U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Scientific Investigations Report 2007-5115

Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Streamflow, Water Quality, and Metal Loads from Chat 

Leachate and Mine Outflow into Tar Creek, Ottawa County, 

Oklahoma, 2005
Cover: Photograph showing seepage from chat piles entering Tar Creek. Photograph taken by Mark Becker, 

U.S. Geological Survey.
Streamflow, Water Quality, and Metal 

Loads from Chat Leachate and Mine 

Outflow into Tar Creek, Ottawa County, 

Oklahoma, 2005

By Caleb C. Cope, Mark F. Becker, William J. Andrews, and Kelli DeHay

Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Scientific Investigations Report 2007–5115

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. Meyers, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2008

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Suggested citation:

Cope, C.C., Becker, M.F., Andrews, W.J., and DeHay, Kelli, 2008, Streamflow, Water Quality, and Metal Loads from 

Chat Leachate and Mine Outflow into Tar Creek, Ottawa County, Oklahoma, 2005: U.S. Geological Survey, Scientific 

Investigations Report 2007–5115, 23 p.
iii

Contents

Abstract...........................................................................................................................................................1

Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................1

Purpose and Scope .............................................................................................................................5

Description of Study Area ...................................................................................................................5

Acknowledgments................................................................................................................................7

Methods...........................................................................................................................................................7

Location of Sampling Sites..................................................................................................................7

Water-Level Monitoring.......................................................................................................................7

Streamflow Measurements and Water-Quality Sampling ............................................................7

Metals Loads Calculation ...................................................................................................................7

Quality Assurance/Quality Control...................................................................................................10

Streamflow, Water Quality, and Metal Loads from Chat Leachate and Mine Outflow ...................10

Streamflow...........................................................................................................................................16

Water Quality.......................................................................................................................................16

Metal Loads from Chat Leachate and Mine Outflow....................................................................16

Summary........................................................................................................................................................19

References Cited..........................................................................................................................................22

Figures

1a–1b. Maps showing:

.

1b. Location of sampling sites and wells in Tar Creek Study Segment, Ottawa 

County, Oklahoma. ...............................................................................................................3

2. Photographs of : (A) tailings or “chat” pile near Picher, Oklahoma; (B) ironhydroxide-stained water along ditch draining to Tar Creek near Douthat, Oklahoma; 

and (C) fine-tailings in settling pond near Douthat, Oklahoma. ............................................4

3–4. Map showing:

3. Location of sites in Tar Creek Study Segment, Ottawa County, Oklahoma........6

4. Location of transects 1 and 2 in the Tar Creek Study Segment, Ottawa County, 

Oklahoma. .............................................................................................................................8

5. Hydrographs showing precipitation, stream discharge, stream-water levels, and 

water elevations in the chat pile prior to and during the sampling period, 

August 16–29, 2005. ......................................................................................................................9

Tables

1. Station name, station number, and location of sampling sites in the Picher mining 

district, Ottawa County, Oklahoma. ...........................................................................................5

2. Name and location of water-level monitoring wells in chat along Tar Creek in the 

Picher mining district, Ottawa County, Oklahoma.................................................................10

3. Water levels measured during August 2005 in water-level monitoring wells, in the 
iv

Picher mining district, Ottawa County, Oklahoma.................................................................11

 4. Quality assurance/quality control data for samples collected from stations on Tar 

Creek, Lytle Creek, and the Western location, Picher mining district, Ottawa County, 

Oklahoma. ....................................................................................................................................12

 5. Streamflow and water-quality data from stations on Tar Creek, Lytle Creek, and the 

Western location, Picher mining district, Ottawa County, Oklahoma................................13

 6. Calculated total and dissolved instantaneous metal loads from Tar Creek Study 

Segment in Ottawa County, Oklahoma....................................................................................17

 7. Calculated total and dissolved metal loads from chat leachate and mine outflow 

to Tar Creek in the Picher mining district in Ottawa County Oklahoma............................20

8. Total estimated metal load for the 14-day sampling period and percentage 

from source for the Tar Creek Study Segment, Ottawa County, Oklahoma. .....................21

9. Summary statistics of metal loads and streamflow from Tar Creek above Douthat 

Bridge, near Cardin, Oklahoma (071850875) sampled from August 16, 2005, to August 

29, 2005, in the Picher mining district, Ottawa County, Oklahoma......................................21

Conversion Factors and Datums

Multiply By To obtain

Length

inch (in.) 2.54 centimeter (cm)

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m)

Volume

cubic foot (ft3

) 0.02832 cubic meter (m3) 

Flow rate

cubic foot per second (ft3

/s) 0.02832 cubic meter per second (m3/s)

Mass

pound per day (lb/day) 2000 metric ton per day

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

°F=(1.8×°C)+32

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

°C=(°F-32)/1.8

Vertical coordinate information is referenced to National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 

(NGVD 29).

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83) and 

North American Datum of 1927 (NAD 27).

Specific conductance is given in microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius (μS/cm at 

25 °C).

Concentrations of chemical constituents in water are given either in milligrams per liter (mg/L) 

or micrograms per liter (μg/L).
Abstract

Picher mining district is an abandoned lead and zinc mining area located in Ottawa County, northeastern Oklahoma. 

During the first half of the 20th century, the area was a primary 

producer of lead and zinc in the United States. Large accumulations of mine tailings, locally referred to as chat, produce 

leachate containing cadmium, iron, lead, and zinc that enter 

drainages within the mining area. Metals also seep to local 

ground water and streams from unplugged shafts, vent holes, 

seeps, and abandoned mine dewatering wells. Streamflow 

measurements were made and water-quality samples were 

collected and analyzed from two locations in Picher mining 

district from August 16 to August 29 following a rain event 

beginning on August 14, 2005, to determine likely concentrations and loads of metals from tailings and mine outflows in 

the part of Picher mining district near Tar Creek.

Locations selected for sampling included a tailings pile 

with an adjacent mill pond, referred to as the Western location, 

and a segment of Tar Creek from above the confluence with 

Lytle Creek to below Douthat bridge, referred to as Tar Creek 

Study Segment. Measured streamflow was less than 0.01 cubic 

foot per second at the Western location, with streamflow only 

being measurable at that site on August 16, 2005. Measured 

streamflows ranged from <0.01 to 2.62 cubic feet per second 

at Tar Creek Study Segment.

One water-quality sample was collected from runoff at 

the Western location. Total metals concentrations in that sample were 95.3 micrograms per liter cadmium, 182 micrograms 

per liter iron, 170 micrograms per liter lead, 1,760 micrograms 

per liter zinc. Total mean metals concentrations in 29 waterquality samples collected from Tar Creek Study Segment from 

August 16–29, 2005, were 21.8 micrograms per liter cadmium, 

7,924 micrograms per liter iron, 7.68 micrograms per liter 

lead, and 14,548 micrograms per liter zinc. 

No metals loading values were calculated for the Western 

location. Metals loading to Tar Creek Study Segment were calculated based on instantaneous streamflow and metals concentrations. Total metals loading to Tar Creek from chat leachate 

ranged from 0.062 to 0.212 pound per day of cadmium, 

<0.001 to 0.814 pound per day of iron, 0.003 to 0.036 pound 

per day of lead, and 10.6 to 47.9 pounds per day of zinc.

Metals loading to Tar Creek Study Segment from chat 

leachate and mine outflow was determined by subtracting 

values at appropriate upstream and downstream stations. Four 

sources of calculated metal loads are from Tar Creek and Lytle 

Creek entering the study segment, from chat pile leachate, 

and from old Lytle Creek mine outflow. Less than 1 percent 

of total and dissolved iron loading came from chat leachate, 

while about 99 percent of total iron loading came from mine 

outflow. Total and dissolved lead loading percentages from 

chat leachate were greater than total and dissolved lead loading percentages from mine outflow. About 19 percent of total 

zinc loading came from chat leachate, about 29 percent of total 

zinc loading came from mine outflow, and about 52 percent of 

total zinc loading came from Lytle Creek.

Introduction 

Picher mining district, located in northeastern Ottawa 

County, Oklahoma (fig. 1), is part of Tri-State mining district, 

a 1,188-square-mile area in southwest Missouri, southeast 

Kansas, and northeast Oklahoma that was the most productive 

site of mining for sulfide ores of lead and zinc in the U.S. from 

the late 1830s to the 1970s, producing about 1.7 million tons 

of lead and 8.8 million tons of zinc (Gibson, 1972; Gibson, 

1982; State of Oklahoma, 2000; and Robertson, 2006). Picher 

mining district, included in the initial National Priority list of 

Superfund sites as the Tar Creek Superfund site by the U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency in 1983, is plagued by some 

of the most severe or widespread environmental degradation of 

any of the tens of thousands of abandoned mining sites in the 

U.S. (Ferderer, 1996; State of Oklahoma, 2000; and Robertson, 2006). 

