Chemical Data for Rock, Sediment, 

Biological, Precipitate, and Water 

Samples from Abandoned Copper Mines 

in Prince William Sound, Alaska 

By Randolph A. Koski1 and LeeAnn Munk2, editors 

1

U.S. Geological Survey, Mail Stop 901, 345 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025 2

University of Alaska-Anchorage, Department of Geological Sciences, Anchorage, 

AK 99508 

Open-File Report 2007-1359 

2007 

U.S. Department of the Interior 

U.S. Geological Survey 
U.S. Department of the Interior 

DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Secretary 

U.S. Geological Survey 

Mark D. Myers, Director 

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia 2007

For product and ordering information:

World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod

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Suggested citation:

Koski, R.A., and Munk, LeeAnn, eds., 2007, Chemical data for rock, sediment, biological, 

precipitate, and water samples from abandoned copper mines in Prince William Sound, Alaska: 

U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2007-1359 [http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2007/1359/]. 

Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply 

endorsement by the U.S. Government. 

Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual 

copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted material contained within this report. 

ii
Contents 

Chapter A. Introduction 

By Randolph A. Koski, LeeAnn Munk, Wayne C. Shanks, III, Lisa L. Stillings, and 

Andrea L. Foster ............................................................................................................1 

Chapter B. Chemical data for sulfide-rich rock samples 

By Randolph A. Koski...................................................................................................3 

Chapter C. Chemical data for sediment samples 

By Randolph A. Koski and Wayne C. Shanks, III.........................................................7 

Chapter D. Chemical data for biological samples 

By LeeAnn Munk and Randolph A. Koski..................................................................12 

Chapter E. Chemical data for precipitate samples 

By Andrea L. Foster...........................................................................(link to Chapter E) 

Chapter F. Chemical data for water samples 

By Lisa L. Stillings, LeeAnn Munk, and Wayne C. Shanks ..................(in preparation) 

Acknowledgments........................................................................................................14 

References Cited ..........................................................................................................14 

Figures 

1. Location of abandoned copper mines in Prince William Sound................................2 

Tables 

1. Locations and descriptions of rock samples ..............................................................4 

2. Chemical data for rock samples.................................................................................5 

3. Locations and descriptions of sediment samples.......................................................7 

4. Chemical data for sediment samples .........................................................................8 

5. Types and locations of biological samples ..............................................................12 

6. Chemical data (dry weight) for biological samples .................................................13 

7. Locations and descriptions of precipitate samples.........................(link to Chapter E) 

8. Chemical data for precipitate samples ...........................................(link to Chapter E) 

9. Locations and descriptions of water samples......................................(in preparation) 

10. Chemical data for water samples ......................................................(in preparation) 

iii
Conversion Factors 

Multiply By To obtain 

Length 

meter (m) 3.281 foot (ft) 

kilometer (km) 0.6214 mile (mi) 

Volume 

liter (L) 33.82 ounce, fluid (fl. oz) 

liter (L) 61.02 cubic inch (in3) 

Mass 

milligram (mg) 3.215 x 10-5 ounce, troy (oz) 

milligram (mg) 3.527 x 10-5 ounce, avoirdupois (oz) 

Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) as 

follows: °F=(1.8×°C)+32 

Datum

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1927 

(NAD 27) 

iv
1

Chapter A. Introduction 

By Randolph A. Koski, LeeAnn Munk, Wayne C. Shanks, III, 

Lisa L. Stillings, and Andrea L. Foster 

 In the early 20th century, approximately 6 million metric tons of copper ore were 

mined from numerous deposits located along the shorelines of fjords and islands in 

Prince William Sound, Alaska. At the Beatson, Ellamar, and Threeman mine sites (fig. 

1), rocks containing Fe, Cu, Zn, and Pb sulfide minerals are exposed to chemical 

weathering in abandoned mine workings and remnant waste piles that extend into the 

littoral zone. Field investigations in 2003 and 2005 as well as analytical data for rock, 

sediment, precipitate, water, and biological samples reveal that the oxidation of sulfides 

at these sites is resulting in the generation of acid mine drainage and the transport of 

metals into the marine environment (Koski and others, 2008; Stillings and others, 2008). 

 At the Ellamar and Threeman sites, plumes of acidic and metal-enriched water are 

flowing through beach gravels into the shallow offshore environment. Interstitial water 

samples collected from beach sediment at Ellamar have low pH levels (to ~3) and high 

concentrations of metals including iron, copper, zinc, cobalt, lead, and mercury. The 

abundant precipitation of the iron sulfate mineral jarosite in the Ellamar gravels also 

signifies a low-pH environment. At the Beatson mine site (the largest copper mine in the 

region) seeps containing iron-rich microbial precipitates drain into the intertidal zone 

below mine dumps (Foster and others, 2008). A stream flowing down to the shoreline 

from underground mine workings at Beatson has near-neutral pH, but elevated levels of 

zinc, copper, and lead (Stillings and others, 2008). Offshore sediment samples at Beatson 

are enriched in these metals. Preliminary chemical data for tissue from marine mussels 

collected near the Ellamar, Threeman, and Beatson sites reveal elevated levels of copper, 

zinc, and lead compared to tissue in mussels from other locations in Prince William 

Sound (Koski and others, 2008). 

 Three papers presenting results of this ongoing investigation of sulfide oxidation 

in Prince William Sound are in press. Koski and others (2008) provide an overview of 

rock alteration, surface water chemistry, and the distribution of metals at the Ellamar, 

Threeman, and Beatson mine sites. Based on a 60-day, stream-discharge experiment at 
Beatson in 2005, Stillings and others (2008) analyze changes in water chemistry during 

storm events and the flux of metals to the shoreline. Foster and others (2008) investigate 

the biomass and diversity of microbial communities present in surface waters (streams, 

seeps, pore waters) using fatty acid methyl ester (FAMES) data and principal component 

analysis. The publications cited above contain a subset of the total chemical data for 

rock, sediment, biological, precipitate, and water samples collected from the three mine 

sites in 2003 and 2005. The purpose of this report is the presentation of complete 

chemical data sets for all samples collected during the two field periods of fieldwork. 

Data for a small number of samples collected at two other mines (Schlosser and Fidalgo, 

fig. 1), visited in 2003, are also included in the tables. 

Figure 1. Location of abandoned copper mines in Prince William Sound. Chemical data 

for samples from named mines are presented in this report. 

