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Author Ketellapper, V.L.; Williams, L.O.; Bell, R.S.; Cramer, M.H.
Title The control of acid mine drainage at the Summitville Mine Superfund Site Type Book Chapter
Year 1996 Publication Proceedings of the Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Environmental and Engineering Problems (SAGEEP), vol.1996 Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 303-311
Keywords acid mine drainage Colorado Del Norte Colorado gold ores metal ores mines mining mining geology open-pit mining pollutants pollution remediation Rio Grande County Colorado Summitville Mine Superfund sites surface mining United States water quality 22, Environmental geology
Abstract The Summitville Mine Superfund Site is located about 25 miles south of Del Norte, Colorado, in Rio Grande County. Occurring at an average elevation of 11,500 feet in the San Juan Mountain Range, the mine site is located two miles east of the Continental Divide. Mining at Summitville has occurred since 1870. The mine was most recently operated by Summitville Consolidated Mining Company, Inc. (SCMCI) as an open pit gold mine with extraction by means of a cyanide leaching process. In December of 1992, SCMCI declared bankruptcy and vacated the mine site. At that time, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took over operations of the water treatment facilities to prevent a catastrophic release of cyanide and metal-laden water from the mine site. Due to high operational costs of water treatment (approximately $50,000 per day), EPA established a goal to minimize active water treatment by reducing or eliminating acid mine drainage (AMD). All of the sources of AMD generation on the mine site were evaluated and prioritized. Of the twelve areas identified as sources of AMD, the Cropsy Waste Pile, the Summitville Dam Impoundment, the Beaver Mud Dump, the Reynolds and Chandler adits, and the Mine Pits were consider to be the most significant contributors to the generation of metal-laden acidic (low pH) water. A two part plan was developed to control AMD from the most significant sources. The first part was initiated immediately to control AMD being released from the Site. This part focused on improving the efficiency of the water treatment facilities and controlling the AMD discharges from the mine drainage adits. The discharges from the adits was accomplished by plugging the Reynolds and Chandler adits. The second part of the plan was aimed at reducing the AMD generated in groundwater and surface water runoff from the mine wastes. A lined and capped repository located in the mine pits for acid generating mining waste and water treatment plant sludge was found to be the most feasible alternative. Beginning in 1993, mining wastes which were the most significant sources of AMD were being excavated and placed in the Mine Pits. In November 1995, all of the waste from these sources had been excavated and placed in the the Mine Pits. This paper discusses EPA's overall approach to stabilize on-site sources sufficiently such that aquatic, agricultural, and drinking water uses in the Alamosa watershed are restored and/or maintained with minimal water treatment.
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Notes The control of acid mine drainage at the Summitville Mine Superfund Site; GeoRef; English; 2002-027195; Symposium on the Application of geophysics to engineering and environmental problems, Keystone, CO, United States, April 28-May 2, 1996 References: 11; illus. incl. geol. sketch map Approved no
Call Number CBU @ c.wolke @ 16654 Serial 334
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Author King, T.V.V.
Title Environmental considerations of active and abandoned mine lands: lessons from Summitville, Colorado Type Journal Article
Year 1995 Publication US Geological Survey Bulletin Abbreviated Journal
Volume 2220 Issue 38 Pages
Keywords acid mine drainage mining environmental effect remediation environmental assessment USA Colorado Summitville 1 Geography
Abstract Extreme acid-rock drainage is the dominant long-term environmental concern at the Summitville mine and could have been predicted given the geological characteristics of the deposit. Extensive remedial efforts are required to isolate both unweathered sulfides and soluble metal salts in the open-pit area and mine-waste piles from weathering and dissolution. Results of studies as of late 1993 indicate that mining at Summitville has had no discernible short-term adverse effects on barley or alfalfa crops irrigated with Alamosa River water. Remediation of the site will help to ensure that no adverse effects occur over the longer term. -from Editor
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Notes Environmental considerations of active and abandoned mine lands: lessons from Summitville, Colorado; (1119406); 95j-11521; Using Smart Source Parsing pp; Geobase Approved no
Call Number CBU @ c.wolke @ 17561 Serial 332
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Author Mosher, J.
