Montana Tech THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA |
||
|
Research 98 Back to Past Research Activities Page In This Issue In-Depth
Look at Young
Researchers Geologic
Maps Environmental Research
Activity Chemistry
Building
________________ Student Production Design & Editing Team: |
In-Depth Look at Berkeley Pit Lake Steve Anderson An interdisciplinary team of Montana Tech researchers is currently studying several aspects of the Berkeley Pit-Lake system to better understand the system as a whole. These studies may lead to new or improved remediation technologies to be used during future cleanup. The projects are funded through the Mine Waste Technology Program (MWTP). The MWTP is sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the Department of Energy (DOE) and implemented by MSE Technology Applications, Inc., in Butte, Montana. The underlying theme of all MWTP projects is remediation and/or control of current or future mine waste problems. The information obtained from the studies will be used to predict future water qualities, to evaluate the natural rate of remediation, to determine if partial in situ remediation may be practical prior to expensive pump and treat remediation, and to predict water quality for similar bodies of water in the United States. The following research is being conducted on the Berkeley Pit Lake:
Biological Survey of the Berkeley Pit-Lake System The research of Grant Mitman,
Montana bureau of Mines and Geology
personnel and Sulphate-reducing Bacteria Activity in Berkeley Pit-Lake Sediments and Potential for In Situ Bioremediation Grant Mitman and graduate student Mark Phillip are conducting research to determine if there is sulfate- reducing bacteria (SRB) activity in the Berkeley Pit-Lake sediments and how these organisms could be utilized for an in situ bioremediation process. Sulphate-reducing bacterias reduce sulfate to sulfide that may react with dissolved metals to form highly insoluble metal sulfides. Bicarbonate, another product of sulfate reduction, has the potential to reduce Pit-water acidity. Enhancing rates of sulfate reduction in the sediments may provide an effective mechanism for remediating water in the Berkeley Pit. The key to starting in situ bioremediation of the Berkeley Pit Lake could be to activate the SRBs present in the sediment by offering suitable nutrient sources. To date, SRBs have been isolated from water samples collected during November 1997. The sediment samples for this project will be collected during the spring and summer of 1998. Deep Water and Sediment/Pore Water Characterization and Interactions Larry Twidwell, Professor of Metallurgy; Dick Berg, Industrial Minerals Geologist; Courtney Young, Associate Professor of Metallurgy; and graduate student Ray Ziolkowski will test the thesis that conditions formed in the sediment system allow the formation of metal sulfides. If sulfide is found in the sediment, conditions will be favorable for long term, environmentally safe storage of metal-bearing compounds. Also, if strong reducing conditions exist in the sediment layer, the pore water is anticipated to be much cleaner than the surface water. If the thesis of this research is proved, it is possible the relatively clean water could be pumped from the sediment region and released with only some sort of polishing. To date, the core sampling effort has been unsuccessful. However, a small amount of the top layer of sediment has been collected and characterized. Characterization of Berkeley Pit Surface Water Courtney Young; Hsin Huang, Professor of Metallurgy; and graduate student Marty Bennett will research the natural phenomena occurring near the surface of the Berkeley Pit Lake, such as the effects of ultraviolet light on the water. Data collected will provide a basic understanding of water quality in the Berkeley Pit, determine how fast the water can renew itself (to ensure a constant supply of water), and show how naturally occurring processes can be enhanced and developed into a remediation strategy. This research will apply to similar pits and ponds created by metal mines throughout the western United States. At present, a large column has been constructed to study the effects of ultraviolet light on the water. Investigation into the Types and Amounts of Organic Substances in the Berkeley Pit Water Doug Cameron, Professor of Chemistry, and graduate student Licette Hammer are currently researching the amounts and types of organic compounds in the Berkeley Pit water. There are several potential sources for organic carbon in the Pit water, such as decay products from in situ biological life forms, humic substances naturally present in the influent water, and hydrocarbon fuels and lubricants. The source and concentration of the organic carbon determines the carbon’s effects on the Pit-lake chemistry and any beneficial or detrimental effects on various remediation technologies. Preliminary samples have been analyzed for total organic carbon. Determination of Sedimentation Rates William Chatham, Director of the Analytical Facility at the Kelley Mine, and graduate student James Jonas are conducting experimental work to determine the sedimentation rate and sediment properties with respect to depth in the Berkeley Pit water column. Sediment samples will be examined to identity crystalline and/or amorphous solid phases and the concentrations of minor and trace elements in each solid phase. The results obtained from this research will provide guidance as to which treatment technology would be the most beneficial, in situ or ex situ. To date, a vertical profile has been analyzed at three different points in the Berkeley Pit to a depth of 300 feet. Sampling Berkeley Pit Lake The Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology (MBMG) is responsible for collecting samples from the Berkeley Pit Lake. Several MBMG personnel, including James Madison, Mike Kerschen, Fred Schmidt, and Jodey Kougioulis, will collect a variety of samples over several separate sampling events. Samples will include water at different depths from three or four locations. The deepest samples will be taken from approximately 900 feet. Sediment core samples will be taken at the 200-foot level and at the deepest point in the Pit. Each of these Berkeley Pit-Lake research projects will be managed independently by Steve Anderson and Sam Worcester with a deliverable required for each project. The Project Managers will see that all projects are synthesized and that information flows swiftly between researchers. Monthly Pit-Lake research seminars will be held with each team member presenting their latest results. Although the Berkeley Pit-Lake system is the test bed, other water systems will be studied when possible. The focus of the research will remain fluid enough to apply the remediation strategies determined in Butte to other pit-lake systems.
The Berkeley Pit-Lake Research Team. Front
left to right, |
|
[../../#] |