2
Chapter B. Chemical data for sulfide-rich rock samples 

By Randolph A. Koski 

 During fieldwork in Prince William Sound in 2003 and 2005, sulfide-bearing rock 

samples were collected at five mine sites from surface and underground mine workings, 

mine talus, ore bunkers, ore and waste dumps, and beach gravels (table1). Most samples 

are massive sulfide dominated by sulfide minerals including pyrrhotite, pyrite, 

chalcopyrite and sphalerite or semi-massive sulfide composed of sulfide minerals plus 

variable amounts of quartz, chlorite, talc, and carbonate minerals (Koski and others, 

2008). Three of the samples (two from Threeman, one from Beatson) are deeply 

weathered, and contain abundant amorphous iron oxyhydroxide. 

Twenty rock samples were analyzed in laboratories of the U.S. Geological Survey 

in Denver, Colorado (table 2). Most major and trace elements were determined by 

inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry following multi-acid (HCl-HNO3-HClO4-

HF) digestion (Briggs and Meier, 2002). Mercury was determined by cold-vapor atomic 

absorption spectroscopy (Brown et al., 2002a), Se by hydride-generation atomic 

absorption spectrophotometry (Hageman et al., 2002), total S and total C by combustion 

(Brown and Curry, 2002a,b), and CO2 and carbonate carbon by coulometric titration 

(Brown et al., 2002b). Additional details regarding sample preparation and detection 

limits are found in Taggert (2002). In addition, gold in fourteen samples was analyzed by 

the fire assay technique at XRAL Laboratories, Toronto, Canada. Detailed mineralogical 

descriptions and electron microprobe data for sulfide minerals are presented in Koski and 

others (2008). 

3
Table 1. Locations and descriptions of rock samples. 

Sample number Mine site Latitude Longitude Sample location Sample description; major minerals PWS-03-100 Ellamar 60°53.674' -146°42.082' beach gravel, intertidal massive sulfide; pyrite PWS03R-1 Ellamar 60°53.674' -146°42.082' beach gravel at low tide line massive sulfide; pyrite, carbonate PWS03R-8A2 Ellamar 60°53.682' -146°42.080' beach gravel, intertidal massive sulfide; chalcopyrite, pyrite, c

PWS03R-8A3 Ellamar 60°53.682' -146°42.080' beach gravel, intertidal massive sulfide; pyrite, sphalerite PWS03R-8C Ellamar 60°53.682' -146°42.080' beach gravel above high tide line massive sulfide; pyrite, chalcopyrite, q

PWS03R-9 Ellamar -146°42.120' 

PWS03R-5A Threeman 60°51.186' -146°32.266' 05PWSB002R Beatson 60°03.189' -147°54.143' 05PWSB004Rb Beatson 60°03.238' dump 05PWSB005R Beatson 60°03.167' -147°54.078' dump 05PWSB007Ra Beatson 60°02.890' dump 05PWSB011R Beatson 60°02.962' -147°54.272' dump 

60°53.696 outcrop, eastern edge of glory hole massive pyrite; pyrite 

05PWSE006R Ellamar 60°53.679' -146°42.085' beach gravel, intertidal massive sulfide; pyrite 05PWSBR001Ra Ellamar 60°53.678' -146°49.304' Busby Reef a massive sulfide; pyrite, chalcopyrite 

PWS03R-3A Threeman 60°51.266' -146°34.600' ore bunker on beach semi-massive sulfide; chalcopyrite, pyr

PWS03R-4A Threeman 60°51.203' -146°32.281' mine talus below lowest adit massive sulfide; pyrrhotite, chalcopyri

rubbly ore pile at base of slope massive sulfide, oxidized; pyrrhotite ch

05PWST003R Threeman 60°51.186' -146°32.266' rubbly ore pile at base of slope 

dump 

massive sulfide, oxidized; sulfur, chlin

mine massive sulfide; chalcopyrite; pyrrhoti

-147°54.035' mine massive sulfide; chalcopyrite, talc 

mine massive sulfide; quartz, chalcopyrite 

-147°54.250' mine semi-massive sulfide; quartz, chalcopy

05PWSB007Rb Beatson 60°02.890' -147°54.250' mine dump semi-massive sulfide; quartz, carbonat

mine massive sulfide, oxidized; quartz, pyrit

PWS03R-2C Fidalgo 60°47.905' -146°18.204' ore bunker on beach semi-massive sulfide; pyrrhotite, chalc

SM-1 Schlosser n.r. n.r. mine talus below adit massive sulfide; pyrite 

 aEllamar ore sample collected from ship wreck site on Busby Reef  n.r. = not recorded 

4
Table 2. Chemical data for rock samples. 

Sample numbers PWS-03-100 PWS03R-1 PWS03R-8A2 PWS03R-8A3 PWS03R-8C PWS03R-9 05PWSE006R 05PWSBR001R

Mine site Ellamar Ellamar Ellamar Ellamar Ellamar Ellamar Ellamar Ellamar 

Element Method Units Al ICPMS wt. % 0.077 1.3 0.121 0.399 0.166 0.049 0.293 0.215 CO2 CT wt. % n.a. n.a. 3.42 3.09 6.72 0.03 0.01 0.05 

CARB C CT wt. % n.a. n.a. 0.93 0.84 1.83 0.01 <0.003 0.01 

C(total) COMB wt. % n.a. n.a. 1.1 0.97 1.89 0.1 0.09 0.09 Ca ICPMS wt. % 0.035 4.16 0.505 2.43 4.21 0.028 0.007 0.003 Fe ICPMS wt. % 38 23 26 28 30 42 41 24 

K ICPMS wt. % <0.002 0.036 <0.002 0.004 <0.002 <0.002 0.107 <0.002 

Mg ICPMS wt. % 0.068 0.362 0.202 0.205 0.209 0.0206 0.0146 0.0749 Na ICPMS wt. % 0.004 0.011 0.004 0.027 0.002 0.010 0.078 0.009 P ICPMS wt. % <0.0008 0.007 <0.0008 0.001 0.001 <0.0008 <0.0008 <0.0008 

S COMB wt. % n.a. n.a. 34.6 38.2 35.7 49.9 52 34 

Ti ICPMS wt. % 0.004 0.021 <0.004 0.004 <0.004 <0.004 0.026 0.008 

Ag ICPMS mg/kg n.a. n.a. 27 28 21 17 26 12 

As ICPMS mg/kg 380 75 88 1000 120 320 280 250 

Au FA mg/kg n.a. n.a. 1.17 20.3 1.48 2.91 1.8 1.77 

Ba ICPMS mg/kg 24 272 13 156 57 13 54 2.7 Be ICPMS mg/kg 0.008 0.07 0.01 0.08 0.02 0.006 0.02 0.008 