When mining stopped about 1979, as much as 165–300 

million tons of mine tailings, some of which had been reprocessed one or more times to recover metals, remained in 

Picher mining district (State of Oklahoma, 2000). U.S. Army 

Corps of Engineers estimated in 2000 that 60 million cubic 

yards or 75 million tons of mine tailings remained in the 

Streamflow, Water Quality, and Metal Loads from Chat 

Leachate and Mine Outflow into Tar Creek, Ottawa 

County, Oklahoma, 2005

By Caleb C. Cope, Mark F. Becker, William J. Andrews, and Kelli DeHay
2 Streamflow, Water Quality, and Metal Loads from Chat Leachate and Mine Outflow into Tar Creek, Oklahoma, 2005

Picher

Mining

District

KANSAS

OKLAHOMA

MISSOURI

Index map

Miami

Picher

Treece

Baxter

Springs

Commerce

Quapaw

North Miami

Cardin

37°4'

2'

37°

58'

56'

54'

36°52'

94°46'

94°56' 54' 52' 50' 48'

0 1 2 MILES

0 1 2 KILOMETERS

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1987, 1:100,000

Universial Transverse Mercator projection

Zone 15

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American

 Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

Study area

KANSAS

OKLAHOMA

Cherokee County

Ottawa County

Tar Creek

Tar Creek

Lytle Creek

07185090

EXPLANATION

Zinc and lead mined

 area—(Brichta, 1960)

Surface-water site and

 number

071850818

Neosho River

69

69

69

69

59

59

166

166

7

66

HIST

66

HIST

66

HIST

66

HIST

69

ALT

69

ALT

10

10 10

137

137

125

44

44

Figure 1a. Location of study area in Ottawa County, Oklahoma.
Introduction 3

Figure 1b. Location of sampling sites and wells in Tar Creek Study Segment, Ottawa County, Oklahoma.

36°59 ́

30”

58’

36°57’30”

94°51’30” 51’ 30” 94°50’

0

0 150 300 450 600 METERS

500 1,000 1,500 2,000 FEET

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1987, 1:100,000

Albers Conic Equal-Area projection

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American

Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

 

Tar Creek

study segment

Cardin

Picher

Mill pond

EXPLANATION

Approximate boundary of chat pile

Surface-water site and number

Shallow monitoring well—Transect 1

Shallow monitoring well—Transect 2

071850818

071850825

071850875

071850870

07185088

071850818

Douthat

bridge

Mine discharge outflow

Old Lytle Creek

Lytle Creek

Tar Creek

Mine

collapse

Aerial photo from Oklahoma Conservation Commission

Western

location
4 Streamflow, Water Quality, and Metal Loads from Chat Leachate and Mine Outflow into Tar Creek, Oklahoma, 2005

district (State of Oklahoma, 2000). Large accumulations of 

gravel- to sand-sized mine tailings, locally referred to as chat, 

are present throughout the mining area (fig. 2). Ponds of siltand clay-sized by-products of the gravity separation process, 

referred to as mill pond wastes, are located near many of the 

chat piles. Chat and mill pond wastes contain metals associated with lead and zinc sulfide ores. Leachate from chat and 

mill pond wastes discharges to streams draining the mining 

area. Mining in the district occurred at depths below the water 

table, necessitating continuous pumping of ground water to 

prevent flooding of the workings. As mining ceased in the 

1970s, those pumps were turned off, the mine workings filled 

with ground water, and seeps of water with large concentrations of metals started to flow at the land surface and drain to 

local streams in late 1979 (State of Oklahoma, 2002). Outflow 

of water from the mine workings occurs from several locations 

in the mining area, including unplugged mine shafts, vent 

holes, seeps, and abandoned mine dewatering wells. Metals 

from mine outflows can comprise a substantial contribution 

to the total metal loading of streams. Information about the 

amount of metal loading from chat and mill pond waste and 

mine outflow is needed to evaluate the fate and transport of 

metals in the mining district.

Picher mining district was placed on the National Priorities List in September 1983, as part of the Tar Creek Superfund Site, making the district a subject of evaluation and 

reclamation activities conducted under the Comprehensive 

Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 

1980 (CERCLA), otherwise known as “Superfund,” which is 

administered by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 

and delegated state environmental agencies, such as Oklahoma 

Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ). CERCLA 

establishes procedures under law for cleanup of hazardous 

waste sites and reimbursement for such cleanup by collection 

from responsible parties or a trust fund. An Administrative 

Order on Consent was entered into in 1983 between EPA, U.S. 

Department of Interior, and two former mining operators to 

investigate the mine and mill residues remaining at the site. 

EPA divides parts of a superfund site into Operable Units, 

which may refer to geographical parts of a site or specific site 

problems to be remediated. The investigation of mine and mill 

residues is designated by EPA Region 6 as Operable Unit 4 

(Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, 2004). 

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with 

EPA, began a study in 2005 to characterize flow, collect waterquality data, and calculate loads of selected metals entering 

Tar Creek. Data collected for this report can be used to better 

A. B.

C.

Figure 2. Photographs of : (A) tailings or “chat” pile 

near Picher, Oklahoma; (B) iron-hydroxide-stained water 

along ditch draining to Tar Creek near Douthat, Oklahoma; 

and (C) fine-tailings in settling pond near Douthat, 

Oklahoma. (Photographs by Robert W. Nairn, University of 

Oklahoma.)
Introduction 5

understand the nature of metal loading to surface water systems adjacent to mine tailings and mine outflows.

Purpose and Scope 

The purpose of this report is to characterize streamflow, 

water-quality, and metals loads discharged to Tar Creek from 

chat leachate and mine outflow at two locations in Picher 

mining district in August 2005. Locations selected for surfacewater sampling were: (1) drainage from an individual chat pile 

with an adjacent mill pond, referred to as the Western location, 

and (2) a segment of Tar Creek from above the confluence 

with Lytle Creek to below Douthat bridge, referred to as Tar 

Creek Study Segment location (figs. 1 and 3). The Western 

location contained one surface-water sampling site; whereas, 

Tar Creek Study Segment contained four surface-water 

sampling sites (fig. 1 and table 1). Sites were sampled over 

a 14-day period following a rainfall event until streamflow 

returned to pre-event status. One streamflow measurement was 

made and a water-quality sample was collected at the Western 

location. Seven streamflow measurements were made and 

seven water-quality samples were collected at each of the four 

sites in Tar Creek Study Segment.

Metal loading data are presented from two surface-water 

locations, one of which receives substantial water from an 

upstream mine outflow into Tar Creek. Instantaneous loads 

for total and dissolved cadmium, iron, lead, and zinc are 

calculated for samples collected. Results of this investigation 

will be used by EPA staff to estimate metal loading from chat 

leachate for the Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study 

(RI/FS) for Operable Unit 4 of Tar Creek Superfund Site. 

Description of Study Area

Picher mining district is located in northeastern Ottawa 

County (fig. 1) (McKnight and Fischer, 1970). Located upon 

flat prairie land between the Spring and Neosho Rivers near 

the Kansas/Oklahoma state line, the former mining communities of Picher, Commerce, Cardin, and Quapaw are included in 

the district (fig. 1). 

Lytle Creek is the main tributary to Tar Creek 

(figs. 1 and 3). Originally Lytle Creek flowed into an open 

mine collapse before entering Tar Creek just above the 

Douthat bridge (fig. 3). Oklahoma Water Resources Board 

and EPA diverted the flow of Lytle Creek away from the mine 

collapse in the mid-1980s in an attempt to reduce recharge of 

metals-contaminated runoff water to the Boone aquifer (Keheley and Pritchard, 2000). Although the main channel of Lytle 

Creek has been diverted away from the collapse, a substantial 

amount of mine outflow enters Tar Creek through the old Lytle 

Creek channel. Base flow in Tar and Lytle Creeks throughout 

Picher mining district to the Douthat bridge is mostly maintained by discharges from chat pile leachate and mill ponds. 

Substantial volumes of mine outflow enter Tar Creek downstream from Douthat bridge to U.S. Highway 69. 

Chat is deposited extensively throughout the Picher 

mining district. Chat is unconsolidated and highly permeable. 

Rainfall readily infiltrates chat and slowly seeps from the 

larger chat piles. Shale of the Krebs Group of Middle Pennsylvanian age underlies most of the land surface in the Picher 

mining district (McKnight and Fischer, 1970), creating a confining unit on top of which leachate from chat and millponds 

will tend to seep laterally to local streams. Rainfall reacts with 

the soluble minerals and mobilizes metals associated with 

residual ore minerals in the chat. 

Table 1. Station name, station number, and location of sampling sites in the Picher mining district, Ottawa County, 

Oklahoma. 

[dms, degrees minutes seconds; NAD 83, North American Datum of 1983; NAD 27, North American Datum of 1927]

Station name Station 

number Latitude

(dms)

Longitude

(dms)

Datum

Tar Creek near Cardin, Okla. 071850825 365746 945047 NAD 83

Lytle Creek near Cardin, Okla. 071850870 365744 945046 NAD 83

Tar Creek above Douthat Bridge, near Cardin, Okla. 071850875 365731 945042 NAD 83

Tar Creek near Picher, Okla. 07185088 365729 945044 NAD 27

Tar Creek Tributary at Western location 071850818 365839 945108 NAD 83
6 Streamflow, Water Quality, and Metal Loads from Chat Leachate and Mine Outflow into Tar Creek, Oklahoma, 2005

Figure 3. Location of sites in Tar Creek Study Segment, Ottawa County, Oklahoma.

