Tri-State Mining District Research Articles

Poor Man's Fortune: White Working-Class Conservatism in American Metal Mining, 1850–1950

Poor Man's Fortune: White Working-Class Conservatism in American Metal Mining, 1850–1950

Mine Drainage Residual Additions to Lake Sediments Alter Phosphorus and Trace Metal Distributions

A greenhouse microcosm study investigated the impacts of recovered iron oxyhydroxide mine drainage residuals (MDRs) on phosphorus (P) and trace metal distributions at the sediment layer/water column interface in Grand Lake o’ the Cherokees, a large reservoir receiving waters impacted by both historic mining and current agricultural land uses. Each mesocosm included 5 kg of lake sediment and 20 L of on-site groundwater. Three treatments were examined in triplicate: control (C) with no additions, low MDR (LM) with 0.3 kg added MDR, and high MDR (HM) with 0.9 kg added MDR. In the first 10 days, aqueous soluble reactive phosphorous (SRP) concentrations decreased likely due to colonizing biomass uptake with no significant differences among the three treatments. LM and HM treatments showed delayed peaks in dissolved oxygen (DO) and lesser peaks in chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentrations compared to the C treatment, indicating MDR addition may suppress biomass growth. During days 11 to 138, the C treatment demonstrated increasing pH, decreasing ORP, and biomass decay resulting in significantly increased SRP concentrations. In LM and HM treatments, sufficient P sorption by the MDR maintained low SRP concentrations. Although the MDRs are derived from metal-rich mine waters, all aqueous concentrations were below both hardness-adjusted acute and chronic criteria, except for Pb with regard to the chronic criterion. Metal concentrations in sediments were below the Tri-State Mining District (TSMD)–specific Sediment Quality Guidelines (SQGs). MDR additions may serve as stable long-term P sinks to prevent P release from dead biomass, decrease internal P cycling rates, and mitigate eutrophication, with limited concern for trace metal release.Graphical

Effects of Toxic Metal Contamination in the Tri-State Mining District on the Ecological Community and Human Health: A Systematic Review.

Although extensive research exists on toxic environments in the Tri-State Mining District (TSMD), there has been a lack of research on how harmful effects in TSMD could affect residents living in those areas. However, quite recently, such research regarding relationships between the health conditions of residents and toxic elements in the TSMD began to grow. The increase of empirical studies means greater complexity of the findings that require a more intricate understanding. To meet the goals of this study, an extensive, systematic review of the literature using PRISMA was conducted. This method resulted in 19 articles that define the harmful effects of the TSMD on the ecology and the physical health of residents. This research found that toxic metals not only negatively impact natural processes in the TSMD environments (fish species reduction, kidney and liver problems, and toxic diet) but also continuously affect the health of residents (high blood Pb and mortality).This study makes a vital contribution building upon the existing outcomes of the correlations between toxic elements in the TSMD areas and the health of residents. Furthermore, conclusions of this study provide updated information to policymakers and health-related professionals by providing adequate and innovative remediations and health-related services in the TSMD.

Airborne Lead (Pb) From Abandoned Mine Waste in Northeastern Oklahoma, USA.

Active and abandoned mines pose serious health threats to humans, aquatic, and terrestrial biota. Northeastern Oklahoma, home to a number of Native American Tribes, is part of the well‐known Tri‐State Mining District. More than 100 years of mining production in this area has left numerous, large chat piles in the surrounding environment. Despite numerous studies and efforts on the restoration of metal contamination in this area, no studies have attempted to distinguish the contributions of different sources, particularly from the atmospheric deposition, of metals to the aquatic environment. Here, we analyzed the atmospheric deposition of Pb from Picher, a town surrounded by chat piles, and Tulsa, a primary metropolitan area in northeastern Oklahoma, from 2010 to 2016. We found that chat piles in Picher contain ~20% and 6% of fine particles that are subjective to windborne transport and human inhalation, respectively, and these fine particles contain disproportionally high concentrations of Pb. Despite the absence of industrial and human activities, airborne Pb in Picher is 2–5 times higher than that of Tulsa. A conservative estimate showed that airborne Pb may contribute up to 10% of annual Pb mass flux to a lake 18 km away from the chat piles in Picher and probably a much higher contribution for soil and water located adjacent to Picher. Despite known limitations, our study represents the first attempt to evaluate the significance of Pb‐laden airborne particulate matter from a large‐scale abandoned mining area where the humans are particularly vulnerable to metal exposure.

