Metal Contamination and Acid Drainage Associated with Abandoned Metal and Sulfur Mines in the Appalachian Region
Seal RR and Hammarstrom JM. 2001. Metal Contamination and Acid Drainage Associated with Abandoned Metal and Sulfur Mines in the Appalachian Region. Pages 23-32. In U.S. Geological Survey Appalachian Region Integrated Science Workshop Proceedings. Gatlinburg, Tennessee. October 22-26, 2001
ABSTRACT: Massive sulfide and gold deposits are the two most problematic metallic mineral-deposit types in the Appalachian region from an environmental perspective. The environmental impacts of abandoned mines developed from massive sulfide deposits result from the formation of metal-laden acid drainage and from the presence of fine-grained, metal-rich mine wastes. Suites of problematic metals associated with these deposits differ with the type of massive sulfide deposit; in the Appalachian region, these are generally of either Kuroko or Besshi type. Mine drainage is mostly a threat to aquatic ecosystems, but metals also can contaminate local drinking water supplies. Abandoned gold mines are of environmental concern because of the mercury used in the gold-extraction process, which poses a threat to human health due to its ability to bioaccumulate in the foodweb, especially in aquatic systems.
- Type
- Conference Proceeding Paper
- Authors
- Seal, Robert; Hammarstrom, Jane
- Units
- GRSM
- Keywords
- acid waste, APHN, Appalachian Highlands Network, Fontana, geology, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, GRSM, Hazel Creek, mining, SER, Southeast Region, water quality