36°57'30"

36°57'50"

40"

94°51' 50" 40" 94°50'30"

0

0 50 100 150 200 METERS

250 500 750 FEET

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1987, 1:100,000

Albers Conic Equal-Area projection

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American

 Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

EXPLANATION

Approximate boundary of chat pile

Surface-water site and number

Shallow monitoring well—Transect 1

Shallow monitoring well—Transect 2

07185088

Aerial photo from Oklahoma Conservation Commission

071850825

071850870

07185088 Douthat

bridge

Mine discharge outflow

Mine

collapse Figure 4 inset

Old

Lytle

Creek

Lytle Creek

Tar Creek

Tar

Creek

071850875

Chat

pile
Methods 7

Acknowledgments

Authors would like to thank all those who assisted in the 

collection of data for this report. Thanks to Sam Beets of the 

Bureau of Indian Affairs for access to the Western location. 

Gratitude is extended to Daniel Yeatts, Jerrod Smith, and Lyn 

Osburn, USGS, for their help in the review of the report, and 

to Tim Raines for technical support. 

Methods

Ground-water levels were monitored in the chat over a 

two-week period following a rain event on August 14 and 15, 

2005. Streamflow measurements and water-quality samples 

also were conducted and collected from Tar Creek and Lytle 

Creek during that two-week period. Metal loading values in 

pounds per day (lb/day) were calculated for cadmium, iron, 

lead, and zinc based on those streamflow measurements and 

water-quality data.

Location of Sampling Sites

Two locations were selected for surface-water sampling: 

Western location (Township 29N–Range 23E–Section 19) 

west of the town of Cardin, Oklahoma, and Tar Creek Study 

Segment (Township 29N–Range 23E–Sections 29 and 32) 

(fig. 1). The Western location contains one sampling site 

(071850818) (fig. 1 and table 1) located at a discharge point 

where a berm around a mill pond was breached and incised 

by previous runoff. Field reconnaissance indicated most of the 

runoff from the Western location flowed through that breach.

Tar Creek Study Segment is a reach of Tar Creek that 

passes through chat piles from above the confluence with Lytle 

Creek to Douthat bridge. Tar Creek Study Segment contains 

four sampling sites (071850825, 071850870, 071850875, and 

07185088) (fig. 3 table 1). A substantial amount of mine outflow enters Tar Creek just above Douthat bridge from the old 

Lytle Creek channel (fig. 3). Samples collected at Tar Creek 

near Picher, Okla. (site 07185088) contain both leachate from 

chat piles and mine outflow. 

Water-Level Monitoring

 Shallow monitor wells were installed along two transects 

in the chat at Tar Creek Study Segment (figs. 1, 4, 5, and 

table 2). Fifteen wells were driven to a depth of up to 

3 feet (ft) into chat. Ground-water levels were measured prior 

to surface-water sampling and during each day of surfacewater sampling (table 3), using an electric tape marked in 

increments of 0.01 ft (fig. 5).

Two wells near the chat pile (TCW 1.3 and TCW 2.2) 

were instrumented with pressure transducers and data loggers to continuously record ground-water levels in chat and 

to monitor response of ground-water levels in chat to precipitation. Ground-water levels were assumed to have returned 

to pre-event levels, seepage of chat leachate to Tar Creek 

returned to pre-event rates. 

Streamflow Measurements and Water-Quality 

Sampling 

Streamflow measurements were made coincident with 

collection of water-quality samples. Streamflow measurements were made using acoustic Doppler profiler (ACDP) 

and conventional current meters in accordance with protocols 

described in Rantz and others (1982). 

Water-quality samples were collected according to 

protocols described in USGS Techniques of Water-Resources 

Investigations (Wilde and Radtke, 1998 and 1999). Water 

properties were measured in the field in conjunction with each 

water-quality sample and streamflow measurement. Properties analyzed were: specific conductance, pH, temperature, 

turbidity, dissolved oxygen, oxidation-reduction potential, and 

alkalinity. 

Water-quality samples were placed in a churn splitter and 

homogenized for field processing. Samples to be analyzed for 

major ions and total metals were collected directly from the 

churn splitter. Samples to be analyzed for dissolved metals 

were passed through a 0.45-micrometer pore size capsule 

filter. Samples to be analyzed for metals were preserved with 

nitric acid. Water samples were analyzed by USGS National 

Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) in Lakewood, Colorado, 

for physical properties and for concentrations of dissolved 

major ions (calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and 

sulfate), total metals (cadmium, iron, lead, and zinc) and 

dissolved metals (cadmium, iron, lead, and zinc). Major ion 

and metals concentrations were determined at NWQL by 

the inductively coupled plasma (ICP) method (Faires, 1993). 

Suspended sediment concentrations were analyzed by USGS 

sediment laboratory in Rolla, Missouri. 

Metals Loads Calculation 

Metals loading estimates in pound per day (lb/day) were 

calculated by the following equation: 

Load (lb/day) = streamflow (ft3

/s) * metal concentration 

(mg/L) * 5.393 (lb*sec*L)/(day*ft3*mg)

where lb/day = pound per day

ft3/s = cubic foot per second,

mg/L = milligram per liter, and

 L = liter

Metals in water in Tar Creek Study Segment were 

assumed to have originated from four sources: (1) Tar Creek 

above the study segment, (2) Lytle Creek, (3) leachate from 

adjacent chat pile, and (4) mine outflow from old Lytle Creek 

directly above Douthat bridge (fig. 3). 

Estimated metals loading values entering the study segment from upper Tar Creek and Lytle Creek were calculated 
8 Streamflow, Water Quality, and Metal Loads from Chat Leachate and Mine Outflow into Tar Creek, Oklahoma, 2005

36°57'42"

39"

36°57'36"

94°50'51" 48" 45" 94°50'42"

0

0 10 20 30 40 METERS

50 100 150 200 FEET

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1987, 1:100,000

Albers Conic Equal-Area projection

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American

 Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

EXPLANATION

Aerial photo from Oklahoma Conservation Commission

TCW 2.1

TCW 2.2

TCW 2.3

TCW 2.4

TCE 2.3

TCE 2.2

TCE 2.1

TCE 1.1

TCW 1.1

TCW 1.2

Shallow monitoring well and identifier—Transect 1

Shallow monitoring well and identifier—Transect 2

Shallow monitoring well with pressure transducer

TCW 2.1

TCW 1.2

TCW 1.3

TCW 1.5

TCE 1.2

TCE 1.3

Transect 2

TCW 1.4

Transect 1

Tar

Creek

\\Sps1dkslwr\home\pubs\report_figs\13_0065becker\figures\fig_03

Figure 4. Location of transects 1 and 2 in the Tar Creek Study Segment, Ottawa County, Oklahoma.
Methods 

9

0

2.01.51.00.5

Total daily precipitation,

in inches

50

201510

07185090 Tar Creek near Commerce, Oklahoma07185090 Tar Creek near Commerce, Oklahoma

Streamflow, in 

cubic feet per second

803.7803.5803.3803.1802.9

365735094504701 Monitoring well TOW1.3

10987654321 11 12 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

802.2802.1802.0801.9801.8

365741094504901 Monitoring well TOW2.2

Water elevation, in feet above

National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929

August 2005

13 14 15

\\Sps1dkslwr\home\pubs\report_figs\13_0065becker\figures\fig_04

Figure 5. Precipitation, stream discharge, stream-water levels, and water elevations in the chat pile prior to and during the sampling period, August 16–29, 2005.
10 Streamflow, Water Quality, and Metal Loads from Chat Leachate and Mine Outflow into Tar Creek, Oklahoma, 2005

using water-quality samples and streamflow measurements at 

sites 071850825 and 071850870, respectively (fig. 3).

Estimated metals loading to Tar Creek Study Segment 

from chat leachate was determined by subtracting loads from 

sites upstream from chat pile (Tar Creek site 071850825 and 

Lytle Creek site 071850870) from Tar Creek site 071850875 

downstream from the chat pile (fig. 3). Estimated metals loading to Tar Creek Study Segment from mine outflow from old 

Lytle Creek above Douthat Bridge also was determined by 

subtracting loads in Tar Creek directly above the confluence 

with old Lytle Creek (site 071850875) from loads in Tar Creek 

directly below the confluence with old Lytle Creek 

(site 07185088) (fig. 3). 

Total cumulative loading estimates from chat leachate 

and mine outflow were calculated for the period beginning 

August 16 and ending August 30. Instantaneous loading 

values in pounds per day were interpolated throughout the 

14-day period. Loading values calculated for samples and 

streamflow measurements collected August 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 

and 29 were doubled to estimate cumulative loading values for 

August 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, and 30, when samples were not collected. Instantaneous loading value for August 26 was tripled 

to estimate cumulative loading on August 26–28. 

Quality Assurance/Quality Control

An equipment blank for major ions and metals was collected for sampling equipment using metals-grade blank water 

prior to data collection (table 4). One sample of laboratory 

deionized water used for decontamination from all sources 

was sent for analysis of major ions and metals. In addition, a 

field blank and a duplicate sample were collected and analyzed 

for major ions and metals (table 4) (Wilde and Radtke, 1999). 