Metal Content of Stream Sediments as a Tool to Assess Remediation in an Area Recovering from Historic Mining Contamination

Lead and zinc mining was booming in the early 1900s in and near Joplin, Missouri; a town within the Tri-State Mining District, USA. After the ore became depleted, mining companies moved out, leaving a profoundly disturbed land. Presently, over 90% of the land has been remediated. We collected sediment samples along two creeks flowing through the historically contaminated area that have been identified as major contributors of metals to downstream reservoirs, Center Creek (14 samples) and Turkey Creek (30 samples). Sediment metal content was determined by aqua regia extraction, the potentially bioavailable fraction by 0.11 M acetic acid extraction, and toxicity by ΣPEC-QCd,Pb,Zn. Zinc and lead content in sediments were high in both creeks notwithstanding remediation actions; e.g., median concentrations of 521 mg/kg Pb and 5425 mg/kg Zn in Center Creek, corresponding to 19 and 52 times the background concentration. The metals’ distribution followed no discernible pattern downstream. The potentially bioavailable fraction varied between 0.36% (Pb, Center Creek) and 4.96% (Zn, Turkey Creek). High toxicity was found in 40% of the samples in Turkey Creek and 78.5% of the samples in Center Creek. While this level of toxicity would likely affect aquatic organisms, its limited mobility under alkaline conditions suggests a lesser threat to humans. On the other hand, this high toxicity will likely persist in sediments for at least a few decades, based on their high metal content and low mobility.

Mobility of Metals in Sediments Contaminated with Historical Mining Wastes: Example from the Tri-State Mining District, USA

The Tri-State Mining District (TSMD) of Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma was a world class zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb) producer. Mining ceased in the 1950s, leaving behind a large amount of mine wastes. Although much of the affected areas have been remediated, stream sediments may still contain toxic levels of these metals. The mobility of the metals was determined for sediment samples from Turkey Creek, Missouri. The median values of the metal content were 2700 mg/kg Zn, 161 mg/kg Pb, and 10.8 mg/kg Cd. These concentrations marginally surpass the sediment quality guidelines that differentiate between toxic and nontoxic conditions. Mobility was determined by sequential extraction of two phases—bioavailable and Fe-oxides. The fraction of the metal available to biota was 7.7% for Zn, 5.0% for Cd, and 0.4% for Pb, whereas the Fe-oxide fraction retained 25% of Zn, 21% of Pb, and 35% Cd. These values roughly agree with the values reported for other areas of the TSMD. Fractionation provides an estimate of the amount of metal available at the present conditions and gives the amount of metal available should the pH and/or Eh vary. The methodology puts an emphasis on ecosystem health and can be applied to other areas where Zn–Pb concentrations in soils and sediments are a concern.

Biochar compost blends facilitate switchgrass growth in mine soils by reducing Cd and Zn bioavailability