Title Heavy-metal sludges as smelter feedstock Type Journal Article
Year 1994 Publication Engineering and Mining Journal Abbreviated Journal
Volume 195 Issue 9 Pages 25-30
Keywords Metals Mining Groundwater Pollution USA Colorado California Gulch 3 Geology
Abstract Many industries produce a waste-water stream high in heavy metals. Disposal of sludge from these wastewater treatment plants has become increasingly difficult and expensive in the US due to passage of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act's 'land disposal ban' for hazardous wastes. Innovative methods can be found for dealing with such wastes. For example, in performing a mandated clean-up under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), Asarco's California Gulch water-treatment plant in Colorado meets CERCLA clean-up goals while using a waste water treatment sludge as a smelter feedstock, recovering incidental saleable metals, and producing non-hazardous products. In this plant, Asarco treats acidic mine-drainage water having high metal concentrations and uses the waste sludge generated as a lime replacement in lead smelting operations. -Author
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Notes Heavy-metal sludges as smelter feedstock; (1084960); 95t-4357; Using Smart Source Parsing pp; Geobase Approved no
Call Number CBU @ c.wolke @ 17563 Serial 293
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Author Neukirchner, R.J.; Lord, G.G.; Nelson, J.D.
Title Covering of soft mine tailings Type Journal Article
Year 1998 Publication Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages
Keywords acid mine drainage; Colorado; disposal barriers; Eagle Mine; layered materials; mines; Minturn Colorado; pollution; remediation; Superfund; tailings; United States; waste disposal 22, Environmental geology
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Publisher Proceedings of the ... International Conference on Tailings and Mine Waste, vol.5 Place of Publication Editor
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Series Editor Series Title Tailings and mine waste '98; proceedings of the the Fifth international conference Abbreviated Series Title
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Notes 1999-024056; Fifth international conference on Tailings and mine waste '98, Fort Collins, CO, United States, Jan. 26-28, 1998 References: 1; illus. incl. 1 table; GeoRef; English Approved no
Call Number CBU @ c.wolke @ 6172 Serial 287
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Author Niyogi, D.K.; McKnight, D.M.; Lewis, W.M., Jr.; Kimball, B.A.
Title Experimental diversion of acid mine drainage and the effects on a headwater stream Type Journal Article
Year 1999 Publication Water-Resources Investigations Report Abbreviated Journal
Volume Wri 99-4018-A Issue Pages 123-130
Keywords abandoned mines acid mine drainage algae benthonic taxa biomass biota Colorado experimental studies heavy metals Lake County Colorado Leadville Colorado metals mines pH Plantae pollution remediation Saint Kevin Gulch Colorado tracers United States USGS water zinc
Abstract An experimental diversion of acid mine drainage was set up near an abandoned mine in Saint Kevin Gulch, Colorado. A mass-balance approach using natural tracers was used to estimate flows into Saint Kevin Gulch. The diversion system collected about 85 percent of the mine water during its first year of operation (1994). In the first 2 months after the diversion, benthic algae in an experimental reach (stream reach around which mine drainage was diverted) became more abundant as water quality improved (increase in pH, decrease in zinc concentrations) and substrate quality changed (decrease in rate of metal hydroxide deposition). Further increases in pH to levels above 4.6, however, led to lower algal biomass in subsequent years (1995-97). An increase in deposition of aluminum precipitates at pH greater than 4.6 may account for the suppression of algal biomass. The pH in the experimental reach was lower in 1998 and algal biomass increased. Mine drainage presents a complex, interactive set of stresses on stream ecosystems. These interactions need to be considered in remediation goals and plans.
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Notes Experimental diversion of acid mine drainage and the effects on a headwater stream; 2; GeoRef: 2001-017199 als Datei vorhanden 4 Abb.; VORHANDEN | AMD ISI | Wolkersdorfer Approved no
Call Number CBU @ c.wolke @ 17398 Serial 286
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