Streamflow, Water Quality, and Metal 

Loads from Chat Leachate and Mine 

Outflow 

All streamflow measurements and water-quality samples 

were collected following a rain event beginning on August 14, 

2005. A total of about 3.3 inches of rainfall was recorded at 

USGS gaging station Tar Creek near Commerce (07185090) 

(fig. 1) on August 14–15 (fig. 5). Streamflow responded rapidly to rainfall over the study area and slowly declined to preevent conditions (fig. 5 and table 5). Rainfall readily infiltrated 

the unconsolidated chat and subsequently released leachate to 

Tar Creek. Streamflows generally declined over time following rainfall and ranged from less than 0.01 to 2.62 ft3

/s 

(table 5). Water-level elevations measured in wells installed 

Table 2. Name and location of water-level monitoring wells in chat 

along Tar Creek in the Picher mining district, Ottawa County, Oklahoma.

[*, recorder wells; dec, decimal degrees]

Well name Latitude

(dec)

Longitude

(dec)

TCE 1.1 36.94392 94.78561

TCE 1.2 36.95989 94.84555

TCE 1.3 36.95986 94.84558

TCE 2.1 36.96145 94.84612

TCE 2.2 36.96149 94.84623

TCE 2.3 36.96150 94.84632

TCW 1.1 36.95990 94.84624

TCW 1.2 36.95981 94.84604

TCW 1.3* 36.95963 94.84595

TCW 1.4 36.95971 94.84568

TCW 1.5 36.95968 94.84577

TCW 2.1 36.96125 94.84674

TCW 2.2* 36.96149 94.84664

TCW 2.3 36.96153 94.84698

TCW 2.4 36.96156 94.84646
Streamflow, Water Quality, and Metal Loads from Chat Leachate and Mine Outflow 11

Table 3. Water levels measured during August 2005 in water-level monitoring wells, in the Picher mining district, Ottawa County, Oklahoma.[feet above National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929; *, wells with pressure transducers; ND, no data]

Well 

number

Identifier

number

Land surface 

datum or 

water-level 

elevation

Measurement

date

8/11/2005

Measurement

date

8/16/2005

Measurement

date

8/17/2005

Measurement

date

8/18/2005

Measurement

date

8/20/2005

Measurement

date

8/22/2005

Measurement

date

8/24/2005

Measurement

date

8/26/2005

Measurement

date

8/29/2005

Transect 1

TCW 1.1 365736094504601 806.35 803.85 803.99 803.96 803.93 803.97 803.99 803.96 803.91 803.93

TCW 1.2 365735094504601 806.32 803.33 803.46 803.44 803.43 803.42 803.42 803.41 803.39 803.4TCW 1.3* 365735094504502 805.53 803.11 803.16 803.17 803.16 803.14 803.15 803.15 803.13 803.15TCW 1.5 365735094504501 801.55 799.16 799.2 799.23 799.26 799.25 799.24 799.24 799.24 799.23TCW 1.4 365735094504402 797.76 792.93 793.06 793.04 793.03 793.03 793.04 793.04 793.02 793.05

TCE 1.3 365735094504401 798.46 794.85 ND 794.9 794.81 794.71 794.78 794.78 794.75 794.77

TCE 1.2 365736094504401 801.54 796.88 798.23 797.92 797.74 797.35 797.35 797.35 797.27 797.15

TCE 1.1 365638094470801 803.89 dry 799.82 799.62 799.52 799.36 799.39 799.36 799.27 799.14

Transect 2

TCW 2.1 365740094504801 805.99 801.78 801.87 801.83 801.81 801.79 801.78 801.77 801.75 801.76TCW 2.2* 365741094504801 805.33 801.81 801.93 801.9 801.89 801.87 801.85 801.85 801.84 801.83TCW 2.3 365741094504901 800.75 798.81 798.8 798.83 798.78 798.78 798.78 798.77 798.75 798.74TCW 2.4 365741094504702 796.24 793.49 793.52 793.54 793.48 793.45 793.48 793.49 793.5 793.45

TCE 2.3 365741094504701 797.79 793.38 793.57 793.48 793.45 793.42 793.41 793.41 793.39 793.4TCE 2.2 365741094504602 800.57 dry 797.47 797.37 797.28 797.05 796.97 796.86 796.76 dryTCE 2.1 365741094504601 805.39 dry dry dry dry dry dry dry dry dry
12 Streamflow, Water Quality, and Metal Loads from Chat Leachate and Mine Outflow into Tar Creek, Oklahoma, 2005 Table 4. Quality assurance/quality control data for samples collected from stations on Tar Creek, Lytle Creek, and the Western location, Picher mining district, Ottawa County, Oklahoma.

[μS/cm, microsiemen per centimeter; deg C, degree Celsius; mg/L, milligram per liter; μg/L, microgram per liter; <. less than; –, not analyzed; E, estimated]

Sample 

type

Station 

number Date Time

Specific

conductance,

water

unfiltered lab,

(μS/cm

25 deg C)

Calcium 

water, 

filtered, 

(mg/L)

Magnesium,

water, 

filtered, 

(mg/L)

Sodium, 

water, 

filtered,

(mg/L)

Potassium, 

water, 

filtered, 

(mg/L)

Sulfate

water, 

filtered, 

(mg/L)

Chloride,

water, 

filtered, 

(mg/L)

Cadmium

water, 

filtered, 

(μg/L)

Cadmium water, 

unfiltered 

(μg/L )

Iron, 

water, 

filtered, 

(μg/L)

Equipment 

blank 07185088 9/07/2005 1500 4 <0.02 <0.008 <0.20 <0.16 <0.18 <0.20 <0.04 <0.04 <6

Lab DI sample 07185088 9/16/2005 1520 3 – – – – – – – <0.04 –Field blank 071850870 8/22/2005 1236 <3 <0.02 <0.008 <0.20 <0.16 <0.18 <0.20 <0.04 <0.04 <6Duplicate 07185088 8/20/2005 0836 2,250 560 48.4 19 2.46 1,410 8.73 25 25.2 32,100

Sample type Station number Date Time

Iron, water, 

unfiltered recoverable, 

(μg/L)

Lead water, 

filtered,

(μg/L)

Lead, water, 

unfiltered recoverable, 

(μg/L)

Zinc, water, 

filtered,

(μg/L)

Zinc, water, 

unfiltered recoverable, 

(μg/L)

Field blank 071850870 8/22/2005 1236 <6 <0.08 <0.06 0.7 E1.6

Equipment blank 07185088 9/07/2005 1500 <6 <0.08 <0.06 <0.6 <2

Lab DI sample 07185088 9/16/2005 1520 <6 – <0.06 – <2

Duplicate 07185088 8/20/2005 0836 32,200 0.1 7 11,400 11,100
Streamflow, Water Quality, and Metal Loads from Chat Leachate and Mine Outflow 13

Table 5. Streamflow and water-quality data from stations on Tar Creek, Lytle Creek, and the Western location, Picher mining district, 

Ottawa County, Oklahoma.

[ft3/s, cubic foot per second; unfiltered is total concentration and filtered is dissolved concentration for all constituents; μS/cm, microsiemen per centimeter; 

<, less than; LED, light emitting diode; FNU, formazin nephelometric unit; mg/L, milligram per liter; mV, millivolt; E, estimated; μg/L, microgram per liter; 

mm, millimeter]

Station

name

Date Time

Streamflow,

(ft3

/s)

Specific

conductance,

water

unfiltered

lab

(μS/cm 

25 degrees

Celsius)

Specific

conductance

water

unfiltered

field

(μS/cm

25 degrees

Celsius)

pH,

water,

unfiltered

field

(standard

Units)

Temperature,

water

(degrees

Celsius)

Turbidity,

infrared

LED

light,

detection

angle

90 degrees

(FNU)

Dissolved

oxygen

(mg/L)

Oxidation

reduction

potential,

(mV)

Alkalinity,

water

filtered

incremental

titration

field

(mg/L as

CaCO3

)