Biochars have the potential to reclaim mine-impacted soils; however, their variable physico-chemical properties incite speculation about their successful remediation performance. This investigation examined the capability of biochars produced from three different feedstocks along with a compost blend to improve switchgrass growth conditions in a mine-impacted soil by examining influences on soil pH, grass metal contents, and soil-extractable metal concentrations. Cadmium (Cd)- and zinc (Zn)-contaminated mine soil was collected from a site near Webb City, Missouri, USA—a location within the Tri-State Mining District. In a full factorial design, soil was treated with a 0%, 2.5%, and 5% (w/w) compost mixture (wood chips + beef cattle manure), and 0%, 2.5% and 5% of each biochar pyrolyzed from beef cattle manure, poultry litter, and lodgepole pine feedstocks. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum, ‘Cave-In-Rock’ variety) was grown in a greenhouse for 50 days and the mass of shoots (above-ground biomass) and roots was assessed, while soil pH, deionized H2O- and 0.01 M CaCl2-extractable Cd and Zn concentrations were measured. Poultry litter biochar and compost had the greatest ability to raise soil pH (from 4.40 to 6.61), beef cattle manure biochar and compost moderately raised pH (from 4.4 to 5.92), and lodgepole pine biochar and compost weakly raised pH (from 4.40 to 5.05). Soils treated with beef cattle manure biochar, poultry litter biochar significantly reduced deionized H2O- and 0.01 M CaCl2-extractable Cd and Zn concentrations, while lodgepole pine biochar-treated soils showed mixed results. Switchgrass shoot and root masses were greatest in soil treated with compost in combination with either beef cattle manure biochar or poultry litter biochar. Soils treated with 5% beef cattle manure biochar + 5% compost had greater reductions in total Cd and Zn concentrations measured in switchgrass shoots and roots compared to the other two treatments. The three biochars and compost mixtures applied to heavy metal, mine-impacted soil had considerable performance dissimilarities for improving switchgrass productivity. Switchgrass growth was noticeably improved after treatment with the compost in combination with biochar from beef cattle manure or poultry litter. This may be explained by the increased soil pH that promoted Zn and Cd precipitation and organic functional groups that reduced soil-available heavy metal concentrations. Our results imply that creating designer biochars is an important management component in developing successful mine-site phytostabilization programs.

Distribution and Bioavailability of Trace Metals in Shallow Sediments from Grand Lake, Oklahoma.

The Tri-State Mining District (TSMD) is a historic mining area containing the Tar Creek superfund site and is the source for sediment-bound metals in Grand Lake. Despite elevated concentrations of cadmium, lead, and zinc, no evidence of sediment toxicity has been observed during previous investigations; however, these studies were limited to lake transects with mostly deep-water sediments. The purpose of this study was to assess whether TSMD-specific sediment toxicity thresholds (STTs), developed for small streams and tributaries draining the TSMD, are predictive of biological effects within the greater lake body. Investigations focused on determining trace metal distribution within the northern reaches of Grand Lake, emphasizing shallow water areas (≤ 6-m depth), and the effects of sediment disturbance on trace metal bioavailability and toxicity to two freshwater invertebrates. No significant mortality or differences in growth occurred under natural or disturbed sediment conditions for either aquatic invertebrate despite using some sediments that exceeded both McDonald general sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) and TSMD-specific STTs. Although the simulated disturbance event (i.e., vigorously aerating sediments for 30days before toxicity tests) was sufficient to increase trace metal water concentrations and detection frequencies, no changes in overall sediment load, bioavailability, or toxicity were observed following a 10-day exposure duration. These results suggest that TSMD-specific STTs could be used to evaluate Grand Lake sediments that could potentially be disturbed by boat traffic, wave action, and dredging associated with dock construction as opposed to the more conservative general-SQGs.

Variation in microbial community structure correlates with heavy-metal contamination in soils decades after mining ceased

