Abstract
Understanding the fate and transport of contaminants produced from mine waste leaching in both surface and ground water environments is essential in effective remediation designs. At the Tar Creek Superfund Site in Oklahoma, subaqueous disposal of chat waste rock (processed dolomitic chert contaminated with elevated lead, zinc and cadmium) is being considered as a remedial option via injection of dry or slurried material directly into flooded underground mines or collapse features. Laboratory studies were conducted to simulate subaqueous disposal of these lead-zinc mine wastes into both contaminated mine pool waters (anoxic, elevated dissolved solids) and into surface waters (oxic, low dissolved solids). Mean contaminant concentrations of chat used in the study were: 1,314 mg/kg Pb, 16,895 mg/kg Zn and 33 mg/kg Cd. Concentrations varied with particle size; greatest concentrations were found in the <0.425 mm size fraction. A total of 360 bench-top microcosms were employed and sampled periodically for one year. Resulting water-column contaminant concentrations varied temporally but demonstrated an initial flush followed by a longer-term attenuation. Results of this study will help develop better understanding of the impacts of disposing of chat in aqueous environments, a currently suggested method of land remediation.
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