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Hydrogeologic analysis of an abandoned tailings pile Item Info

Several tailings ponds have recently been filled and abandoned in the Coeur d'Alene Mining District in northern Idaho. The abandonment of mine tailings piles may have detrimental effects on the water resource system in the immediate area by leaching of metals from the movement of precipitation through the pile material. This report presents the results of a study by the Idaho Bureau of Mines and Geology and the University of Idaho College of Mines, in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Mines, on the hydrogeologic factors that control the movement of ground-water through the abandoned Page tailings pile in the Coeur d'Alene Mining District in northern Idaho. A data collection network was installed to collect data on ground water flow systems and ground-water quality in and surrounding the pile. Analysis of water level data showed the existence of a ground-water mound under the east portion of the tailings pile. The flow system in the pile is dynamic and responds both to precipitation events and to periods of no recharge. A finite element steady-state mathematical model was constructed to help interpret the ground-water flow system in the Page pile. A sampling and testing program of the pile provided information on values of hydraulic conductivity. These data were incorporated as input to the mathematical model. Operation of the model showed that the location and fluctuations of the regional ground-water table and the quantity of recharge to the tailings pile from precipitation were the primary controlling factors for the location and height of the ground-water mound under the east side of the pile. The rate of discharge of subsurface water from the pile was estimated from model operation to be about 2000 gallons per day per acre. This rate of discharge along with water quality data from the tailings pile showed that zinc reaches the immediate area outside the pile at a rate of about 17.8 pounds per day equal to about 0.1 percent of the total daily quantity of zinc carried by the South Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River at Smelterville during low flow.

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Title:
Hydrogeologic analysis of an abandoned tailings pile
Authors:
Morilla, Albert Garcia
Date Created (ISO Standard):
1975-05
Description:
Several tailings ponds have recently been filled and abandoned in the Coeur d'Alene Mining District in northern Idaho. The abandonment of mine tailings piles may have detrimental effects on the water resource system in the immediate area by leaching of metals from the movement of precipitation through the pile material. This report presents the results of a study by the Idaho Bureau of Mines and Geology and the University of Idaho College of Mines, in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Mines, on the hydrogeologic factors that control the movement of ground-water through the abandoned Page tailings pile in the Coeur d'Alene Mining District in northern Idaho. A data collection network was installed to collect data on ground water flow systems and ground-water quality in and surrounding the pile. Analysis of water level data showed the existence of a ground-water mound under the east portion of the tailings pile. The flow system in the pile is dynamic and responds both to precipitation events and to periods of no recharge. A finite element steady-state mathematical model was constructed to help interpret the ground-water flow system in the Page pile. A sampling and testing program of the pile provided information on values of hydraulic conductivity. These data were incorporated as input to the mathematical model. Operation of the model showed that the location and fluctuations of the regional ground-water table and the quantity of recharge to the tailings pile from precipitation were the primary controlling factors for the location and height of the ground-water mound under the east side of the pile. The rate of discharge of subsurface water from the pile was estimated from model operation to be about 2000 gallons per day per acre. This rate of discharge along with water quality data from the tailings pile showed that zinc reaches the immediate area outside the pile at a rate of about 17.8 pounds per day equal to about 0.1 percent of the total daily quantity of zinc carried by the South Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River at Smelterville during low flow.
Subjects:
mine wastes heavy metals water pollution
Location:
Coeur d'Alene Basin
Latitude:
47.52
Longitude:
-116.56
Collection:
Coeur d'Alene Basin
Rights:
Rights to the digital resource are held by the University of Idaho. http://www.uidaho.edu/
Publisher:
University of Idaho
Contributing Institution:
University of Idaho
Type:
Text
Format:
application/pdf
Cataloger:
wbv
Date Digitized:
2012

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Source
Preferred Citation:
"Hydrogeologic analysis of an abandoned tailings pile", Idaho Waters Digital Library, University of Idaho Library Digital Collections, https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/iwdl/items/iwdl-cda_morilla_1975.html
Rights
Rights:
Rights to the digital resource are held by the University of Idaho. http://www.uidaho.edu/
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