Microorganisms play vital roles in Earth's biogeochemical cycles. Identifying disturbances in microbial communities due to anthropogenic contamination can provide insights into the health of ecosystems. Picher, Oklahoma, was the site of large-scale mining operations for Pb, Zn, and other heavy metals until the mid-1950s, operating within the Tri-State Mining District (TSMD) of Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma. Although mining ceased decades ago, high concentrations of heavy metals (>1000 ppm) remain in area soil and water systems. Previously, we mapped metal concentrations on samples collected from mine tailings in Picher and along cardinal-direction transects within an 8.05-km radius of the town. To elucidate changes in microbial community structure due to regional metal contamination, 16S rRNA gene sequences and qPCR calculations of total Bacteria and Archaea were analyzed against these metal concentrations. Bacteria were negatively and significantly correlated with Pb, Cd, Zn, and Mg; however, Archaea was only significantly and positively correlated with pH. Illumina sequencing of 16S rRNA genes showed significant differences in microbial communities of chat and west transect samples. Comparison of soil chemistry with community structure indicated that Al, Pb, Cd, and Zn significantly impacted community composition and distribution of individual OTUs. Mapping the distribution of heavy-metal contamination and microbial communities in these soils represents the first step in understanding effects of long-term, heavy-metal contamination at a basic trophic level.

Subsurface Submergence of Mine Waste Materials as a Remediation Strategy to Reduce Metal Mobility: an Overview

The most common lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) ore minerals are galena (PbS) and sphalerite (ZnS). Milling and mining operations of these ores produce huge amounts of waste known as chat and tailings. Chat is composed of gravel, sand, and silt-sized rock materials, whereas tailings are often fine-grained and silt-sized particles with higher toxic element concentrations. Upon oxidation, tailings with high pyritic materials release Pb, Zn, Cadmium (Cd), and other elements associated with ores affecting plant productivity, the ecosystem, and human health. This article is an overview on utilizing the subsurface submergence technique for mitigating environmental impacts from abandoned mine waste materials. In the past, researchers have studied the influence of submergence on these elements; however, an emphasis on gathering a detailed understanding of such redox-based remediation processes is not that common. We reviewed literature that evaluated water chemistry, solid phases, and association of trace elements, and addressed utilization of surface amendments of mine tailings for predicting their interactions within sediments and overlying waters. Case studies specifically focused on mining of Pb and Zn, including a recent study conducted in the Tri-State mining district (Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma), are presented to add a more comprehensive understanding of biogeochemical transformations of trace elements present in mine waste materials under a long-term submergence. The purpose of this article is to present evidence on the viability of subsurface disposal of mine waste materials, in order to design effective remediation and mitigation strategies to protect human and environmental health in the global dimension.

Distribution of trace elements and Pb isotopes in stream sediments of the Tri-State mining district (Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri), USA

Mississippi Valley-Type (MVT) lead-zinc deposits, which account for 24% of the global resources of Pb and Zn, are found throughout the world with the largest deposits occurring in North America. The Tri-State Mining district, located at the intersection of Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri, was one of the most productive Pb and Zn districts during the turn of the 20th century.The current geochemical study of ore samples from the Tri-State district and of stream-sediment samples collected from selected sites from the lower Arkansas River drainage basin (the Neosho River, Tar Creek, and Spring River) show that the effect of past mining activity and leaded gasoline on Pb concentrations in the river sediment can be readily documented. Lead isotopic ratios of leachates of stream sediments from the Tar Creek area collected downstream from Picher, OK, correlate well with those of ore samples from the Tri-State Mining District, suggesting that most of the Pb adsorbed onto the stream sediments was sourced by the ores. Lead isotope measurements of leachates delimit the extent of high Pb concentrations in the Tar Creek region caused by mineralization and mining at Picher, OK. The effects of mining are noticed to a lesser extent in the Spring and Neosho rivers, with increasing distance from Picher. The influence of the leaded gasoline is more pronounced with increasing distance from the superfund site, contributing between around 52% and 68% extractable Pb to the stream sediments 14 km from the Picher mining area. This discovery can have major implications in how to evaluate the risk to human and animal health, as well as guide remediation efforts in this region.Leachates from stream-sediment samples collected from the Spring and Neosho rivers show lower Pb isotopic ratios than the Tar Creek leachates and plot outside the field defined by ore samples from the Tri-State Mining District. They fall along an array defined by a binary mixture of Pb from the leaded gasoline and the Pb sourced from the Tri-State mining district, indicative of two distinct Pb sources.There is a gradual decrease in the Zn, Pb, As, and other heavy-metal concentrations in the stream sediment leachates with distance from the mines. The Zn concentration reaches a maximum of 1592 ppm in the Picher area, more than 29 times the average natural background levels in the Tri-State region (41 ppm). About 24 km downstream from Picher, the Zn concentrations decrease substantially to values lower than both, normal crustal abundance and background levels. Similarly, the Pb concentration is highest in the Picher area (326 ppm), about 14 times the natural background levels in the Tri-State region (16 ppm), and it drops to much lower values downstream. Even though the highest Cu and As concentrations are seen in the Picher area (10 ppm and 1.44 ppm, respectively), they are lower compared to the natural background levels for the region (11 ppm and 6 ppm, respectively).

