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Development and Research: Diurnal Metal Variations in Streams

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Graph of diurnal variation of dissolved metals in Prickly Pear Creek, Mont. Arsenic concentrations are in brown (squares), zinc concentrations are in red (circles), and manganese concentrations are in black (circles, starts out as the upper line)
Graph of diurnal variation of dissolved metals in Prickly Pear Creek, Mont. Arsenic concentrations are in brown (squares), zinc concentrations are in red (circles), and manganese concentrations are in black (circles, starts out as the upper line)

USGS scientist collecting water-quality samples for metals analysis, Prickly Pear Creek, Mont., as part of a study of the diurnal variation of metals in streams
USGS scientist collecting water-quality samples for metals analysis, Prickly Pear Creek, Mont., as part of a study of the diurnal variation of metals in streams

Seasonal variation in dissolved Zn concentrations in Prickly Pear Creek near Helena, Mont., 2000-03.  Data shown by blue squares were collected during winter low flow.  Data in red are for high flows during spring runoff.  Data in green are for summer low flow
Seasonal variation in dissolved Zn concentrations in Prickly Pear Creek near Helena, Mont., 2000-03. Data shown by blue squares were collected during winter low flow. Data in red are for high flows during spring runoff. Data in green are for summer low flow

Graph showing diel (diurnal or daily) variation of dissolved zinc concentrations in High Ore Creek, Mont., for five different years
Graph showing diel (diurnal or daily) variation of dissolved zinc concentrations in High Ore Creek, Mont., for five different years

Photosynthesizing organisms living on the streambed of this section of High Ore Creek, Mont., can create diurnal metal variations very quickly over a short reach of stream
Photosynthesizing organisms living on the streambed of this section of High Ore Creek, Mont., can create diurnal metal variations very quickly over a short reach of stream

Development of diurnal concentration cycles for dissolved zinc along a 2,100-foot reach of High Ore Creek, Mont.  The upstream sampling site (circles) is just downstream from a small reservoir, which releases water with relatively constant zinc concentrations.  As water travels to the middle (triangles) and lower (squares) sites, the daily variations in zinc concentration become progressively larger
Development of diurnal concentration cycles for dissolved zinc along a 2,100-foot reach of High Ore Creek, Mont. The upstream sampling site (circles) is just downstream from a small reservoir, which releases water with relatively constant zinc concentrations. As water travels to the middle (triangles) and lower (squares) sites, the daily variations in zinc concentration become progressively larger

Fisher Creek in the New World mining district, Montana, near Yellowstone National Park. Fisher Creek is the site of a study of how chemistry changes as water moves downstream
Fisher Creek in the New World mining district, Montana, near Yellowstone National Park. Fisher Creek is the site of a study of how chemistry changes as water moves downstream

USGS scientists placed multiparameter meters in mountain streams in Montana to measure field parameters (pH, temperature, .) during an investigation of the daily (diurnal) changes of metal concentrations in mountain streams affected by drainage from abandoned mine sites
USGS scientists placed multiparameter meters in mountain streams in Montana to measure field parameters (pH, temperature, .) during an investigation of the daily (diurnal) changes of metal concentrations in mountain streams affected by drainage from abandoned mine sites

USGS scientists used an autosamper to pump water-quality samples from mountain streams in Montana at programmed intervals. Results from the analysis of the samples were used to investigate the diurnal changes in the concentrations of dissolved metals in streams
USGS scientists used an autosamper to pump water-quality samples from mountain streams in Montana at programmed intervals. Results from the analysis of the samples were used to investigate the diurnal changes in the concentrations of dissolved metals in streams

Iron oxide precipitates (commonly know as yellow boy) coat the streambed of Upper Daisy Creek, Mont. upper Daisy Creek receives drainage from several abandoned mine sites in the creek's watershed
Iron oxide precipitates (commonly know as yellow boy) coat the streambed of Upper Daisy Creek, Mont. upper Daisy Creek receives drainage from several abandoned mine sites in the creek's watershed

Graph showing diurnal changes in dissolved copper (Cu, green trangles), zinc (Zn, red circles), and manganese (Mn, black circles, upper line) concentrations in Daisy Creek and Stillwater River, Mont. Different hydraulic and chemical conditions affect the magnitude of diurnal changes in concentration
Graph showing diurnal changes in dissolved copper (Cu, green trangles), zinc (Zn, red circles), and manganese (Mn, black circles, upper line) concentrations in Daisy Creek and Stillwater River, Mont. Different hydraulic and chemical conditions affect the magnitude of diurnal changes in concentration

USGS scientist working along a section of the lower part of Daisy Creek, Mont. USGS scientists documented that dissolved metals change throughout the day in mountain streams affected by abandoned mine lands
USGS scientist working along a section of the lower part of Daisy Creek, Mont. USGS scientists documented that dissolved metals change throughout the day in mountain streams affected by abandoned mine lands

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More Information

References

Chapin, T.P., Nimick, D.A., Gammons, C.H., and Wanty, R.B., 2007, Diel cycling of zinc in a stream impacted by acid rock drainage--Initial results from a new in situ Zn analyzer: Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, v. 133, no. 1-3, p. 161-167, doi:10.1007/s10661-006-9569-y.

Gammons, C.H., Grant, T.M., Nimick, D.A., Parker, S.R., and DeGrandpre, M.D., 2007, Diel changes in water chemistry in an arsenic-rich stream and treatment-pond system: Science of the Total Environment, v. 384, no. 1-3, p. 433-451, doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2007.06.029.