Bi ICPMS mg/kg n.a. n.a. 11 0.11 4.5 3.7 5.8 3.6 

Cd ICPMS mg/kg 5.9 5.8 9.8 477 7.4 18 2.7 3.6 

Ce ICPMS mg/kg <0.05 10 <0.5 0.84 2.3 <0.5 <0.5 2.4 

Co ICPMS mg/kg 25.5 416 786 7.7 435 62 14 529 

Cr ICPMS mg/kg 3.4 17 1.6 1.6 0.8 0.4 2.8 2.6 

Cs ICPMS mg/kg 0.02 0.11 0.05 0.03 0.03 0.02 0.06 0.02 

Cu ICPMS mg/kg 7760 67200 122000 2010 58200 3140 1360 150000 

Ga ICPMS mg/kg 1.6 6.1 6.4 120 1.8 3.6 2.3 2 

Hg CVAA mg/kg n.a. n.a. 0.64 61 0.05 4.4 7.2 0.48 

La ICPMS mg/kg <0.3 5.1 <0.3 0.71 1.7 <0.3 <0.3 1.2 

Li ICPMS mg/kg <0.2 38 <0.2 1.2 <0.2 <0.2 <0.2 <0.2 

Mn ICPMS mg/kg 68 638 334 359 453 255 6.3 14 

Mo ICPMS mg/kg 14 4.4 13 18 15 16 16 0.92 

Nb ICPMS mg/kg <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 

Ni ICPMS mg/kg 8.2 29 1.5 4.8 2.6 1.7 4.6 3.4 

Pb ICPMS mg/kg 93 23 23 325 42 185 258 32 Rb ICPMS mg/kg 0.06 1.5 0.05 0.11 0.03 0.06 3.2 0.05 

Sb ICPMS mg/kg 9.7 1.4 1.6 23 4.2 16 6.4 7.7 Sc ICPMS mg/kg 0.4 2.4 <0.3 0.3 <0.3 <0.3 0.6 0.5 

Se HYD mg/kg n.a. n.a. 200 7.2 170 17 140 440 

Sr ICPMS mg/kg 2.3 39 4.3 24 30 1.1 2.3 4.6 

Ta ICPMS mg/kg n.a. n.a. <0.2 <0.2 <0.2 <0.2 <0.2 <0.2 

Th ICPMS mg/kg 0.03 1.9 0.06 0.08 0.06 <0.03 0.38 0.49 

Tl ICPMS mg/kg 22 2.6 2.4 17 3.9 8.5 0.59 1.9 U ICPMS mg/kg 0.26 2.1 4.6 4.9 2.8 1.7 0.97 0.16 V ICPMS mg/kg 5.3 27 7.4 42 4.6 8.8 9.3 4.5 

Y ICPMS mg/kg <0.3 4.9 <0.3 0.58 0.94 <0.3 <0.3 <0.3 

Zn ICPMS mg/kg 1880 1800 3740 169000 2460 7700 679 1030 

 ICPMS = Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry; CT = Coulometric titration; COMB = Combustion in Leco analyzer; FA = Fire assay; CVAA = Cold vapor-atomHydride generation-atomic absorption spectrophotometry; CARB C = carbonate carbon; n.a. = not analyzed 

5
Table 2. (cont.) 

Sample numbers PWS03R-5A 05PWST003R 05PWSB002R 05PWSB004Rb 05PWSB005R 05PWSB007Ra 05PWSB007Rb 05PWSB

Mine site Threeman Threeman Beatson Beatson Beatson Beatson Beatson Beatson 

Element Method Units Al ICPMS wt. % 0.900 1.18 0.083 1.8 0.436 0.828 0.20 5.69 CO2 CT wt. % <0.01 0.04 0.17 0.02 0.13 <0.01 4.64 1.08 

CARB C CT wt. % <0.003 0.01 0.05 0.01 0.04 <0.003 1.27 0.29 

C(total) COMB wt. % <0.01 0.67 0.06 0.05 0.03 0.03 1.27 0.46 Ca ICPMS wt. % 0.078 0.213 0.068 0.054 0.064 0.036 1.86 0.799 Fe ICPMS wt. % 44 40 22 21 16 19 23 14 

K ICPMS wt. % 0.003 0.060 <0.002 <0.002 <0.002 <0.002 0.003 0.043 

Mg ICPMS wt. % 0.0625 0.578 0.106 4.53 0.516 1.18 0.987 8.97 

Na ICPMS wt. % 0.010 0.107 0.006 0.003 0.004 0.003 0.006 0.007 P ICPMS wt. % <0.0008 0.002 <0.0008 0.038 0.011 0.016 <0.0008 0.045 S COMB wt. % 35.3 14.3 32.2 19.7 22.3 29.8 24 3.59 Ti ICPMS wt. % <0.004 0.064 <0.004 0.006 0.005 0.005 <0.004 0.063 

Ag ICPMS mg/kg 7.5 4.8 54 45 64 64 47 7.7 

As ICPMS mg/kg 8.7 13 22 24 9.5 340 9100 66 

Au FA mg/kg 0.042 0.013 0.082 0.069 0.066 0.157 1.61 0.015 

Ba ICPMS mg/kg <0.5 13 9.8 14 8.6 9.8 66 147 Be ICPMS mg/kg 0.004 0.03 0.009 0.08 0.04 0.04 0.03 0.22 

Bi ICPMS mg/kg 2.7 1.9 12 45 21 16 59 3.7 

Cd ICPMS mg/kg 5.1 1.8 24 13 7.3 14 153 3.1 Ce ICPMS mg/kg <0.5 0.95 <0.5 0.84 0.8 1.5 1.9 29 

Co ICPMS mg/kg 580 97 143 114 52 268 70 18 Cr ICPMS mg/kg 0.3 49 <0.2 5.9 2.2 4.5 1.2 69 

Cs ICPMS mg/kg 0.01 0.06 0.02 0.04 0.03 0.03 0.07 0.25 

Cu ICPMS mg/kg 36200 26700 155000 95600 150000 106000 73600 10400 

Ga ICPMS mg/kg 0.45 2.9 1.6 14 2.6 3.9 2.8 15 Hg CVAA mg/kg 0.04 0.04 0.06 0.02 <0.02 <0.02 <0.02 2.9 La ICPMS mg/kg <0.3 0.45 <0.3 0.41 0.41 0.6 1.1 16 