Edible wild plants growing in contaminated floodplains: implications for the issuance of tribal consumption advisories within the Grand Lake watershed of northeastern Oklahoma, USA.

Metal releases from the Tri-State Mining District (TSMD) that is located in southwestern Missouri, southeastern Kansas, and northeastern Oklahoma, have contaminated floodplain soils within the Neosho and Spring river watersheds of the Grand Lake watershed. Since the Oklahoma portion of the watershed lies within ten tribal jurisdictions, the potential accumulation of metals within plant species that are gathered and consumed by tribal members, as well as the resulting metal exposure risks to tribal human health, was a warranted concern for further investigation. Within this study, a total of 36 plant species that are commonly consumed by tribes were collected from floodplain areas that were previously demonstrated to have elevated soil metal concentrations relative to reference sites. A significant, positive correlation was shown for metal concentrations in plant tissues versus soil (n=258; Cd: R=0.72, p=0.00; Pb: R=0.52, p=0.00; and Zn: R=0.70, p=0.00). Additionally, a significant difference in metal concentration distributions existed between reference and impacted plant samples (n=210, p=0.00 for all metals). These results proved that floodplain soils are a major contamination pathway for metal accumulation within plants, and the source of metal contamination is the result of mining releases from the TSMD. Metal accumulation within plants was found to vary according to specific metal and plant species. The lowest dietary exposure out of all plant organs sampled were associated with fruit, whereas the highest was associated with roots, stem/leaves, and low-lying leafy greens. Metals in plants were compared to weekly dietary intake limits established by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives. Based on specific serving sizes established within this study for tribal children and adults, many plant species had sufficient concentrations to warrant tribal consumption restrictions within the floodplains of Elm Creek, Grand Lake, Lost Creek, Spring River, and Tar Creek. Importantly, these results highlighted the necessity for the issuance of plant consumption advisories for tribal communities in the watershed. A consumption restriction guide on the number of allowable servings of each species per week at specific streams was developed within this study for tribal children and adults. Results also demonstrated that soil metal concentrations do not need to be exceptionally elevated relative to reference sites in order for plants to accumulate sufficient metal concentrations to exceed dietary limits for one serving. Therefore, the exposure risk associated with the consumption of plants cannot be accurately predicted solely from metal concentrations within soils, but must be based on metal concentrations within specific plant tissues on a site-by-site basis. A weekly consumption scenario was created within this study in order to better understand the potential metal dietary exposures to child and adult tribal members who consume multiple servings of multiple plant species per day, as well as benthic invertebrates and fish from the watershed. These findings demonstrated that plants pose a greater consumption exposure risk for tribal members than benthic invertebrates or fish. Therefore, without the consideration of exposure risks associated with the consumption of plants within future human health risk assessments, tribal health risks will be severely underestimated.

Screening Level Assessment of Metal Concentrations in Streambed Sediments and Floodplain Soils within the Grand Lake Watershed in Northeastern Oklahoma, USA.

