Helena National Forest Reclamation Evaluations
Principal Investigator: Dr. Rich McNearny
rmcnearny@mtech.edu
This project utilized ion resin capsules to study the upward movement
of metals from contaminated subsoils into the clean topsoil and
fill material that were placed as covers. Both upland and wetland
sites were investigated at three reclaimed mine sites in the Helena,
Montana National Forest; and the sites were the Ontario Mine, the
Armstrong Mine, and the Upper Valley Forge Mine. Elements of interest
were arsenic, cadmium, copper, iron, lead, and zinc. Resin capsules
were collected and analyzed on a monthly basis for a six month period
and these results were compared to soil samples collected from each
of the resin capsule locations. An attempt was made to discern any
trend in metals movement through the reclaimed areas, but generally
the data was scattered.
For the most part, it was found that arsenic and metals migration
did not occur through the upland regions. Arsenic transport appeared
to be attenuated by the reclamation techniques used at wetland sites,
but these techniques did not appear to prevent movement of the other
elements studied through site soils. It is possible that openly
draining adits supplied a continuous metals input to the wetland
sites.
MWTP Activity IV, Project 29
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