Li ICPMS mg/kg <0.2 <0.2 <0.2 1.3 2.1 0.2 <0.2 7.5 

Mn ICPMS mg/kg 73 380 132 184 128 114 1350 1450 Mo ICPMS mg/kg 1.8 19 0.93 11 1.2 0.68 2.1 0.67 Nb ICPMS mg/kg <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 

Ni ICPMS mg/kg 129 19 45 5 17 12 17 12 

Pb ICPMS mg/kg 5.1 4.7 27 52 404 559 4150 69 

Rb ICPMS mg/kg 0.28 1.1 0.11 0.07 0.07 0.06 0.11 1.3 

Sb ICPMS mg/kg 0.08 0.42 4.3 1.9 3.1 7.1 134 2.1 Sc ICPMS mg/kg <0.3 4.5 <0.3 1.1 0.5 0.8 0.6 9 Se HYD mg/kg 380 170 200 210 280 210 78 16 

Sr ICPMS mg/kg 1.5 11 5.1 4.1 2.4 1.8 128 109 

Ta ICPMS mg/kg <0.2 <0.2 <0.2 0.28 <0.2 <0.2 <0.2 0.33 

Th ICPMS mg/kg <0.03 0.16 0.04 0.35 0.33 0.33 0.1 4.7 

Tl ICPMS mg/kg 0.02 0.03 0.2 0.09 0.2 0.71 0.75 0.07 U ICPMS mg/kg 0.05 1.8 0.04 1.3 0.13 0.14 0.04 0.71 V ICPMS mg/kg 1.3 39 1.1 21 4 11 1.7 86 

Y ICPMS mg/kg <0.3 2.2 <0.3 0.96 0.46 0.54 3.1 3.6 

Zn ICPMS mg/kg 1320 706 7690 3500 2390 4760 57000 1170 

6
7

Chapter C. Chemical data for sediment samples 

By Randolph A. Koski and Wayne C. Shanks, III 

 During studies of sulfide oxidation in coastal areas of Prince William Sound in 2003 and 

2005, sediment samples were collected from the intertidal zones and in offshore locations near 

several abandoned mine sites (table 3). Intertidal sediment samples from the beach environment 

range from fine to coarse sand whereas offshore samples are mixtures of mud, silt, and fine sand. 

The offshore samples were collected by dredging and coring devices deployed from a small boat as 

well as by remotely operated vehicle. Twenty-six sediment samples from the Ellamar, Threeman, 

and Beatson sites were analyzed in laboratories of the U.S. Geological Survey in Denver, Colorado 

(table 4). Major and trace elements were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass 

spectrometry following multi-acid (HCl-HNO3-HClO4-HF) digestion (Briggs and Meier, 2002) 

except for mercury, which was analyzed by cold-vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy (Brown et 

al., 2002). Additional details regarding sample preparation and detection limits are found in 

Taggert (2002). A discussion of metal concentrations in the sedimentary deposits is presented in 

Koski and others (2008). 

Table 3. Locations and descriptions of sediment samples. 

Sample Number Mine site Latitude Longitude Sample Location Sample Description 

03Ellamar-Pit 1 Ellamar 60°53.682' -146°42.083' intertidal zone near Ellamar pier, beach pit sand with jarosite precipitate 

03Ellamar-Pit 2 Ellamar 60°53.682' -146°42.083' intertidal zone near Ellamar pier, beach pit sand with jarosite precipitate 

03Ellamar-Pit 3 Ellamar 60°53.682' -146°42.083' intertidal zone near Ellamar pier, beach pit sand with jarosite precipitate 

03Ellamar-Pit 4 Ellamar 60°53.682' -146°42.083' intertidal zone near Ellamar pier, beach pit sand with jarosite precipitate 

03Ellamar-Pit 5 Ellamar 60°53.682' -146°42.083' intertidal zone near Ellamar pier, beach pit sand with jarosite precipitate 

PWS03-SELL-4 Ellamar n.r. n.r. shallow offshore near end of Ellamar pier sand 

PWS03S-3 Ellamar 60°53.696' -146°42.134' offshore, bottom of Ellamar glory hole silt 

PWS030S-102 Ellamar n.r. n.r. offshore mud 

05PWSE-002S Ellamar 60°53.662' -146°41.998' upper intertidal zone red beach sand 

05PWSE-008S Ellamar 60°53.637' -146°42.156' offshore, 6 m water depth olive brown silt and sand 

05PWSE-108S Ellamar 60°53.701' -146°42.239' shallow offshore, near Ellamar glory hole brownish-black sand 

05PWSE-110R Ellamar 60°53.653' -146°42.093' offshore, near low tide line dark gray sand 

05PWSE-111S Ellamar 60°53.653' -146°42.093' offshore, near low tide line black mud and silt 

05PWSE-112S Ellamar 60°53.582' -146°42.355' offshore, 5 m water depth gray sand 

05PWSE-207S Ellamar 60°53.680' -146°42.086' intertidal zone near Ellamar pier, beach pit brown sand 

05PWSE-208S Ellamar 60°53.680' -146°42.086' intertidal zone near Ellamar pier, beach pit brown sand 

05PWST-115S Threeman 60°51.068' -146°32.124' offshore, 14 m water depth olive-brown silt 

05PWST-118S Threeman 60°51.068' -146°32.243' lower intertidal zone sand with Fe-oxyhydroxide precipitate 

05PWST-120S Threeman 60°51.150' -146°32.247' offshore, 3 m water depth olive-brown silt 

05PWST-304S-1 Threeman 60°51.206' -146°32.228' intertidal zone, beach pit gray sand 

05PWST-305SM-1 Threeman 60°51.180' -146°32.260' intertidal zone, beach pit gray sand 

05PWST-306SM-2 Threeman 60°51.182' -146°32.261' intertidal zone, beach pit olive-brown sand 

05PWST-308SM-1 Threeman n.r. n.r. upper intertidal zone beach sand near ore pile 

05PWSB-010S Beatson 60°03.287' -147°54.344' offshore, 33 m water depth gray-brown mud and silt 

05PWSB-101S Beatson 60°03.209' -147°54.201' offshore, near low tide line sand 

05PWSB-104S Beatson 60°03.213' -147°54.272' offshore, low tide line sand 

n.r. = not recorded 
8

Table 4. Chemical data for sediment samples. 03Ellamar- 03Ellamar- 03Ellamar- 03Ellamar- 03Ellamar- PWS03- PWS03S- PWS030S- 05PWSE- 05PW