Metal releases have been received by the Grand Lake watershed from the Tri-State Mining District (TSMD) since the mid 1800s. To address data gaps in metal distributions in the Oklahoma portion of the watershed, streambed sediment and floodplain soil was sampled on various streams. The <63-µm fraction was analyzed for Cd, Pb, and Zn concentrations by portable X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Mean metal concentration results at reference transects indicated that background sediment/soil concentrations for Cd, Pb, and Zn within the watershed were 0.5, 19, and 68mg/kg, respectively. A significant difference in the distributions of metal concentrations was found between reference and impacted transects (Cd, Pb, Zn: p=0.00; Cd: n=29; Pb, Zn: n=283). These results demonstrated that concentrations of metals in streambed sediments and floodplain soils were significantly higher in areas downstream of major mining influences relative to upstream reference sites, and the source of metal contamination within these media was the result of mining releases from the TSMD. Toxicity risks to benthic macroinvertebrates were evaluated using a TSMD-specific sediment mixture model (∑PEC-QCd,Pb,Zn) for metals (MacDonald et al. in Development and evaluation of sediment and pore-water toxicity thresholds to support sediment quality assessments in the Tri-State Mining District (TSMD), Missouri, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Draft Final Technical Report. Volume I: Text. Prepared for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Prepared by MacDonald Environmental Sciences Ltd., U.S. Geological Survey, and CH2M Hill, Nanaimo, 2009). Toxicity risks to plant populations were also assessed by comparing soil metal concentrations to Ecological Soil Screening Levels (Eco-SSLs). It was found that the survival and/or biomass of benthic invertebrates was highly impacted at Tar Creek, highly to moderately impacted at Spring River and Elm Creek, and unimpacted at Lost Creek and Grand Lake as a result of sediment metal concentrations. It also was found that soil metal concentrations were likely sufficient to impact plant populations at all streams. Within the Oklahoma portion of the watershed, the majority of environmental studies, remediation, and restoration efforts by local, state, and federal agencies have been primarily focused within the Tar Creek Superfund Site (TCSS) boundary. Importantly, the findings of this study highlighted the downstream extent of metals contamination as well as the resulting potential toxicities to benthic invertebrates and plants that is present outside of the TCSS boundary. Because the Oklahoma portion of the watershed comprises the jurisdictional lands of ten tribes, these results emphasized the potential tribal loss of use of benthic invertebrates and plants due to their decline in population as a result of metal toxicity. These overall findings provide an important basis for future data needs in assessing metal concentrations in aquatic and terrestrial biota that are consumed by tribal communities within the watershed to determine if certain organisms are unsafe to consume or warrant consumption advisories. This will allow risk assessors and risk managers to better understand the potential loss of use of tribal biological resources as well as improving risk-based decision making to be protective of these resources and tribal human health.

Quantitative analysis of the extent of heavy-metal contamination in soils near Picher, Oklahoma, within the Tar Creek Superfund Site

The Tri-State Mining District of Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma was the site of large-scale mining operations primarily for lead and zinc until the mid-1950s. Although mining across the area has ceased, high concentrations of heavy metals remain in the region's soil and water systems. The town of Picher, Ottawa County, OK, lies within this district and was included in the Tar Creek Superfund Site by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1980 due to extensive contamination. To elucidate the extent of heavy-metal contamination, a soil-chemistry survey of the town of Picher was conducted. Samples (n = 111) were collected from mine tailings, locally known as chat, in Picher and along cardinal-direction transects within an 8.05-km radius of the town in August 2015. Samples were analyzed for soil pH, moisture, and metal content. Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) analyses of 20 metals showed high concentrations of lead (>1000 ppm), cadmium (>40 ppm) and zinc (>4000 ppm) throughout the sampled region. Soil moisture content ranged from 0.30 to 35.9%, and pH values ranged from 5.14 to 7.42. MANOVA of metal profiles determined that soils collected from the north transect and chat were significantly different (p < 0.01) than other sampled directions. Lead, cadmium and zinc were correlated with one another. These data show an unequal distribution of contamination surrounding the Picher mining site. Mapping heavy-metal contamination in these soils represents the first step in understanding the distribution of these contaminants at the Picher mining site.

