Scientific Investigations Report 2007-5262
Abstract
Geochemical and radionuclide studies of sediment recovered from eight core sites in the Blue Creek flood plain and Blue Creek delta downstream in Lake Roosevelt have provided a stratigraphic geochemical record of contamination from uranium mining at the Midnite Mine. Cores provided sufficient data to determine the premining geochemical background, contamination by uranium during the mining period, and postmining metal concentrations that are lower than during the mining period, but elevated relative to premining geochemical background. These data have been used to delineate the extent of contaminated sediment in Blue Creek cove along the thalweg of Blue Creek into Lake Roosevelt. |
Version 1.0 Posted March 2008 |
Church, S.E., Kirschner, F.E., Choate, L.M., Lamothe, P.J., Budahn, J.R., and Brown, Z.A., 2008, Determination of premining geochemical background and delineation of extent of sediment contamination in Blue Creek downstream from Midnite Mine, Stevens County, Washington: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2007–5262, 177 p.
Abstract
Introduction
Purpose and Scope
Acknowledgments
Regional Setting
Mine-Site Geology
Previous Work
Stream-Sediment Studies
Data from Sediment from Lake Roosevelt
Water-Quality Data
Sampling and Preparation Methods
Stream-Sediment Samples, Blue Creek Delta
Terrace- and Stream-Sediment Core Samples
Description of Terrace Core Sampling Sites
Analytical Methods
Sediment-Sample Digestion and Analytical Methods
Quality Assurance—Quality Control Data
Gamma-Ray Spectrometry Methods
Quality Assurance—Quality Control Data
Statistical Methods
Results and Discussion
137Cs Data from Cores 06MM01 and 06MM08
Geochemical Data from Terrace Cores, Blue Creek
Sediment Geochemistry, Core 06MM08
Radionuclide Data, Core 06MM08
Sediment Geochemistry, Core 06MM06
Sediment Geochemistry, Core 06MM05
Sediment Geochemistry, Cores from the Blue Creek Delta
Sediment Geochemistry, Core 06MM03
Sediment Geochemistry, Core 06MM04
Sediment Geochemistry, Core 06MM02
Sediment Geochemistry, Core 06MM01
Radionuclide Data, Core 06MM01
Premining Geochemical Background Upstream of the Midnite Mine
Comparison of the 1975 USGS Sediment Geochemical Data with Geochemical Data from the 1970s Sample Intervals in 2006 Cores
Geochemical Data from the Blue Creek Delta
Geochemical Contamination from the Spokane River in Lake Roosevelt
Premining Geochemical Background Data, Blue Creek Delta
Data from Surface-Sediment Sites, Blue Creek Delta
Summary of Geochemical Data
Conclusions
References Cited
Appendix A. Tables Showing Sample Descriptions, Locations, Weights of Sieved Core Segments by Grain Size; Tables Showing Analytical Data from Cores and Sediment Used in Study; Tables Showing Geochemical Background Statistical Data and Calculations, Including Statistical Description in Graphical Form for Each Element; and Photographs of Cores
Appendix B. Standard Operating Procedure for Sampling Sediments with Driven Core Sediment Sampler (DCSS) on the Spokane Indian Reservation (SOP_DCSS)
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