Gammons, C.H., Milodragovich, L., and Belanger-Woods, J., 2007, Influence of diurnal cycles on metal concentrations and loads in streams draining abandoned mine lands--An example from High Ore Creek, Montana: Environmental Geology, doi:10.1007/s00254-007-0676-z (Advanced Web release).

Gammons, C.H., Nimick, D.A., Parker, S.R., Cleasby, T.E., and McCleskey, R.B., 2005, Diel behavior of iron and other heavy metals in a mountain stream with acidic to neutral pH - Fisher Creek, Montana, USA: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 69, no. 10, p. 2505-2516, doi:10.1016/j.gca.2004.11.020.

Gammons, C.H., Shope, C.L., and Duaime, T.E., 2005, A 24 h investigation of the hydrogeochemistry of baseflow and stormwater in an urban area impacted by mining--Butte, Montana: Hydrological Processes, v. 19, no. 14, p. 2737-2753, doi:10.1002/hyp.5783.

Gammons, C.H., Woods, S.A., and Nimick, D.A., 2005, Diel behavior of rare earth elements in a mountain stream with acidic to neutral pH: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 69, no. 15, p. 3747-3758, doi:10.1016/j.gca.2005.03.019.

Jones, C.A., Nimick, D.A., and McCleskey, R.B., 2004, Relative effect of temperature and pH on diel cycling of dissolved trace elements in Prickly Pear Creek, Montana: Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, v. 153, no. 1-4, p. 95-113.

Lambing, J.H., Nimick, D.A., and Cleasby, T.E., 2004, Short-term variation of trace-element concentrations during base flow and rainfall runoff in small basins, August 1999, in Nimick, D.A., Church, S.E., and Finger, S.E., eds., Integrated investigations of environmental effects of historical mining in the Basin and Boulder Mining Districts, Boulder River watershed, Jefferson County, Montana: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1652-D7, p. 263-278.

Morris, J.M., Farag, A.M., Nimick, D.A., and Meyer, J.S., 2006, Light-mediated Zn uptake in photosynthetic biofilm: Hydrobiologia, v. 571, p. 361-371, doi:10.1007/s10750-006-0261-6.

Morris, J.M., and Meyer, J.S., 2006, Extracellular and intracellular uptake of zinc in a photosynthetic biofilm matrix: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, v. 77, no. 1, p. 30-35, doi:10.1007/s00128-006-1028-5.

Morris, J.M., and Meyer, J.S., 2007, Photosynthetically mediated Zn removal from the water column in High Ore Creek, Montana: Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, v. 179, no. 1-4, p. 391-395, doi:10.1007/s11270-006-9232-9.

Morris, J.M., Nimick, D.A., Farag, A.M., and Meyer, J.S., 2005, Does biofilm contribute to diel cycling of Zn in High Ore Creek, Montana?: Biogeochemistry, v. 76, no. 2, p. 233-259, doi:10.1007/s10533-005-4774-2.

Nimick, D.A., 2003, Diurnal variation in trace-metal concentrations in streams: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 086-03, 4 p.

Nimick, D.A., Cleasby, T.E., and McCleskey, R.B., 2005, Seasonality of diel cycles of dissolved trace-metal concentrations in a Rocky Mountain stream: Environmental Geology, v. 47, no. 5, p. 603-614, doi:10.1007/s00254-004-1178-x.

Nimick, D.A., Gammons, C.H., Cleasby, T.E., Madison, J.P., Skaar, D., and Brick, C.M., 2003, Diel cycles in dissolved metal concentrations in streams--Occurrence and possible causes: Water Resources Research, v. 39, no. 9, p. HWC 2-1 to HWC 2-17, WR001571, doi:10.1029/2002WR001571.

Nimick, D.A., Harper, D.D., Farag, A.M., Cleasby, T.E., Macconnell, E., and Skaar, D., 2007, Influence of in-stream diel concentration cycles of dissolved trace metals on acute toxicity to one-year-old cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki lewisi): Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 26, no. 12, p. 2667-2678, doi:10.1897/07-265.

Nimick, D.A., McCleskey, R.B., Gammons, C.H., and Parker, S.R., 2007, Diel mercury concentration cycles in streams affected by mining and geothermal discharge: Science of the Total Environment, v. 373, no. 1, p. 344-355, doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2006.11.008.

Parker, S.R., Gammons, C.H., Jones, C.A., and Nimick, D.A., 2007, Role of hydrous iron oxide formation in attenuation and diel cycling of dissolved trace metals in a stream affected by acid rock drainage: Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, v. 181, no. 1-4, p. 247-263, doi:10.1007/s11270-006-9297-5.

Parker, S.R., Gammons, C.H., Poulson, S.R., and DeGrandpre, M.D., 2007, Diel variations in stream chemistry and isotopic composition of dissolved inorganic carbon, upper Clark Fork River, Montana, USA: Applied Geochemistry, v. 22, no. 7, p. 1329-1343, doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2007.02.007.

Parker, S.R., Poulson, S.R., Gammons, C.H., and DeGrandpre, M.D., 2005, Biogeochemical controls on diel cycling of stable isotopes of dissolved 02 and dissolved inorganic carbon in the Big Hole River, Montana: Environmental Science and Technology, v. 39, no. 18, p. 7134-7140, doi:10.1021/es0505595.

Shope, C.L., Xie, Y., and Gammons, C.H., 2006, The influence of hydrous Mn-Zn oxides on diel cycling of Zn in an alkaline stream draining abandoned mine lands: Applied Geochemistry, v. 21, no. 3, p. 476-491, doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2005.11.004.

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