Sample numbers Pit 5 Pit 4 Pit 2 Pit 1 Pit 3 SELL-4 3 102 

site mar Ellamar Ellamar Ellamar Ellamar Ella r mar Ellam

002S 008S 

Mine Ella ma Ellamar Ellamar Ella 

Location intertidal intertidal intertidal intertidal intertidal offshore glory hole offshore intertidal offsh

Element Method Units Al ICPMS wt. % 2.99 0.65 3.65 4.19 5.37 5.84 7.06 6.12 4.75 6.56 Ca 0.494 1.87 0.124 Fe 9.95 4.65 K 2.73 1.14 1.60 

Mg 1.24 1.64 0.64 Na 0.624 0.206 0.695 1.8 1.87 3.48 0.746 

P % 0.066 Ti 0.451 0.466 0.21 Ag ICPMS 2.5 0.50 0.70 0.34 3.5 As ICPMS mg/kg 64 16 160 7.1 

 

Ba mg/kg 76 150 96 224 635 500 865 528 466 590 Be mg/kg 1.3 0.9 0.86 Bi ICPMS mg/kg 15 3.0 5.1 2.6 2 0.23 1.8 0.090 

Cd ICPMS mg/kg 0.06 Ce ICPMS 35 29 23 30 Co ICPMS 50 68 14 11 7.5 14 22 11 32 8.0 Cr ICPMS 91 80 70 94 Cs ICPMS mg/kg 2 2.2 4.0 2.5 1.8 1.9 Cu mg/kg 4400 2240 2450 1440 1310 294 2020 374 3690 41 Dy mg/kg 0.82 0.22 0.91 0.75 1.2 3.6 n.a. n.a. 

Er mg/kg 0.45 0.14 0.45 0.34 0.56 2.1 n.a. n.a. 

Eu mg/kg n.a. n.a. 

Ga ICPMS 17 14 16 14 Gd mg/kg 0.98 0.21 1.32 0.87 1.7 3.2 n.a. n.a. 

Ge ICPMS mg/kg 23 2.2 4.0 1.4 1.9 0.75 n.a. n.a. 

Hg CVAA mg/kg a. n.a. n.a. n. n.a. 3 0.060 Ho mg/kg n.a. 

In mg/kg 0.35 0.12 0.15 0.13 0.18 < La ICPMS mg/kg 7.0 2.0 11 8.8 15 17 16 12 16 Li ICPMS 73 34 43 51 Mn mg/kg 106 64 34 8.5 161 554 375 543 230 502 Mo ICPMS 12 20 31 4.4 Nb ICPMS mg/kg 4.7 5.5 7.8 6.0 

Nd ICPMS mg/kg 6.1 1.7 9.3 6.9 12 14 17 15 

ICPMS wt. % 0.061 0.028 0.046 0.042 0.059 3.66 1.32 

ICPMS wt. % 18.8 40.6 24.5 18.6 19.3 5.86 19 3.4 

ICPMS wt. % 1.27 2.02 2.43 2.8 1.07 1.53 1.28 

ICPMS wt. % 0.281 0.0713 0.148 0.0888 0.512 1.61 1.42 

ICPMS wt. % 0.786 3.05 1.65 

ICPMS wt. 0.0514 0.0284 0.023 0.0177 0.0808 0.174 0.152 0.116 0.057 

ICPMS wt. % 0.219 0.0874 0.253 0.256 0.311 0.456 0.37 

mg/kg 62 5.5 12 1.0 <3 

284 346 196 43 191 23 

Au ICPMS mg/kg 9.9 1.8 0.60 < 0.2 < 0.2 < 0.2 < 0.2 < 0.2 n.a. n.a. 

ICPMS 

ICPMS 0.76 0.12 0.72 0.64 1.0 0.88 1.1 

0.3 1.1 

1.4 0.38 3.4 0.031 <0.01 0.70 0.78 0.30 0.33 

mg/kg 14 4.0 22 17 29 26 

mg/kg mg/kg 38 9.8 35 38 66 81 

2.1 0.26 1.6 2.4 3.

ICPMS ICPMS 3.2 3.9 

ICPMS 1.6 2.4 ICPMS 0.42 0.066 0.38 0.29 0.49 0.93 1.1 1.0 

mg/kg 12 9.7 12 11 15 13 

ICPMS 3.7 3.6 

1.7 0.67 

n.a. n.a. n. a. n.a. 1.

ICPMS 0.15 0.041 0.17 0.12 0.21 0.76 0.62 0.81 n.a. 

ICPMS 0.

14 

01 0.33 0.10 n.a. n.a. 

mg/kg 20 5.3 14 16 31 33 

ICPMS 

mg/kg 88 26 13 11 18 9.3 

3.1 1.5 3.8 3.5 6.3 9.0 

n.a. n.a. 

 ICPMS = Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry; CVAA = Cold vapor-atomic absorption spectrometry; n.a. = not analyzed 
Table 4. (cont.) 

03Ellamar- 03Ellamar- 03Ellamar- 03Ellamar- 03Ellamar- PWS03- PWS03S- PWS030S- 05PWSE- 05PWS

Sample numbers Pit 5 Pit 4 Pit 2 Pit 1 Pit 3 SELL-4 3 102 002S 008S 

Mine site Ellamar Ellamar Ellamar Ellamar Ellamar Ellamar Ellamar Ellamar Ellamar Ellama

Location intertidal intertidal intertidal intertidal intertidal offshore glory hole offshore intertidal offshor

Element Method Units Ni ICPMS mg/kg 12 3.6 6.0 1.0 7.8 32 28 27 11 26 Pb ICPMS mg/kg 1480 297 581 33 139 149 202 44 128 13 

Pr ICPMS mg/kg 1.6 0.44 2.5 1.9 3.3 3.3 4.0 3.8 n.a. n.a. 

Rb ICPMS mg/kg 28 6.9 44 51 61 38 62 41 46 46 

Re ICPMS mg/kg 0.052 0.012 < 0.01 < 0.01 < 0.01 0.01 < 0.01 0.011 n.a. n.a. 

Sb ICPMS mg/kg 157 15 14 2.2 5.6 1.5 4.5 1.0 9.4 0.44 

Sc ICPMS mg/kg 6.3 1.9 8.2 8.8 12 13 14 14 10 16 

Se ICPMS mg/kg 58 30 32 26 21 2.4 7.2 2.0 n.a. n.a. 