071850825 8/16/2005 1350 0.06 919 947 7.2 25.3 – 7.2 -38 138

8/18/2005 1115 0.09 909 935 7.1 25 2.2 5.3 -32 140

8/20/2005 1130 0.04 935 944 7.1 25.6 2.5 5.3 -77 142

8/22/2005 1325 0.03 960 956 7 25 1.8 6.3 -122 151

8/24/2005 1310 0.02 936 957 7.1 25.3 2.1 7.8 -8 152

8/26/2005 1145 0.02 932 958 7.1 25.9 2.5 11.3 -79 160

8/29/2005 1229 0.02 934 956 7 25.2 1.9 9.8 -115 165

071850870 8/16/2005 1415 1.58 1,780 1,820 6.7 29.6 – 7.8 -17 58

8/18/2005 1200 0.13 1,760 1,790 6.9 31.1 4 8.3 -49 76

8/20/2005 1030 0.04 1,820 1,830 7.1 29.1 1.5 7.8 -40 100

8/22/2005 1235 0.01 1,790 1,830 7.1 27.5 4.6 9 -8 118

8/24/2005 1215 0.02 1,780 1,820 7.2 32.5 1.7 9.8 -31 113

8/26/2005 1115 <0.01 1,850 1,890 7.2 30.3 5 11.4 -50 139

8/29/2005 1200 <0.01 1,980 2,000 6.9 28.6 1 11.4 -93 E146

071850875 8/16/2005 1125 1.62 1,850 1,880 6.9 26.6 3.1 8.5 17 72

8/18/2005 0950 0.52 1,860 1,880 7 25.7 1.7 7.9 -25 105

8/20/2005 0905 0.28 1,970 2,000 6.8 25.7 5.4 7.7 -63 101

8/22/2005 1115 0.28 2,050 2,000 7.1 26.4 2.9 10.1 -12 100

8/24/2005 1050 0.28 2,030 2,060 7 27.2 1.6 10.8 5 99

8/26/2005 0955 0.19 2,110 2,150 7 26.9 2 11.1 -32 102

8/29/2005 1050 0.2 2,170 2,200 7.1 26.4 2.2 13 -79 101

07185088 8/16/2005 1050 2.62 1,990 2,030 6.3 23.4 4.8 7.1 18 82

8/18/2005 0813 1.3 2,120 2,200 6.2 21.8 7.6 6.8 -21 103

8/20/2005 0835 0.87 2,240 2,270 6 19.6 7.6 7.7 -23 127

8/22/2005 1045 0.94 2,230 2,310 6 19.4 7.4 10.1 -52 114

8/24/2005 1030 0.86 2,240 2,340 6 18.8 7.8 13.5 -43 126

8/26/2005 0930 0.78 2,280 2,380 6 18.9 5.9 18.8 -27 131

8/29/2005 1025 0.69 2,310 2,390 5.9 18.2 6.4 16.5 -65 134

071850818 8/16/2005 1200 <0.01 2,040 2,070 7.1 30.5 – 8.4 – 69
14 Streamflow, Water Quality, and Metal Loads from Chat Leachate and Mine Outflow into Tar Creek, Oklahoma, 2005

Table 5. Streamflow and water-quality data from stations on Tar Creek, Lytle Creek, and the Western location, Picher mining district, 

Ottawa County, Oklahoma.—Continued

[ft3/s, cubic foot per second; unfiltered is total concentration and filtered is dissolved concentration for all constituents; μS/cm, microsiemen per centimeter; 

<, less than; LED, light emitting diode; FNU, formazin nephelometric unit; mg/L, milligram per liter; mV, millivolt; E, estimated; μg/L, microgram per liter; 

mm, millimeter]

Station

name

Date Time

Calcium

water,

filtered

(mg/L)

Magnesium,

water,

filtered

(mg/L)

Sodium,

water,

filtered

(mg/L)

Potassium,

water,

filtered

(mg/L)

Bicarbonate,

water

filtered

incremental

titration

field,

(mg/L)

Sulfate,

water,

filtered

(mg/L)

Chloride,

water,

filtered

(mg/L)

Cadmium,

water,

filtered

(μg/L)

Cadmium,

water,

unfiltered

(μg/L)

071850825 8/16/2005 1350 169 17.4 13 2.34 E166 335 14.4 7.09 7.68

8/18/2005 1115 191 20.6 16.7 3.07 170 330 15.5 4.27 5.04

8/20/2005 1130 181 17.6 14.2 2.52 – 343 14.9 3.32 4.28

8/22/2005 1325 190 18.5 13.7 2.5 183 349 13.8 3 3.78

8/24/2005 1310 172 18.5 13.2 2.54 185 344 13 2.91 4.27

8/26/2005 1145 184 19.7 13.3 2.59 194 341 12.6 2.24 3.1

8/29/2005 1229 190 20.2 13.7 2.51 200 339 12.4 1.83 2.72

071850870 8/16/2005 1415 345 38.8 19.5 8.46 E71 1,020 15.3 7.9 8.55

8/18/2005 1200 357 37.7 21.6 7.01 93 986 16.6 2.09 2.07

8/20/2005 1030 405 45.3 25.3 6.31 121 1010 17.5 1.26 1.13

8/22/2005 1235 408 45.2 25.6 5.98 143 994 17.6 1.09 1.13

8/24/2005 1215 372 45.6 26.1 5.55 136 969 17.1 0.7 0.83

8/26/2005 1115 397 50 26.7 5.54 169 1,000 18.1 1.26 1.36

8/29/2005 1200 442 52.4 29.1 5.05 E178 1,090 20.1 2.3 3.61

071850875 8/16/2005 1125 361 44 16.8 7.28 87 1,070 12.3 35 32.9

8/18/2005 0950 382 52.2 15.8 4.08 128 1,070 10.8 48.8 43.8

8/20/2005 0905 447 61.1 13.8 2.59 122 1,180 7.7 61.3 58

8/22/2005 1115 463 63.6 12.9 2.33 121 1,220 6.63 59.7 58

8/24/2005 1050 438 65.5 12.8 2.16 120 1,210 6.75 59.7 58.5

8/26/2005 0955 442 70 11.8 1.99 123 1,270 6.17 60.2 60.8

8/29/2005 1050 467 73.4 11.3 1.77 122 1,330 5.54 58.4 62

07185088 8/16/2005 1050 439 44.6 18.1 5.68 100 1,180 11.3 28.4 27.7

8/18/2005 0813 482 48.1 18.9 3.28 125 1,310 10.1 27.7 25.4

8/20/2005 0835 558 48.6 19 2.51 155 1,410 8.77 25.2 25

8/22/2005 1045 528 50.5 19.2 2.56 139 1,400 8.5 25.5 24.8

8/24/2005 1030 525 50.5 19 2.45 154 1,420 8.56 24.2 24.2

8/26/2005 0930 542 51.4 18.2 2.35 160 1,420 8.52 23.9 24.2

8/29/2005 1025 557 49.7 18.9 2.39 163 1,450 8.7 17 18.2

071850818 8/16/2005 1200 554 16.2 2.35 1.24 83 1,260 <1.00 103 95.3
Streamflow, Water Quality, and Metal Loads from Chat Leachate and Mine Outflow 15

Table 5. Streamflow and water-quality data from stations on Tar Creek, Lytle Creek, and the Western location, Picher mining district, 

Ottawa County, Oklahoma.—Continued

[ft3/s, cubic foot per second; unfiltered is total concentration and filtered is dissolved concentration for all constituents; μS/cm, microsiemen per centimeter; 

<, less than; LED, light emitting diode; FNU, formazin nephelometric unit; mg/L, milligram per liter; mV, millivolt; E, estimated; μg/L, microgram per liter; 

mm, millimeter]

Station

name

Date Time

Iron,

water,

filtered

(μg/L)

Iron,

water,

unfiltered

recoverable

(μg/L)

Lead,

water,

filtered

(μg/L)

Lead,

water,

unfiltered

recoverable

(μg/L)

Zinc,

water,

filtered

(μg/L)

Zinc,

water,

unfiltered

recoverable

(μg/L)

Suspended

sediment,

sieve

diameter

percent

(<.063mm)

Suspended

Sediment,

concentration

(mg/L)

071850825 8/16/2005 1350 51 586 0.81 10.2 4,160 4,280 60 4

8/18/2005 1115 11 509 0.21 6.5 3,330 3,510 50 3

8/20/2005 1130 86 645 0.21 8.5 3,210 3,140 67 3

8/22/2005 1325 116 676 0.34 10.4 3,050 3,120 83 5

8/24/2005 1310 86 821 0.23 26.7 2,800 3,420 60 12

8/26/2005 1145 145 727 0.16 8 2,700 2,750 50 6

8/29/2005 1229 102 662 0.14 10.2 2,370 2,430 93 4

071850870 8/16/2005 1415 300 1,100 0.61 10.3 59,900 59,900 70 17

8/18/2005 1200 762 1,560 E0.04 0.8 17,300 17,700 75 12

8/20/2005 1030 <6 441 0.14 0.5 4,530 4,430 54 4

8/22/2005 1235 E3 689 0.1 1.8 3,080 3,100 75 9

8/24/2005 1215 8 458 E0.07 1.6 1,620 1,670 57 6

8/26/2005 1115 8 170 0.25 0.8 2,360 2,260 71 4

8/29/2005 1200 E6 3,690 0.23 17.4 3,580 4,380 59 94

071850875 8/16/2005 1125 49 626 1.88 14.5 61,700 59,800 60 32

8/18/2005 0950 40 350 0.64 3.9 23,700 22,100 31 10

8/20/2005 0905 92 656 0.89 11.1 22,000 19,800 29 22

8/22/2005 1115 75 638 0.82 13.8 20,400 18,300 39 13

8/24/2005 1050 43 596 0.62 10.2 17,800 19,300 44 16

8/26/2005 0955 68 578 1.2 8.2 19,200 19,600 60 25

8/29/2005 1050 73 401 0.64 3.7 19,800 19,700 47 27

07185088 8/16/2005 1050 11,400 12,300 0.57 10.7 43,400 46,600 88 47

8/18/2005 0813 24,600 26,200 0.17 4.3 14,800 13,900 97 63

8/20/2005 0835 32,200 33,200 0.15 7 11,500 10,900 96 76

8/22/2005 1045 31,200 30,200 0.17 3.8 10,400 11,600 98 67

8/24/2005 1030 32,100 32,200 0.14 3.9 10,100 10,900 96 77

8/26/2005 0930 33,600 33,200 0.23 3.1 10,300 9,830 95 76

8/29/2005 1025 37,500 38,000 0.16 3.2 9,070 8,950 99 72

071850818 8/16/2005 1200 47 182 117 170 1,730 1,760 26 5
16 Streamflow, Water Quality, and Metal Loads from Chat Leachate and Mine Outflow into Tar Creek, Oklahoma, 2005

in the chat (table 3 and fig. 5) show general rise and decline 

as water moves through chat to the streams. Water-level 

elevations also show that gradient of flow is from chat to the 

streams (table 3). 

