into streams within and downstream of the burned area. The deposition of this material into stream channels resulted in the remobilization of arsenic for the five-year post-fire study period. It is also possible that enhanced subsurface flow after the fire increased contact of water with arsenic-bearing minerals exposed in underground mine workings. Other studies have reported that wildfire ash can be an important source of arsenic and metals to surface waters, but wildfire ash was not a major source of arsenic in this study. Predicted increases in frequency, size, and intensity of wildfires in the western U.S., a region with widely dispersed historical mines, suggest that the intersection of legacy mining and post-wildfire hydrologic response poses an increasing risk for water supplies.
Soil microbial communities control critical ecosystem processes such as decomposition, nutrient c... more Soil microbial communities control critical ecosystem processes such as decomposition, nutrient cycling, and soil organic matter formation. Continental scale patterns in the composition and functioning of microbial communities are related to climatic, biotic, and edaphic factors such as temperature and precipitation, plant community composition, and soil carbon, nitrogen, and pH. Although these relationships have been well explored individually, the examination of the factors that may act directly on microbial communities versus those that may act indirectly through other ecosystem properties has not been well developed. To further such understanding, we utilized structural equation modeling (SEM) to evaluate a set of hypotheses about the direct and indirect effects of climatic, biotic, and edaphic variables on microbial communities across the continental United States. The primary goals of this work were to test our current understanding of the interactions among climate, soils, an...
Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 2010
The Gibbon River in Yellowstone National Park receives inflows from several geothermal areas, and... more The Gibbon River in Yellowstone National Park receives inflows from several geothermal areas, and consequently the concentrations of many trace elements are elevated compared to rivers in non-geothermal watersheds. Water samples and discharge measurements were obtained from the Gibbon River and its major tributaries near Norris Geyser Basin under the low-flow conditions of September 2006 allowing for the identification of solute sources and their downstream fate. Norris Geyser Basin, and in particular Tantalus Creek, is the largest source of many trace elements (Al, As, B, Ba, Br, Cs, Hg, Li, Sb, Tl, W, and REEs) to the Gibbon River. The Chocolate Pots area is a major source of Fe and Mn, and the lower Gibbon River near Terrace Spring is the major source of Be and Mo. Some of the elevated trace elements are aquatic health concerns (As, Sb, and Hg) and knowing their fate is important. Most solutes in the Gibbon River, including As and Sb, behave conservatively or are minimally attenuated over 29 km of fluvial transport. Some small attenuation of Al, Fe, Hg, and REEs occurs but primarily there is a transformation from the dissolved state to suspended particles, with most of these elements still being transported to the Madison River. Dissolved Hg and REEs loads decrease where the particulate Fe increases, suggesting sorption onto suspended particulate material. Attenuation from the water column is substantial for Mn, with little formation of Mn as suspended particulates.
The Cinnabar and Fern mine sites in central Idaho are primary source areas for elevated mercury a... more The Cinnabar and Fern mine sites in central Idaho are primary source areas for elevated mercury and arsenic entering the South Fork of the Salmon River, which provides critical spawning habitat for bull trout and Chinook salmon. Mercury mineralization is hosted by carbonate rocks, which generate waters dominated by Ca 2+ and HCO 3 at pH 7 to 9. A synoptic sampling was conducted on headwater tributaries to determine geologic background concentrations and quantify trace metal concentrations in stream water associated with historical mining. Geologic background concentrations in unfiltered Cinnabar Creek water were 8-14 ng Hg L-1 and 4.8-9.5 µg As L-1. Immediately downstream from the mine site, concentrations increased to 257 ng Hg L-1 and 20.6 µg As L-1. Groundwater inflow diluted these concentrations by approximately half before the confluence of Cinnabar Creek with Sugar Creek. As expected, mercury and arsenic concentrations increased downstream in Sugar Creek below the confluence with Cinnabar Creek. However, the final downstream reach on Sugar Creek showed an increase in unfiltered mercury, methylmercury, and iron concentrations relative to the upstream reach. This increase is associated with historical mining activity in a mineralized area of carbonate rock that intersects the reach.
ABSTRACT Salinization is a global threat to the quality of streams and rivers, but it can have ma... more ABSTRACT Salinization is a global threat to the quality of streams and rivers, but it can have many causes. Oil and gas development were investigated as one of several potential causes of changes in the salinity of Muddy Creek, which drains 2470 km 2 of mostly public land in Wyoming, U.S.A. Stream discharge and salinity vary with seasonal snowmelt and define a primary salinity–discharge relationship. Salinity, measured by specific conductance, increased substantially in 2009 and was 53–71% higher at low discharge and 33–34% higher at high discharge for the years 2009–2012 compared to 2005–2008. Short-term processes (e.g., flushing of efflorescent salts) cause within-year deviations from the primary relation but do not obscure the overall increase in salinity. Dissolved elements associated with increased salinity include calcium , magnesium, and sulfate, a composition that points to native soil salts derived from marine shales as a likely source. Potential causes of the salinity increase were evaluated for consistency by using measured patterns in stream chemistry, slope of the salinity–discharge relationship, and inter-annual timing of the salinity increase. Potential causes that were inconsistent with one or more of those criteria included effects from precipitation, evapotranspiration, reservoirs, grazing, irrigation return flow, groundwater discharge, discharge of energy co-produced waters, and stream habitat restoration. In contrast, surface disturbance of naturally salt-rich soil by oil and gas development activities, such as pipeline, road, and well pad construction, is a reasonable candidate for explaining the salinity increase. As development continues to expand in semiarid lands worldwide, the potential for soil disturbance to increase stream sali-nity should be considered, particularly where soils host substantial quantities of native salts. Published by Elsevier B.V.
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