Spatial variations in the fate and transport of metals in a mining-influenced stream, North Fork Clear Creek, Colorado

Abstract

North Fork Clear Creek (NFCC) receives acid-mine drainage (AMD) from multiple abandoned mines in the Clear Creek Watershed. Point sources of AMD originate in the Black Hawk/Central City region of the stream. Water chemistry also is influenced by several non-point sources of AMD, and a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). In-stream conditions immediately downstream from point-source inputs result in a visual and rapid precipitation of hydrous iron oxides (HFO). Hydrous manganese oxides (HMO) are seen to coat rocks further downstream during some seasons. Synoptic spatial sampling was used to assess the fate and transport of Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn during different years and hydrological seasons. Visual-MINTEQ was used to compare observed and model-calculated percentage particulate Cu and Zn as influenced by sorption to both HFO and HMO and aqueous complexation with dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Over distance, Cu and Fe were transported predominantly in the particulate phase, Mn in the dissolved phase, and Zn was intermediate in its distribution, with generally about 50% being in each phase. Under higher flows, a larger fraction of the total metals was present in the dissolved phase, along with a lower total suspended sediment (TSS) concentration. This is consistent with the source of TSS being predominantly in-stream precipitation of metals, which might be kinetically limited under higher flows. Modeling results most closely represented observed percentage particulate Cu under lower flows; a strong seasonal trend was not evident for Zn. Model over-predictions of percentage particulate Cu suggest non-equilibrium with sorbent phases or that something in addition to DOC was keeping a portion of the Cu in solution; under-predictions for Zn suggest an additional sorbent. Differences between observed and modeled particulate varied significantly between sites and seasons; ranging from 1 to 54% for Cu and 1 to 34% for Zn overall.