Streamflow

Only one streamflow measurement was collected August 

16 from runoff at the Western location (site 071850818) 

(table 5). Measured streamflow on August 16 was less than 

0.01 ft3/s, with streamflows after that date diminishing to levels too small to be measured. 

Seven streamflow measurements were made at each 

site in Tar Creek Study Segment during sampling (table 5). 

Streamflow measurements were made on August 16, 18, 20, 

22, 24, 26, and 29. No streamflow measurements were made 

in Tar Creek Study Segment after August 29 as streamflow 

values and water levels had returned to pre-rain event levels. 

Measured streamflow within Tar Creek Study Segment ranged 

from less than 0.01 to 2.62 ft3

/s. 

Water Quality

One water-quality sample was collected August 16 from 

runoff at the Western location (site 071850818) (table 5). 

Seven water-quality samples were collected at each of the 

four sites in Tar Creek Study Segment (table 5). Samples were 

collected on August 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, and 29. No waterquality samples were collected in Tar Creek Study Segment 

after August 29 as streamflow values and water levels had 

returned to pre-rain event levels.

Field measurements collected at the Western location 

(site 071850818) were as follows: Specific conductance 

2,070 microsiemens per centimeter at 25° Celsius (μS/cm), pH 

7.1 standard units, temperature 30.5 ° Celsius, dissolved oxygen 8.4 mg/L, and alkalinity 69 mg/L (table 5). No turbidity 

or oxidation-reduction potential readings were collected at this 

site due to equipment malfunction. 

Field measurements of specific conductance at Tar Creek 

Study Segment ranged from 935 to 2,390 μS/cm with a mean 

of 1,750 μS/cm (table 5). The pH ranged from 5.9 to 

7.2 standard units, with a mean of 6.8 standard units. Temperature ranged from 18.2 to 32.5 ° Celsius with a mean of 

25.4° Celsius. Alkalinity ranged from 58 to 165 mg/L with a 

mean of 118 mg/L. Turbidity ranged from 1 to 7.8 formazin 

nephelometric units, (fnu), with a mean of 3.3 fnu. Dissolved 

oxygen ranged from 5.3 to 18.8 mg/L with a mean of 

9.6 mg/L. Oxidation-reduction potential ranged from -122 to 

18 millivolts (mV) with a mean of -41 mV. 

Metals, with the exception of iron, at the Western location 

generally were predominate in the dissolved phase (table 5). 

Total cadmium concentration of the sample collected at the 

Western location (site 071850818) was 95.3 micrograms per 

liter (μg/L) and dissolved cadmium concentration was 

103 μg/L. A dissolved cadmium concentration greater than the 

total cadmium concentration can be the result of the analytical 

or sampling process. Total iron concentration was 182 μg/L, 

while dissolved iron concentration was 47 μg/L. Total and 

dissolved lead concentrations were 170 and 117 μg/L, respectively. Total zinc concentration was 1,760 μg/L and dissolved 

zinc concentration was 1,730 μg/L. 

Cadmium and zinc at Tar Creek Study Segment generally were predominate in the dissolved phase, while total iron 

and lead generally were predominate (table 5). Total cadmium 

concentrations of samples collected from Tar Creek Study 

Segment ranged from 0.83 to 62 μg/L with a mean of 

21.18 μg/L (table 5). Total iron concentrations ranged from 

170 to 38,000 μg/L with a mean of 7,924 μg/L. Total lead concentrations ranged from 0.50 to 26.7 μg/L with a mean of 

7.68 μg/L. Total zinc concentrations ranged from 1,670 to 

59,900 μg/L with a mean of 14,548 μg/L. 

Metal Loads from Chat Leachate and Mine 

Outflow

No loading values were calculated for the Western location (site 071850818). The low streamflow value (<0.01 ft3

/s) 

indicates that during the sampling period metal load contributions would have been negligible. 

Instantaneous loads, in pounds per day, were calculated 

for cadmium, iron, lead, and zinc at each of the four sampling 

sites in Tar Creek Study Segment (table 6). Instantaneous 

loads generally decreased following the first day of sampling. 

Total cadmium loading values from Tar Creek near Cardin, Okla. (site 071850825) ranged from <0.001 to 

0.002 lb/day. Total iron loading values ranged from 0.071 to 

0.247 lb/day with a mean of 0.132 lb/day. Total lead loading 

values ranged from <0.001 to 0.003 lb/day. Total zinc loading 

values ranged from 0.262 to 1.70 lb/day with a mean of 

0.743 lb/day (table 6). 

Total cadmium loading values from Lytle Creek near 

Cardin, Okla. (site 071850870) ranged from <0.001 to 

0.073 lb/day. Total iron loading values ranged from <0.001 to 

9.37 lb/day. Total lead loading values ranged from <0.001 to 

0.088 lb/day. Total zinc loading values ranged from E0.047 to 

510 lb/day (table 6).

Total cadmium loading values from Tar Creek above 

Douthat Bridge (site 071850875) ranged from 0.062 to 

0.287 lb/day with a mean of 0.115 lb/day. Total iron loading 

values ranged from 0.432 to 5.47 lb/day with a mean of 

1.48 lb/day. Total lead loading values ranged from 0.004 to 

0.127 lb/day with a mean of 0.029 lb/day. Total zinc loading 

values ranged from 20.1 to 522 lb/day with a mean of 

102 lb/day (table 6).

 Total cadmium loading values from Tar Creek near 

Picher, Okla. (site 07185088) ranged from 0.068 to 

0.391 lb/day with a mean of 0.156 lb/day. Total iron loading 

values ranged from 140 to 184 lb/day with a mean of 

157 lb/day. Total lead loading values ranged from 0.012 to 

0.151 lb/day with a mean of 0.039 lb/day. Total zinc loading 
Streamflow, Water Quality, and Metal Loads from Chat Leachate and Mine Outflow 17

Table 6. Calculated total and dissolved instantaneous metal loads from Tar Creek Study Segment in Ottawa County, Oklahoma.

[lb/day, pound per day; <, less than; all values smaller than 0.001 are presented as <0.001; and actual values are used in summary statistics; ─, value not 

calculated; E, estimated load due to estimated discharge]

Date sampled

Total

Station 

number

071850825

Tar Creek

near

Cardin, Okla.

(lb/day)

Station 

number

071850870

Lytle Creek

near

Cardin, Okla.

(lb/day)

Station 

number

071850875

Tar Creek above

Douthat Bridge

near Cardin,

Okla.

(lb/day)

Station 

number

07185088

Tar Creek

near

Picher,

Okla.

(lb/day)

Cadmium

8/16/2005 0.002 0.073 0.287 0.391

8/18/2005 0.002 0.001 0.123 0.178

8/20/2005 <0.001 <0.001 0.088 0.117

8/22/2005 <0.001 <0.001 0.088 0.126

8/24/2005 <0.001 <0.001 0.088 0.112

8/26/2005 <0.001 <0.001 0.062 0.102

8/29/2005 <0.001 <0.001 0.067 0.068

max 0.002 0.073 0.287 0.391

min <0.001 <0.001 0.062 0.068

mean – – 0.115 0.156

Iron

8/16/2005 0.190 9.37 5.47 174

8/18/2005 0.247 1.09 0.982 184

8/20/2005 0.139 0.10 0.990 156

8/22/2005 0.109 0.04 0.963 153

8/24/2005 0.088 0.05 0.900 149

8/26/2005 0.078 <0.001 0.592 140

8/29/2005 0.071 <0.001 0.432 141

max 0.247 9.37 5.47 184

min 0.071 <0.001 0.432 140

mean 0.132 1.52 1.48 157

Lead

8/16/2005 0.003 0.088 0.127 0.151

8/18/2005 0.003 <0.001 0.011 0.030

8/20/2005 0.002 <0.001 0.017 0.033

8/22/2005 0.002 <0.001 0.021 0.019

8/24/2005 0.003 <0.001 0.015 0.018

8/26/2005 <0.001 <0.001 0.008 0.013

8/29/2005 <0.001 <0.001 0.004 0.012

max 0.003 0.088 0.127 0.151

min <0.001 <0.001 0.004 0.012

mean – – 0.029 0.039

Zinc

8/16/2005 1.38 510 522 658

8/18/2005 1.70 12.4 62.0 97.4

8/20/2005 0.677 0.956 30 51.1

8/22/2005 0.505 0.167 27.6 58.8

8/24/2005 0.369 0.180 29.1 50.6

8/26/2005 0.297 E0.049 20.1 41.4

8/29/2005 0.262 E0.047 21.2 33.3

max 1.70 510 522 658

min 0.262 E0.047 20.1 33.3

mean 0.743 73.0 102 142
18 Streamflow, Water Quality, and Metal Loads from Chat Leachate and Mine Outflow into Tar Creek, Oklahoma, 2005

Table 6. Calculated total and dissolved instantaneous metal loads from Tar Creek Study Segment in Ottawa County, Oklahoma.—

Continued

[lb/day, pound per day; <, less than; all values smaller than 0.001 are presented as <0.001; and actual values are used in summary statistics; ─, value not 

calculated; E, estimated load due to estimated discharge]

Date sampled

Dissolved

Station 

number

071850825

Tar Creek

near

Cardin, Okla.

