Geochemical baselines for surface waters and stream sediments and processes controlling element mobility, Rough and Ready Creek and Oregon Caves National Monument and vicinity, southwestern Oregon
Miller WR, Smith DB, Meier AL, Briggs PH, Theodorakos PM, Sanzolone RF, Vaughn RB. 1998. Geochemical baselines for surface waters and stream sediments and processes controlling element mobility, Rough and Ready Creek and Oregon Caves National Monument and vicinity, southwestern Oregon. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Open-File Report. 98-201. U.S. Geologic Survey. Denver, CO
"The purpose of this study is to determine the geochemical baseline for the time of sampling for a wide range of major, minor, and trace elements in selected stream and spring waters in the Rough and Ready Creek drainage basin within the Siskiyou National Forest, Oregon (fig. 1). The determination of these baselines will allow the recognition of any changes in water quality that may be caused by the proposed mining of nickel laterite deposits within the basin. In addition, the study determined baselines (for the time of sampling) of streams, springs, and underground flow in the Oregon Caves National Monument and vicinity and for Grayback Creek (fig. 1). Recent advances in analytical technology, particularly inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, allow for the determination of a wide range of elements at very low detection limits. The determination of geochemical baselines for this study establishes a range of element concentrations in waters at the time of sampling. Stream sediments were also collected at selected sites to provide information on rock composition within the study areas and to provide a baseline for the geochemistry of the stream sediments."
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Miller, William; Smith, David; Meier, Allen; Briggs, Paul; Theodorakos, Peter; Sanzolone, Richard; Vaughn, Robert
- Date of Issue
- 1998
- Publisher
- U.S. Geologic Survey
- Units
- HIST , ORCA , WRD
- Keywords
- ehistory, environmental chemistry, Geochemistry, History, Hydrology, Mine drainage, Mine Wastes, Mining Impacts, Trace element, Water Chemistry, Water collection, Water erosion, water pH, Water Quality, Water Temperature