Sm ICPMS mg/kg 1.3 0.35 1.8 1.3 2.3 3.2 3.7 3.5 n.a. n.a. Sn ICPMS mg/kg 182 10 8.4 4.0 4.6 364 25 25 n.a. n.a. 

Sr ICPMS mg/kg 77 32 75 128 91 354 164 261 119 180 

Tb ICPMS mg/kg 0.15 0.036 0.18 0.12 0.23 0.54 0.56 0.59 n.a. n.a. 

Te ICPMS mg/kg 4.5 3.3 2.7 1.6 1.7 < 0.2 0.72 < 0.2 n.a. n.a. 

Th ICPMS mg/kg 2.4 1.2 1.9 1.4 4.2 2.8 5.0 3.2 3.3 4.4 

Tl ICPMS mg/kg 28 5.8 1.8 6.4 2.6 0.56 0.86 0.59 1.9 0.54 

Tm ICPMS mg/kg 0.070 0.026 0.069 0.059 0.092 0.32 0.22 0.33 n.a. n.a. 

U ICPMS mg/kg 2.0 0.83 0.91 0.64 1.4 3.2 3.1 6.8 4.5 2.8 

V ICPMS mg/kg 95 43 77 91 150 154 172 146 136 134 

W ICPMS mg/kg 4.2 0.66 0.81 0.55 0.81 0.98 1.4 0.92 n.a. n.a. Y ICPMS mg/kg 2.8 0.91 3.2 2.5 4.1 18 13 19 5.2 14 Yb ICPMS mg/kg 0.41 0.16 0.43 0.34 0.54 1.7 1.3 1.8 n.a. n.a. 

Zn ICPMS mg/kg 512 356 861 37 105 198 982 158 527 86 

9
Table 4. (cont.) 

05PWSE- 05PWSE- 05PWSE- 05PWST- 05PWST- 05PWST- 05PWST- 05PWST- 05PWST- 05PWST- 

Sample numbers 112S 207S 208S 115S 118S 120S 304S-1 305SM-1 306SM-2 308SM-1 

Mine site Ellamar Ellamar Ellamar Threeman Threeman Threeman Threeman Threeman Threeman Threeman 

Location offshore intertidal intertidal offshore intertidal offshore intertidal intertidal intertidal intertidal 

Element Method Units Al ICPMS wt. % 6.88 4.69 1.71 8.52 5.08 8.2 10.4 10 7.14 1.36 Ca ICPMS wt. % 1.25 0.085 0.030 1.44 3.45 1.55 1.11 3.44 1.24 0.246 Fe ICPMS wt. % 3.6 18 34 4.0 18 4.3 4.8 9.9 7.6 47 

K ICPMS wt. % 1.66 1.48 0.538 1.54 0.597 1.57 1.94 0.71 0.284 0.0823 Mg ICPMS wt. % 1.51 0.538 0.197 1.78 2.01 2.06 2.15 4.66 3.50 0.654 

Na ICPMS wt. % 1.50 0.658 0.249 2.93 0.987 3.10 2.33 1.43 1.98 0.130 

P ICPMS wt. % 0.070 0.039 0.018 0.13 0.30 0.14 0.10 0.072 0.16 0.035 

Ti ICPMS wt. % 0.43 0.20 0.081 0.060 0.28 0.50 0.50 0.55 0.32 0.049 Ag ICPMS mg/kg <3 7.9 12 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 3.3 

As ICPMS mg/kg 11 170 380 9 67 11 9.1 7.9 9.7 21 

Au ICPMS mg/kg n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. 

Ba ICPMS mg/kg 801 183 223 660 274 643 909 299 93 21 Be ICPMS mg/kg 1.2 0.90 0.40 1.5 0.59 1.4 1.4 0.73 0.42 0.030 

Bi ICPMS mg/kg 0.12 1.5 11 0.17 0.16 0.18 0.13 0.16 0.28 4.1 

Cd ICPMS mg/kg 0.22 1.3 4.4 0.55 0.38 1.3 0.050 0.16 1.4 2.3 

Ce ICPMS mg/kg 34 24 8.1 48 17 38 43 20 10 1.4 

Co ICPMS mg/kg 7.9 38 187 10 12 13 14 27 28 204 

Cr ICPMS mg/kg 103 57 24 89 98 94 105 280 192 43 

Cs ICPMS mg/kg 2.1 2.0 0.73 3.2 1.2 3.3 2.9 0.99 0.49 0.080 

Cu ICPMS mg/kg 60.5 2120 3090 88.6 1300 114 377 870 4690 25800 Dy ICPMS mg/kg n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. 

Er ICPMS mg/kg n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. 

Eu ICPMS mg/kg n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. 

Ga ICPMS mg/kg 16 14 7.1 15 8.9 15 17 16 9.2 2.7 

Gd ICPMS mg/kg n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. 

Ge ICPMS mg/kg n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. 

Hg CVAA mg/kg 0.13 2.6 3.2 0.05 0.14 0.04 0.03 0.02 0.11 <0.02 

Ho ICPMS mg/kg n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. 

In ICPMS mg/kg n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. 

La ICPMS mg/kg 19 12 4.3 23 8.5 18 21 9.1 4.6 0.60 

Li ICPMS mg/kg 61 44 17 52 24 55 60 37 21 2.8 

Mn ICPMS mg/kg 469 232 115 830 888 854 951 2010 1650 470 

Mo ICPMS mg/kg 2.8 20 20 4.0 5.5 19 0.36 1.2 5.8 43 

Nb ICPMS mg/kg 11 6.2 2.7 16 5.2 13 14 8.1 2.8 < 2 Nd ICPMS mg/kg n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. 

10
Table 4. (cont.) 

05PWSE- 05PWSE- 05PWSE- 05PWST- 05PWST- 05PWST- 05PWST- 05PWST- 05PWST- 05PWST- 

Sample numbers 112S 207S 208S 115S 118S 120S 304S-1 305SM-1 306SM-2 308SM-1 

Mine site Ellamar Ellamar Ellamar Threeman Threeman Threeman Threeman Threeman Threeman Threeman 

Location offshore intertidal intertidal offshore intertidal offshore intertidal intertidal intertidal intertidal 

Element Method Units Ni ICPMS mg/kg 27 16 7.9 29 25 35 31 65 40 36 Pb ICPMS mg/kg 16 143 116 15 30 17 24 22 7.8 15 

Pr ICPMS mg/kg n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. Rb ICPMS mg/kg 57 46 18 55 20 55 66 22 5.8 1.6 

Re ICPMS mg/kg n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. Sb ICPMS mg/kg 0.48 14 15 0.62 0.82 0.82 0.86 0.47 0.35 0.90 

Sc ICPMS mg/kg 17 9.3 3.6 16 14 18 20 34 23 4.4 

Se ICPMS mg/kg n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. 

