Chemical studies of selected trace elements in hot-spring drainages of Yellowstone National Park
Stauffer RE, Jenne EA, Ball JW. 1980. Chemical studies of selected trace elements in hot-spring drainages of Yellowstone National Park. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Professional Paper. 1044-F. United States Government Printing Office. Washington, DC
Intensive chemical studies were made of S(-II), O2, Al, Fe, Mn, P, As(III), As(V), and Li in waters from two high-Cl, low Ca-Mg hot-spring drainages in the Lower Geyser Basin, a warm spring system rich in Ca and Mg in the Yellowstone Canyon area, and the Madison River system above Hebgen Lake. Analyses were also made of other representative thermal waters from the Park. Soluble Al concentrations were generally low (<100 ug/L and frequently <50 ug/L) except in Azure Spring in the River Group of Lower Basin (~500 ug/L). Approximately 90 percent of the Al was found to precipitate in the upper drainage channel and nonflowing satellite pool of Azure Spring and was accompanied by an 8 percent (250 ug/L) loss of the Li flux. Solute Fe and Mn concentrations were typically very low (<10 ug/L) in the alkaline high-Cl thermal waters. Soluble reactive P and total P concentrations were low (<2 ug/L as P) in all of the high-Cl, HCO3 buffered hot springs. The Firehole, Gibbon, and Madison rivers contained 4 to 6 ug/L. Total solute As acted conservatively in the ablkaline drainages studied, including the Firehole, Madison River. However, the As(III)/As(V) ratio was strongly bimodally distributed (~50 or <0.1) according to whether dissolved S(-II) or O, was dominant in the thermal water. Oxidation of As(III) proceeded rapidly at the elevated temperatures (30 to 90C) in the drainages, but only following the oxidation of dissolved S(-II). In contrast to the Firehole River, approximately 60 percent of the thermally related As flux in the Gibbon River drainage basin is precipitated prior to the Gibbon's confluence with the Firehole at Madison Junction. The As/P atomic ratio is typically ~500 for the alkaline hot-spring waters, and ~15 during base-flow conditions on the Madison River. The differential toxicities of the As species, the variable As(III)/As(V) ratios, and the very large As/P ratios all suggest that As may be ecologically important in the Park's thermal waters.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Stauffer, Robert; Jenne, Everett; Ball, James
- Date of Issue
- 1980
- Publisher
- United States Government Printing Office
- Units
- YELL
- Keywords
- Aquatic Sciences, Chemistry, Geysers, Hot Springs, pH, Thermal Streams, Trace Elements, Water, Watersheds