Assessment of Geochemical and Hydrologic Conditions near Old Yuma Mine in Saguaro National Park, Arizona, 2014–2017 Scientific Investigations Report 2018-5019
Beisner KR and Gray F. 2018. Assessment of Geochemical and Hydrologic Conditions near Old Yuma Mine in Saguaro National Park, Arizona, 2014–2017 Scientific Investigations Report 2018-5019. U.S. Geological Survey, National Park Service. Reston, VA
The Old Yuma Mine is an abandoned copper, lead, zinc, silver, and gold mine located within the boundaries of Saguaro National Park, Tucson Mountain District, Arizona. This study analyzed the geochemistry of sediments associated with the Old Yuma mine and assessed hydrologic and geochemical conditions of groundwater to evaluate the area surrounding the Old Yuma Mine. The purpose of the study was to establish the geochemical signature of material associated with the Old Yuma Mine and to compare it with background material and groundwater in the area. The Tucson Mountain District historically experienced gold and silver mining activity from 1880 to the 1970s and in 1994 Saguaro National Park acquired one of these mines, the Old Yuma Mine. The Old Yuma Mine was active from the dawn of the twentieth century through World War I, and produced steel-hardening minerals such as wulfenite, molybdenite, and vanadinite, and the base and precious metals lead, copper, zinc, silver, and gold. A NMDS analysis suggests that groundwater samples collected in this study are similar to each other and distinct from leachate samples associated with mining-related material. Thus, the groundwater samples in this study do not seem to be influenced by the elements associated with leachate from Old Yuma Mining at this time.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Beisner, Kimberly; Gray, Floyd
- Date of Issue
- 2018
- Publisher
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Park Service
- Units
- SAGU
- Keywords
- copper, geochemical, geochemistry, gold, ground water, groundwater, hydrologic, leachate, lead, mining, Old Yuma Mine, Saguaro National Park, sediments, silver, Tucson Mountain District, zinc