Regional geochemical results from the analyses of rock, water, soil stream sediment, and vegetation samples : Fortymile River Watershed, east-central, Alaska
Crock JG, Gough LP, Wanty RB, Day WC, Wang B, Gamble BM, Henning M, Brown ZA, Meier LA. 2000. Regional geochemical results from the analyses of rock, water, soil stream sediment, and vegetation samples : Fortymile River Watershed, east-central, Alaska. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Open-File Report. 00-511. U.S. Geological Survey
This report briefly describes and presents geochemical and biogeochemical data for a cooperative study in the Fortymile Mining District, east central Alaska. This study is being funded by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Mineral Resources Program through Fiscal Year 2001. Cooperative funds are being provided from various State of Alaska sources through the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. Results for the first field season completed in June 1997 are presented in Crock and others (1999). The study’s second field season was completed in June 1998 and the results of the sample analyses for this phase of the study are presented here. Primary objectives of this study are: • Determine the regional baseline geochemistry (waters, soils, rocks, sediments, and selected terrestrial vegetation) for a section of the Fortymile River watershed currently being mined for placer gold (suction dredge and “cat” or dozer operations). • Determine regional watershed geochemical fluxes. • Assess the influence of geology on water-rock signatures, and using these signatures, try to differentiate sources of surface and hyporheic water (shallow groundwater near a streambed). • Determine the movement of metals through ecosystems of specific interest, such as permafrost muskeg terrain, upland alluvial forests, and riverine floodplain shrub systems. • Using both a geologic and a hydrologic framework, define the relative contribution of the various natural sources of arsenic and cadmium and other environmentally important metals to the landscape. • Assist the State of Alaska and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) in the arsenic risk-assessment process.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Crock, J.; Gough, L.; Wanty, R.; Day, W.; Wang, B.; Gamble, B.; Henning, M.; Brown, Z.; Meier, L.
- Date of Issue
- 2000
- Publisher
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Units
- YUCH
- Keywords
- Environmental Impacts, Fortymile River, Geochemistry, Vegetation, Water Quality