(lb/day)

Station 

number

071850870

Lytle Creek

near

Cardin, Okla.

(lb/day)

Station 

number

071850875

Tar Creek above

Douthat Bridge

near Cardin,

Okla.

(lb/day)

Station 

number

07185088

Tar Creek

near

Picher,

Okla.

(lb/day)

Cadmium

8/16/2005 0.002 0.067 0.306 0.401

8/18/2005 0.002 0.001 0.137 0.194

8/20/2005 <0.001 <0.001 0.092 0.118

8/22/2005 <0.001 <0.001 0.090 0.129

8/24/2005 <0.001 <0.001 0.090 0.112

8/26/2005 <0.001 <0.001 0.062 0.100

8/29/2005 <0.001 <0.001 0.063 0.063

max 0.002 0.067 0.306 0.401

min <0.001 <0.001 0.062 0.063

mean – – 0.120 0.160

Iron

8/16/2005 0.016 2.56 0.428 161

8/18/2005 0.005 0.534 0.112 172

8/20/2005 0.018 <0.001 0.139 151

8/22/2005 0.019 <0.001 0.113 158

8/24/2005 0.009 <0.001 0.065 149

8/26/2005 0.016 <0.001 0.070 141

8/29/2005 0.011 <0.001 0.079 140

max 0.019 2.56 0.428 172

min 0.005 <0.001 0.065 140

mean 0.014 – 0.144 153

Lead

8/16/2005 <0.001 0.005 0.016 0.008

8/18/2005 <0.001 <0.001 0.002 0.001

8/20/2005 <0.001 <0.001 0.001 <0.001

8/22/2005 <0.001 <0.001 0.001 <0.001

8/24/2005 <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 <0.001

8/26/2005 <0.001 <0.001 0.001 <0.001

8/29/2005 <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 <0.001

max <0.001 0.005 0.016 0.008

min <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 <0.001

mean – – – –

Zinc

8/16/2005 1.35 510 539 613

8/18/2005 1.62 12.1 66.5 104

8/20/2005 0.692 0.977 33.2 54.0

8/22/2005 0.493 0.175 30.8 52.7

8/24/2005 0.302 0.131 26.9 46.8

8/26/2005 0.291 E0.051 19.7 43.3

8/29/2005 0.256 E0.039 21.4 33.8

max 1.62 510 539 613

min 0.256 E0.039 19.7 33.8

mean 0.714 74.9 105 135
Summary 19

values ranged from 33.3 to 658 lb/day with a mean of 

142 lb/day (table 6). 

Metals loading to Tar Creek Study Segment from chat 

leachate were estimated by subtracting loads upstream of the 

chat pile from loads downstream of the chat pile (fig. 3 and 

table 7). Total cadmium loading from chat leachate ranged 

from 0.062 to 0.212 lb/day with a mean of 0.104 lb/day. Total 

iron loading from chat leachate ranged from <0.001 to 

0.814 lb/day. Total lead loading from chat leachate ranged 

from 0.003 to 0.036 lb/day with a mean of 0.014 lb/day. Total 

zinc loading from chat leachate ranged from 10.6 to 

47.9 lb/day with a mean of 26.2 lb/day (table 7).

Metals loading to Tar Creek Study Segment from mine 

outflow were estimated by subtracting loads above the confluence with old Lytle Creek from loads below the confluence 

with old Lytle Creek (fig. 3 and table 7). Total cadmium loading from mine outflow ranged from 0.001 to 

0.104 lb/day with a mean of 0.042 lb/day. Total iron loading 

from mine outflow ranged from 139 to 183 lb/day with a mean 

of 155 lb/day. Total lead loading from mine outflow ranged 

from <0.001 to 0.024 lb/day. Total zinc loading from mine 

outflow ranged from 12.1 to 136 lb/day with a mean of 

39.8 lb/day (table 7).

Total metal loads for Tar Creek Study Segment were estimated for the period beginning August 16 and ending August 

30 and the percentage from each source calculated (table 8). 

Four sources of calculated metal loads are from Tar Creek 

and Lytle Creek entering the study segment, from chat pile 

leachate, and from mine outflow from old Lytle Creek. About 

68 percent of total and dissolved cadmium was from chat 

leachate and about 26 percent was from mine outflow. About 

99 percent of total and dissolved iron loading was from mine 

outflow. About 51 percent of total lead loading was from chat 

leachate, about 21 percent from mine drainage, and about 

24 percent from Lytle Creek, while about 77 percent of dissolved lead loading was from chat leachate and about 23 percent from Lytle Creek. About 19 percent of total zinc loading 

was from chat leachate, about 29 percent from mine outflow, 

and about 52 percent from Lytle Creek (table 8). 

An estimate of the metals loading from chat within Tar 

Creek watershed, which includes Lytle Creek, can be made 

from loads measured at Tar Creek above Douthat Bridge 

(071850875). This estimate would be limited to conditions 

of the study, but would provide an estimated range of daily 

loading. Prior to chat leachate sampling there was no measurable velocity in Tar Creek at the Kansas/Oklahoma state line. 

Streamflow measured at Lytle Creek approximately 200 yards 

south of the state line was less than 0.01 ft3

/s. Therefore, all 

base flow is presumed to come from chat leachate from state 

line to the sampling site at Tar Creek. Estimated base flow 

loading from chat leachate into Tar Creek Study Segment from 

state line to Tar Creek above Douthat Bridge (071850875) 

contained substantial amounts of zinc. Estimated median total 

zinc load was 29.1 lb/day. Iron was next highest metal load 

with estimated median total iron load of 0.970 lb/day (table 9).

Summary

Picher mining district is an abandoned lead and zinc 

mining area located in Ottawa County, northeastern Oklahoma. During the first half of the 20th century, the area was a 

primary producer of lead and zinc in the United States. These 

minerals were found in the sulfide minerals of Mississippianage Boone Formation. Ore production in Picher mining district 

was active from about 1900 until the mid-1970s. Production 

reached a peak by 1925 with 387,000 tons of recoverable zinc 

and 101,000 tons of recoverable lead being produced. The 

mines maintained moderate production levels until the 1950s 

when yields began to decline. 

Large accumulations of gravel- to sand-sized mine tailings, locally referred to as chat, are present throughout the 

mining area. Ponds of silt- and clay-sized byproducts of the 

gravity separation process, referred to as mill pond wastes, are 

generally located adjacent to chat piles. Chat and mill pond 

wastes contain trace amounts of metals associated with lead 

and zinc sulfide ores. Leachate from chat and mill pond wastes 

discharges to drainage areas within the mining area. Mine 

outflow occurs from several locations in the mining area, from 

unplugged mine shafts, vent holes, seeps, and abandoned mine 

dewatering wells. Metals from mine outflow can be a substantial contribution to total metal loading to streams. Information 

about the amount of metal loading from chat and mine outflow 

is needed. U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with Environment Protection Agency, began a study in 2005 to collect 

water-quality data, characterize flow, and calculate loads of 

selected metals entering Tar Creek. 

Two locations were selected for surface-water sampling: 

Western location, (29N–23E–19), west of the town of Cardin, 

and Tar Creek Study Segment, (29N–23E–29 and 32). The 

Western location contains one sampling site, (071850818). 

This site is located at a discharge point where a berm around a 

mill pond has been breached and incised by previous runoff. 

Tar Creek Study Segment is a reach of Tar Creek that 

passes through chat piles from above the confluence with Lytle 

Creek to Douthat bridge. Tar Creek Study Segment contains 

four sampling sites, (071850825, 071850870, 071850875, 

and 07185088). A substantial amount of mine outflow enters 

Tar Creek just above Douthat bridge from the old Lytle Creek 

channel. Samples collected at Tar Creek near Picher, Okla., 

(07185088), represent both leachate from chat piles and mine 

outflow. 

Streamflow measurements and water-quality samples 

were collected following a rain event August 2005. Samples 

were analyzed for water properties, dissolved major ions 

(calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and sulfate), total 

metals (cadmium, iron, lead, and zinc), and dissolved metals 

(cadmium, iron, lead, and zinc). Suspended sediment also was 

analyzed. 

Water properties analyzed were: specific conductance, 

pH, temperature, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, oxidation-reduction potential, and alkalinity.
20 Streamflow, Water Quality, and Metal Loads from Chat Leachate and Mine Outflow into Tar Creek, Oklahoma, 2005

Table 7. Calculated total and dissolved metal loads from chat leachate and mine outflow to Tar Creek in the 

Picher mining district in Ottawa County Oklahoma.