Synchrotron-based X-Ray Spectroscopy Studies for Redox-based Remediation of Lead, Zinc, and Cadmium in Mine Waste Materials.

Several studies have examined the effect of submergence on the mobility of metals present in mine waste materials. This study examines the effect of organic carbon (OC) and sulfur (S) additions and submergence time on redox-induced biogeochemical transformations of lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd) present in mine waste materials collected from the Tri-State mining district located in southeastern Kansas, southwestern Missouri, and northeastern Oklahoma. A completely randomized design, with a two-way treatment structure, was used for conducting a series of column experiments. Two replicates were used for each treatment combination. Effluent samples were collected at several time points, and soil samples were collected at the end of each column experiment. Because these samples are highly heterogeneous, we used a variety of synchrotron-based techniques to identify Pb, Zn, and Cd speciation at both micro- and bulk-scale. Spectroscopic analysis results from the study revealed that the addition of OC, with and without S, promoted metal-sulfide formation, whereas metal carbonates dominated in the nonamended flooded materials and in mine waste materials only amended with S. Therefore, the synergistic effect of OC and S may be more promising for managing mine waste materials disposed of in flooded subsidence mine pits instead of individual S or OC treatments. The mechanistic understanding gained in this study is also relevant for remediation of waste materials using natural or constructed wetland systems.

Mining-Related Sediment and Soil Contamination in a Large Superfund Site: Characterization, Habitat Implications, and Remediation.

Historical mining activity (1850-1970) in the now inactive Tri-State Mining District provided an ongoing source of lead and zinc to the environment including the US Environmental Protection Agency Superfund site located in Cherokee County, southeast Kansas, USA. The resultant contamination adversely affected biota and caused human health problems and risks. Remediation in the Superfund site requires an understanding of the magnitude and extent of contamination. To provide some of the required information, a series of sediment and soil investigations were conducted in and near the Superfund site to characterize lead and zinc contamination in the aquatic and floodplain environments along the main-stem Spring River and its major tributaries. In the Superfund site, the most pronounced lead and zinc contamination, with concentrations that far exceed sediment quality guidelines associated with potential adverse biological effects, was measured for streambed sediments and floodplain soils located within or downstream from the most intensive mining-affected areas. Tributary streambeds and floodplains in affected areas are heavily contaminated with some sites having lead and zinc concentrations that are an order of magnitude (or more) greater than the sediment quality guidelines. For the main-stem Spring River, the streambed is contaminated but the floodplain is mostly uncontaminated. Measured lead and zinc concentrations in streambed sediments, lakebed sediments, and floodplain soils documented a persistence of the post-mining contamination on a decadal timescale. These results provide a basis for the prioritization, development, and implementation of plans to remediate contamination in the affected aquatic and floodplain environments within the Superfund site.

State of remediation and metal toxicity in the Tri-State Mining District, USA.

Mining operations in the Tri-State Mining District of Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma (TSMD), once one of the major lead and zinc mining areas in the world, had completely ceased by 1970. As mining companies moved out, the land was left with underground tunnels and mine shafts and the surface with abandoned tailings piles, which progressively contaminated groundwater and soil. Despite remedial actions undertaken in the 1980's, areas within the TSMD still contain Cd, Pb, and Zn concentrations exceeding safe levels. Because of the large area and highly dispersed occurrence of wastes, environmental studies generally have been confined either to a stream basin or to a single state. Studies also have differed in their approach and analytical methodologies. An overview of the totality of the TSMD and its present state of contamination is presented here. Data show that metal content in sediments have the following common features: (1) a wide range of Pb and Zn concentrations, up to three orders of magnitude, (2) median values for Cd, Pb and Zn content in sediments and soils were similar among studies, (3) median values for most studies were at or above the guidelines recommended for aquatic habitats, and (4) highest content of Pb and Zn were closely associated with the geographical location of former mining and smelting centers. The above observations imply that mine wastes remain a problem and further remediation is needed. Cost-effective remedial alternatives for this area's geology, climate, and land use, are discussed.