Sm ICPMS mg/kg n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. 

Sn ICPMS mg/kg n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. 

Sr ICPMS mg/kg 200 87 33 246 365 233 222 210 135 15 

Tb ICPMS mg/kg n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. 

Te ICPMS mg/kg n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. 

Th ICPMS mg/kg 5.1 3.1 1.4 7.3 2.4 6.0 7.6 3.1 1.1 0.17 

Tl ICPMS mg/kg 0.56 4.0 8.0 0.50 0.20 0.55 0.40 0.20 0.080 0.020 

Tm ICPMS mg/kg n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. 

U ICPMS mg/kg 2.6 2.5 1.1 3.6 2.6 8.6 2.4 1.5 6.5 7.3 V ICPMS mg/kg 155 114 47 134 172 151 177 258 140 42 

W ICPMS mg/kg n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. 

Y ICPMS mg/kg 15 6.7 2.2 21 14 20 15 19 15 2.2 

Yb ICPMS mg/kg n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. 

Zn ICPMS mg/kg 87 854 820 113 260 132 139 289 938 1100 

11
12

Chapter D. Chemical Data for Biological Samples 

By LeeAnn Munk and Randolph A. Koski 

Field investigations of sulfide oxidation at abandoned mine sites in coastal areas of Prince William 

Sound were conducted in 2003 and 2005. In 2005 marine organisms including mussels, barnacles, 

gastropods, clams, limpets, eelgrass, and algae were collected from intertidal zones at the Ellamar, 

Threeman, and Beatson sites (table 5). Biological samples were frozen shortly after collection, and were 

analyzed in laboratories of the U.S. Geological Survey in Denver, Colorado (table 6). Tissue from 

animal specimens was hand picked from shell material using tweezers and then freeze dried prior to 

grinding and analysis. Major and trace elements were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass 

spectrometry following multi-acid (HCl-HNO3-HClO4-HF) digestion (Briggs and Meier, 2002) except 

for mercury, which was analyzed by cold-vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy (Brown et al., 2002). 

Details regarding sample preparation and detection limits are found in Taggert (2002). Base metal 

concentrations in mussels collected near the three mine sites are compared to similar data for mussels 

from other locations in Prince William Sound in Koski and others (2008). 

Table 5. Types and locations of biological samples. 

Sample number Sample 

type Mine site Latitude Longitude Location description 

05PWS-E201m mussel Ellamar 60°53.653' -146°42.093' old pier piling 

05PWS-T2 mussel Threeman 60°51.180' -146°32.257' rocks near mine debris 

05PWS-T mussel Threeman 60°51.206' -146°32.228' rocks away from mine debris 

05PWS-204B mussel Beatson 60°03.145' -146°54.436' rocky point west of mine debris 

05PWS-204Bm mussel Beatson 60°03.145' -146°54.436' rocky point west of mine debris 

05PWS-203Bm mussel Beatson 60°03.145' -146°54.436' rocky point west of mine debris 

05PWS-T1b barnacle Threeman 60°51.180' -146°32.257' rocks near mine debris 

05PWS-204BA barnacle Beatson 60°03.145' -146°54.436' rocky point west of mine debris 

05PWS-204BB barnacle Beatson 60°03.145' -146°54.436' rocky point west of mine debris 

05PWS-T1g gastropod Threeman 60°51.180' -146°32.257' rocks near mine debris 

05PWS-203Bs gastropod Beatson 60°03.145' -146°54.436' rocky point west of mine debris 

05PWS-T201B clam Threeman 60°51.206' -146°32.228' beach sand near mine debris 

05PWS-T1l limpet Threeman 60°51.180' -146°32.257' rocks near mine debris 

05PWS-E201e eelgrass Ellamar 60°53.653' -146°42.093' shallow offshore near mine debris 

05PWS-E201a algae Ellamar 60°53.653' -146°42.093' intertidal algal mat near mine debris 
13

Table 6. Chemical data (dry weight) for biological samples. 

Sample numbers 05PWS- E201m 05PWS- T2 05PWS-T 05PWS- 204B 05PWS- 204Bm 05PWS- 203Bm 05PWS- T1b 05PWS- 204BA 05PWS- 204BB 05PWS- T1g 05PWS- 203Bs 05PW

T201B 

Organism mussel mussel m ssel m ssel ssel u u mu mussel barnacle barnacle barnacle gastropod gastropod clam 

Mine site Ellamar Threeman Threeman Beatson Beatson Beatson Threeman Beatson Beatson Threeman Beatson Three

Element Method Units 

Al ICPMS wt. % 0.050 6 0. 6 0. 2 22 0 5 34 14 14 11 7 

0.03 04 04 0. 0.05 0.05 0. 0. 0. 0. 0.03 

Ca PMS 20 86 1.05 0.59 05 80 56 86 .5 55 0.64 12 Fe 7 0. 6 6 1 8 0.05 1 20 0 0.12 9 6 K PMS 71 68 0.89 0.63 95 57 31 76 53 93 0.76 93 Mg PMS 59 40 0.70 0.27 54 29 53 93 77 45 0.83 70 Na PMS 23 04 4.34 1.22 58 16 97 42 27 50 1.17 33 P PMS 3 92 2 1.3 0 2 61 2 80 0 0.86 1 Ti 04 04 <0. 04 <0. 04 04 04 1 04 0Ag ICPMS <3 <3 

