Lucia Rodriguez-Freire1, Sumant Avasarala1, Abdul-Mehdi S Ali2, Diane Agnew3, Joseph H Hoover4, Kateryna Artyushkova5, Drew E Latta6, Eric J Peterson5, Johnnye Lewis4, Laura J Crossey2, Adrian J Brearley2, José M Cerrato1. 1. Department of Civil Engineering, MSC01 1070, University of New Mexico , Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States. 2. Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, MSC03 2040, University of New Mexico , Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States. 3. New Mexico Environment Department, 121 Tijeras Avenue NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102, United States. 4. Community Environmental Health Program, MSC09 5360, University of New Mexico , Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States. 5. Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, MSC01 1120, University of New Mexico , Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States. 6. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Iowa , 4105 Seamans Center, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States.
Abstract
We applied spectroscopy, microscopy, diffraction, and aqueous chemistry methods to investigate the persistence of metals in water and sediments from the Animas River 13 days after the Gold King Mine spill (August 5, 2015). The Upper Animas River watershed, located in San Juan Colorado, is heavily mineralized and impacted by acid mine drainage, with low pH water and elevated metal concentrations in sediments (108.4 ± 1.8 mg kg-1 Pb, 32.4 ± 0.5 mg kg-1 Cu, 729.6 ± 5.7 mg kg-1 Zn, and 51 314.6 ± 295.4 mg kg-1 Fe). Phosphate and nitrogen species were detected in water and sediment samples from Farmington, New Mexico, an intensive agricultural area downstream from the Animas River, while metal concentrations were low compared to those observed upstream. Solid-phase analyses of sediments suggest that Pb, Cu, and Zn are associated with metal-bearing jarosite and other minerals (e.g., clays, Fe-(oxy)hydroxides). The solubility of jarosite at near-neutral pH and biogeochemical processes occurring downstream could affect the stability of metal-bearing minerals in river sediments. This study contributes relevant information about the association of metal mixtures in a heavy mineralized semiarid region, providing a foundation to better understand long-term metal release in a public and agricultural water supply.
We applied spectroscopy, microscopy, diffractionpan>, anpan>d aqueous chemistry methods to inpan>vestigate the perpan> class="Chemical">sistence of metals in water and sediments from the Animas River 13 days after the Gold King Mine spill (August 5, 2015). The Upper Animas River watershed, located in San Juan Colorado, is heavily mineralized and impacted by acid mine drainage, with low pH water and elevated metal concentrations in sediments (108.4 ± 1.8 mg kg-1 Pb, 32.4 ± 0.5 mg kg-1 Cu, 729.6 ± 5.7 mg kg-1 Zn, and 51 314.6 ± 295.4 mg kg-1 Fe). Phosphate and nitrogen species were detected in water and sediment samples from Farmington, New Mexico, an intensive agriculturalarea downstream from the Animas River, while metal concentrations were low compared to those observed upstream. Solid-phase analyses of sediments suggest that Pb, Cu, and Znare associated with metal-bearing jarosite and other minerals (e.g., clays, Fe-(oxy)hydroxides). The solubility of jarosite at near-neutral pH and biogeochemical processes occurring downstream could affect the stability of metal-bearing minerals in river sediments. This study contributes relevant information about the association of metal mixtures in a heavy mineralized semiarid region, providing a foundation to better understand long-term metal release in a public and agriculturalwater supply.
Authors: Robert L Runkel; Briant A Kimball; Katherine Walton-Day; Philip L Verplanck; Robert E Broshears Journal: Environ Sci Technol Date: 2011-12-14 Impact factor: 9.028
Authors: Sarah M Hayes; Sam M Webb; John R Bargar; Peggy A O'Day; Raina M Maier; Jon Chorover Journal: Environ Sci Technol Date: 2012-05-18 Impact factor: 9.028
Authors: Andro-Marc Pierre Louis; Hui Yu; Samantha L Shumlas; Benoit Van Aken; Martin A A Schoonen; Daniel R Strongin Journal: Environ Sci Technol Date: 2015-06-12 Impact factor: 9.028
Authors: Bryn E Kimball; Andrea L Foster; Robert R Seal; Nadine M Piatak; Samuel M Webb; Jane M Hammarstrom Journal: Environ Sci Technol Date: 2016-01-15 Impact factor: 9.028
Authors: Cherie L DeVore; Lucia Rodriguez-Freire; Abdul Mehdi-Ali; Carlyle Ducheneaux; Kateryna Artyushkova; Zhe Zhou; Drew E Latta; Virgil W Lueth; Melissa Gonzales; Johnnye Lewis; José M Cerrato Journal: Environ Sci Process Impacts Date: 2019-03-20 Impact factor: 4.238