A comparison of the efficacy and ecosystem impact of residual-based and topsoil-based amendments for restoring historic mine tailings in the Tri-State mining district

A long-term research and demonstration site was established on Pb and Zn mine wastes in southwestern Missouri in 1999. Municipal biosolids and lime and composts were mixed into the wastes at different loading rates. The site was monitored intensively after establishment and again in 2012. A site restored with topsoil was also included in the 2012 sampling. Initial results including plant, earthworm and small mammal assays indicate that the bioaccessibility of metals had been significantly reduced as a result of amendment addition. The recent sampling showed that at higher loading rates, the residual mixtures have maintained a vegetative cover and are similar to the topsoil treatment based on nutrient availability and cycling and soil physical properties including bulk density and water holding capacity. The ecosystem implications of restoration with residuals versus mined topsoil were evaluated. Harvesting topsoil from nearby farms would require 1875years to replace based on natural rates of soil formation. In contrast, diverting biosolids from combustion facilities (60% of biosolids generated in Missouri are incinerated) would result in greenhouse gas savings of close to 400Mg CO2 per ha.

Potential recovery of aluminum, titanium, lead, and zinc from tailings in the abandoned Picher mining district of Oklahoma

The abandoned Picher mining district in northeastern Oklahoma, part of the Tri-State mining district, was the largest source of sulfide ores of lead and zinc in the U.S.A. in the early twentieth century. After abandonment in the 1960s, numerous environmental problems caused by the abandoned mines and large tailings piles affected the district and surrounding areas with contamination of water, soils, vegetation, wildlife, and humans with lead and other metals. Current (2011) cleanup efforts in the district include separation of coarse and fine tailings particles, sales of the coarse particles (which consist mostly of dolomite and chert) for use as aggregate in asphalt, and burial of metals-rich fine tailings below ground to reduce exposure to and transport of toxic metals. Analysis in this paper indicates that reprocessing these tailings to extract remaining aluminum, titanium, lead, and zinc may be feasible. The value of lead and zinc in the tailings of this abandoned mining district probably are not sufficient to justify recovery of metals from the tailings at current market prices, but potential recovery of aluminum and titanium from these tailings may provide sufficient returns to justify the costs associated with reprocessing the fine tailings remaining in this district.

Effects of Mining-Derived Metals on Riffle-Dwelling Crayfish in Southwestern Missouri and Southeastern Kansas, USA

Riffle-dwelling crayfish populations were sampled at 16 sites in 4 tributaries of the Spring River located within the Tri-State Mining District in southwest Missouri. Crayfish density, physical habitat quality, and water quality were examined at each site to assess the ecological effects of mining-derived metals on crayfish. Metals (lead, zinc, and cadmium) were analyzed in samples of surface water, sediment, detritus, and whole crayfish. Sites were classified a posteriori into reference, mining, and downstream sites primarily based on metal concentrations in the materials analyzed. Three species of crayfish (Orconectes neglectus neglectus, O. macrus, and O. virilis) were collected during the study; however, only O. n. neglectus was collected at all sites. Mean crayfish densities were significantly lower at mining sites than at reference sites. Mean concentrations of metals were significantly correlated among the materials analyzed and were significantly greater at mining and downstream sites than at reference sites. Principal component analyses showed a separation of sites due to an inverse relationship among crayfish density, metals concentrations, and physical habitat quality variables. Sediment probable-effects quotients and surface-water toxic unit scores were significantly correlated; both indicated risk of toxicity to aquatic biota at several sites. Metals concentrations in whole crayfish at several sites exceeded concentrations known to be toxic to carnivorous wildlife. Mining-derived metals have the potential to impair ecosystem function through decreased organic matter processing and nutrient cycling in streams due to decreased crayfish densities.