 PMS 8 9.7 7 0 6 6.9 4 0 12 13 

 PMS 8 5 5.4 9.9 21 13 18 86 81 

8 7 0. 4 0. 5 03 02 01 04 3 01 04 7 

g 05 8 05 5 0. 0 9 0. 0 0 0. 0 0 0 0

 PMS 9 1.0 3.4 6 2 8 0 95 3 5 

 PMS 5 <0. <0. 97 .7 5 78 

 PMS 79 1 1.3 0.68 86 81 0 5 89 9 3.7 1 

 PMS 0 6 1.8 2.9 3 7 8 9 12 8 3.6 2 

 PMS 02 02 0.02 0.04 08 04 03 11 04 04 0.08 02 

45 74 68 86 67 58 4 1 9 7 

Ga 06 10 06 20 0.20 20 0.20 34 0.02 07 34 0Hg 07 0.03 0.04 08 08 08 11 0.07 03 

La PMS <0. <0. 50 9 32 48 Li PMS 6 8 0 8 2.4 8 4.2 4 2.4 80 8 30 Mn 7 3 14 11 13 26 27 13 Mo PMS 27 41 0.53 0.26 26 30 60 59 77 46 0.47 46 Nb ICPMS <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 Ni PMS 0 4 1. 2 2 4 4 3 3 8.1 Pb PMS 95 92 30 4 3.0 9 1.5 4 3.9 9 5 

 PMS 7 2 2.9 3.8 4 6 6 4 6 8 5.2 2 

Sb 2 2 <0. 2 <0. 2 2 89 03 04 20 2 0.04 2 Sc <0. <0. 4 5 0.4 Sr 85 82 87 53 81 55 8 3 9 86 Th 3 3 3 03 0.08 03 0.05 16 0.07 08 09 3 Tl 01 0.01 7 01 02 0.02 02 02 02 0.02 03 9 U PMS 15 2 23 0.1 12 16 90 59 65 40 0.37 31 V PMS 5 3 1.6 2.4 2 5 0 0 1 8 4.5 6 Y 32 <0. 39 73 71 0.47 49 30 Zn PMS 7 7 157 177 4 4 0 0 0 5 117 91 

IC wt. % 1. 0. 1. 0. 3. 2. 10 0. 1. 

ICPMS wt. % 0.03 03 0.02 0.04 0.09 0.08 0. 0.08 0.09 0.03 

IC wt. % 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 

IC wt. % 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 1. 0. 

IC wt. % 3. 2. 2. 1. 1. 4. 3. 1. 4. 

IC wt. % 1. 0. 1. 2. 1. 0. 1. 0. 1. 1. 

ICPMS wt. % <0.0

<3 

<0.0 0

<3 <3 <3 

0 0.0051

<3 

<0.0 <0.0

<3 

0.01 <0.0

<3 

0.0069 0.0042 <0.0 

mg/kg <3 <3 <3 

As IC mg/kg 5. 5. 7. 5. 9. 8. 6.6 12 

Ba IC mg/kg 4. 3. 7.7 19 5.9 Be ICPMS mg/kg 0.00 0.00 00 00 0. 0. 0. 0. 0.00 0. 0. 0.00 

Bi ICPMS mg/k <0.0

0 

0.00 <0.0 0.00 01 0.00 03

13 

0.02 03 0.02 0.02 <0.0 

Cd IC mg/kg 3. 5. 3. 3. 6. 4. 0. 1. 1. Ce IC mg/kg < 0. <0.5 5 5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0. 18 0. 0. <0.5 

Co IC mg/kg 0. 1. 0. 0. 2. 1. 0. 2. 1. 

Cr IC mg/kg 2. 2. 3. 2. 8. 4. 3. 2.

Cs IC mg/kg 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 

Cu ICPMS mg/kg 56 45 23 1320 1020 22 

ICPMS 

CVAA 

mg/kg <0.0

07 

0. <0.0 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. <0.0 

mg/kg 0. 0. 0. 0. n.a. 0. n.a. 0. 0. 

IC mg/kg <0.3 <0.3 3 3 <0.3 <0.3 <0.3 0. 1. 0. 0. <0.3 

IC mg/kg 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 3. 0. 1. 0. 

ICPMS mg/kg 9. 8. 17 8 50 49 

IC mg/kg 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 

mg/kg <2 <2 <2 

IC mg/kg 1. 1. 1 <1 1. 1. 5. 2. 5. 6. 2.2 

IC mg/kg 0. 0. 0. 2. 2. 3. 1. 3. <0.2 

Rb IC mg/kg 2. 3. 4. 3. 1. 4. 2. 3. 3. 

ICPMS mg/kg <0.0 <0.0 0 0 <0.0 0. 0. 0. 0. <0.0 <0.0 

ICPMS mg/kg <0.3 <0.3 3 3 <0.3 <0.3 0. 0. <0.3 <0.3 <0.3 

ICPMS mg/kg 32 24 79 60 73 

ICPMS mg/kg <0.0 <0.0 <0.0 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. <0.0 

ICPMS mg/kg 0. 0.00 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0.00 

IC mg/kg 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 

IC mg/kg 1. 1. 4. 2. 2. 7. 3. 3. 1. 

ICPMS mg/kg <0.3 <0.3 <0.3 <0.3 0. 3 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 

IC mg/kg 11 11 17 30 89 99 61 13 

ICPMS = Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry; CVAA = Cold vapor-atomic absorption spectrometry; n.a. = not analyzed 
14

Acknowledgments 

We acknowledge Pamela Gemery of the USGS for her diligent efforts in processing 

samples and facilitating analytical work. Steve Nelson (USGS, retired) participated in the 

fieldwork and added substantial regional expertise to the project. Submarine observations and 

sampling were greatly facilitated through the use of an underwater camera system operated by 

Hank Chezar (USGS, Western Region Coastal and Marine Geology Team) and a remotely 

operated vehicle owned and operated by Dave Lovalvo (Eastern Oceanics, Inc.). We thank Kevin 

O’Toole, Mike Boyle, and Jerry O’Brien (USGS, Western Region Coastal and Marine Geology 

Team) for marine technical and logistical support prior to our field studies. We appreciate the 

superb support, friendship, and patience of David Janka, captain of the research vessel Auklet, 

and Annette Janka during all phases of our field studies in Prince William Sound. We also thank 

Chugach Alaska Corporation, represented by Mike Hoyt and Dave Phillips, and Tatitlek 

Corporation, represented by Clare Doig, for securing land use permits allowing access to 

corporation lands near the Ellamar and Threeman mine sites. 

Financial support for this study was provided by the Mineral Resources Program and the 

Coastal and Marine Geology Program, U.S. Geological Survey; West Coast & Polar Regions 

Undersea Research Center (part of NOAA’s National Undersea Research Program), University 

of Alaska, Fairbanks; Marine Minerals Technology Center–Arctic Seas Division, University of 

Alaska, Fairbanks; and the University of Alaska, Anchorage. 

This report has been significantly improved following the thoughtful reviews of Barry 

Moring and John Galloway. 

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15
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