U.S. Geological Survey Toxic Substances Hydrology Program--Proceedings of the Technical Meeting, Colorado Springs, Colorado, September 20-24, 1993, Water-Resources Investigations Report 94-4015

Experimental Studies of Trace-Metal Partitioning in Perennial Reaches of Pinal Creek, Arizona

Abstract

Development of solute transport models to predict the fate of metal contaminants in Pinal Creek will require quantification of the reactions controlling metal partitioning. Manganese oxides are thought to control dissolved trace-metal concentrations in the perennial flow of the creek. However, these process are not adequately characterized. Laboratory experiments under geochemical conditions relevant to Pinal Creek using field-derived materials are proposed to evaluate metal uptake by coprecipitation with manganese during oxidation and precipitation of manganese oxides and by adsorption onto absorbent phases present in the streambed sediments. The reversibility of the metal sorption by these processes also will be investigated.