[lb/day, pound per day; <, less than]

Date 

sampled

Total Dissolved

Leachate load

(lb/day) 

Mine outflow load

(lb/day)

Leachate load

(lb/day)

Mine outflow load

(lb/day)

Cadmium

8/16/2005 0.212 0.104 0.237 0.095

8/18/2005 0.120 0.055 0.134 0.057

8/20/2005 0.088 0.029 0.092 0.026

8/22/2005 0.088 0.038 0.090 0.039

8/24/2005 0.088 0.024 0.090 0.022

8/26/2005 0.062 0.040 0.062 0.038

8/29/2005 0.067 0.001 0.063 0

max 0.212 0.104 0.237 0.095

min 0.002 0.001 0.062 0

mean 0.104 0.042 0.110 0.040

Iron

8/16/2005 <0.001 168 <.001 160

8/18/2005 <0.001 183 <.001 172

8/20/2005 0.751 155 0.121 151

8/22/2005 0.814 152 0.094 158

8/24/2005 0.762 148 0.056 149

8/26/2005 0.514 139 0.054 141

8/29/2005 0.361 140 0.068 140

max 0.814 183 0.121 172

min <0.001 139 <0.001 140

mean 0.457 155 ─ 153

Lead

8/16/2005 0.036 0.024 0.011 <.001

8/18/2005 0.008 0.019 0.002 <.001

8/20/2005 0.015 0.016 0.001 <.001

8/22/2005 0.019 <0.001 0.001 <.001

8/24/2005 0.012 0.003 <.001 <.001

8/26/2005 0.008 0.005 0.001 <.001

8/29/2005 0.003 0.008 <.001 <.001

max 0.036 0.024 0.011 <.001

min 0.003 <0.001 <.001 <.001

mean 0.014 ─ ─ <.001

Zinc

8/16/2005 10.6 136 27.6 74.0

8/18/2005 47.9 35.4 52.8 37.5

8/20/2005 28.4 21.1 31.5 20.8

8/22/2005 26.9 31.2 30.1 21.9

8/24/2005 28.6 21.5 26.4 19.9

8/26/2005 19.8 21.3 19.4 23.6

8/29/2005 20.9 12.1 21.1 12.4

max 47.9 136 52.8 74.0

min 10.6 12.1 19.4 12.4

mean 26.2 39.8 29.9 30
Summary 21

Table 8. Total estimated metal load for the 14-day sampling period and percentage 

from source for the Tar Creek Study Segment, Ottawa County, Oklahoma.

[%, percent; percentages do not add up to 100 due to rounding]

Total Dissolved

Cadmium

Total load (14 days) 2.2 2.3

% from source

Chat leachate 66.0 68.5

Mine outflow load 27.2 0.5.4

Upper Tar Creek load 0.3 0.3

Lytle Creek load 6.4 5.8

Iron

Total load (14 days) 2,339 2,290

% from source

Chat leachate 0.3 0.04

Mine outflow load 98.7 99.7

Upper Tar Creek load 0.08 0.01

Lytle Creek load 0.9 0.2

Lead

Total load (14 days) 0.73 0.04

% from source

Chat leachate 50.9 76.7

Mine outflow load 21.3 –

Upper Tar Creek load 3.6 –

Lytle Creek load 24.2 23.2

Zinc

Total load (14 days) 2,022 1,938

% from source

Chat leachate 19.1 22.6

Mine outflow lead 28.6 22.9

Upper Tar Creek load 0.5 0.5

Lytle Creek load 51.8 54.0

Table 9. Summary statistics of metal loads and streamflow from Tar Creek above Douthat Bridge, near Cardin, Oklahoma (071850875) 

sampled from August 16, 2005, to August 29, 2005, in the Picher mining district, Ottawa County, Oklahoma.

[ft3/s, cubic foot per second; lb/day, pound per day]

Summary 

statistics

Streamflow 

(ft3

/s)

Total 

cadmium 

(lb/day)

Dissolved 

cadmium 

(lb/day)

Total iron 

(lb/day)

Dissolved 

iron

(lb/day)

Total lead 

(lb/day)

Dissolved 

lead

(lb/day)

Total zinc 

(lb/day)

Dissolved 

zinc

(lb/day)

Maximum 1.62 0.287 0.306 5.47 0.428 0.127 0.016 522 539

Minimum 0.188 0.062 0.062 0.432 0.065 0.004 — 20.1 19.7

Mean 0.480 0.114 0.120 1.48 0.143 0.029 — 102 105

Median 0.278 0.088 0.09 0.963 0.112 0.015 — 29.1 30.8
22 Streamflow, Water Quality, and Metal Loads from Chat Leachate and Mine Outflow into Tar Creek, Oklahoma, 2005

 One streamflow measurement was collected on August 

16 from runoff at the Western location, (site 071850818). 

Estimated streamflow at site 071850818 on August 16 was 

<0.01 cubic foot per second (ft3/s). Following August 16 flow 

diminished to levels that could no longer be measured. 

Seven streamflow measurements were made at each site 

in Tar Creek Study Segment. Streamflow measurements were 

made on August 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, and 29. Measured 

streamflows within Tar Creek Study Segment ranged from 

<0.01 to 2.62 ft3/s. No streamflow measurements were made in 

Tar Creek Study Segment after August 29 as water levels and 

streamflow values had returned to pre-event levels. 

Metals, with the exception of iron, at the Western location generally were predominate in the dissolved phase. Total 

cadmium concentration of the sample collected at the Western location, (site 071850818) was 95.3 micrograms per liter 

(μg/L), dissolved cadmium concentration was 103 μg/L. Total 

iron concentration was 182 μg/L, while dissolved iron concentration was 47 μg/L. Total and dissolved lead concentrations 

were 170 and 117 μg/L, respectively. Total zinc concentration 

was 1,760 μg/L and dissolved zinc concentration was 

1,730 μg/L. 

Cadmium and zinc at Tar Creek Study Segment generally 

were predominate in the dissolved phase, while total iron and 

lead generally were predominate. Total cadmium concentrations of samples collected from Tar Creek Study Segment 

ranged from 0.83 to 62 μg/L with a mean of 21.18 μg/L. Total 

iron concentrations ranged from 170 μg/L to 38,000 μg/L with 

a mean of 7,924 μg/L. Total lead concentrations ranged from 

0.50 μg/L to 26.7 μg/L with a mean of 7.68 μg/L. Total zinc 

concentrations ranged from 1,670 to 59,900 μg/L with a mean 

of 14,548 μg/L. 

No loading values were calculated for the Western location, (site 071850818). Low streamflow value, (<0.01 ft3

/s), 

indicates that during the sampling period metal load contributions would have been negligible. 

Metals loading to Tar Creek Study Segment were calculated based on instantaneous streamflow and metals concentrations. Total cadmium loading to Tar Creek from chat leachate 

ranged from 0.062 to 0.212 pound per day (lb/day) with a 

mean of 0.104 lb/day. Total iron loading to Tar Creek from 

chat leachate ranged from <0.001 to 0.814 lb/day. Total lead 

loading to Tar Creek from chat leachate ranged from 0.003 to 

0.036 lb/day with a mean of 0.014 lb/day. Total zinc loading to 

Tar Creek from chat leachate ranged from 10.6 to 47.9 lb/day 

with a mean of 26.2 lb/day.

Total cadmium loading to Tar Creek from mine outflow 

ranged from 0.001 to 0.104 lb/day with a mean of 

0.042 lb/day. Total iron loading to Tar Creek from mine outflow ranged from 139 to 183 lb/day with a mean of 

155 lb/day. Total lead loading to Tar Creek from mine outflow 

ranged from <0.001 to 0.024 lb/day. Total zinc loading to Tar 

Creek from mine outflow ranged from 12.1 to 136 lb/day with 

a mean of 39.8 lb/day.

Total metal loads for Tar Creek Study Segment were estimated for the period beginning August 16 and ending August 

30 and the percentage from each source calculated. The four 

sources of calculated metal loads are from Tar Creek and Lytle 

Creek entering the study segment, from chat pile leachate, and 

from mine outflow from old Lytle Creek. About 68 percent of 

total and dissolved cadmium was from chat leachate and about 

26 percent was from mine outflow. A total of about 

99 percent of total and dissolved iron loading was from mine 

outflow. About 51 percent of total lead loading was from chat 

leachate, 21 percent from mine outflow, and 24 percent from 

Lytle Creek. About 77 percent of dissolved lead loading was 

from chat leachate. About 19 percent of total zinc loading was 

from chat leachate, 29 percent of total zinc loading was from 

mine outflow, and 52 percent of total zinc loading was from 

Lytle Creek. 

References Cited

Brichta, L.C., 1960, Catalog of recorded exploration drilling 

and mine workings, Tri-State zinc-lead district, Missouri, 

Kansas, and Oklahoma: U.S. Bureau of Mines Information 

Circular IC7993, 13 p.

Faires, L.M., 1993, Methods of analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory—Determination of metals in water by inductively coupled plasma-mass 

spectrometry: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 

92–634, 28 p.

Ferderer, D.A., 1996, National overview of abandoned mine 

land sites utilizing the Minerals Availability System (MAS) 

and geographic information system (GIS) technology: U.S. 

Geological Survey Open-File Report 96–549, 39 p.

Keheley, Ed, and Pritchard, Mary Ann, 2000, Report to 

Governor Keating’s Tar Creek Superfund Task Force by 

the Subsidence Subcommittee: Oklahoma Department of 

Environmental Quality, 75 p.

Gibson, A.M., 1972, Wilderness bonanza—The Tri-State 

district of Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma: Norman, Okla., 

University of Oklahoma Press, 362 p.

Gibson, A.M., 1982, Lead and zinc in Morris, J.W., ed., Drill 

bits, picks, and shovels—A history of mineral resources 

in Oklahoma: Oklahoma City, Okla., Oklahoma Historical 

Society, 201 p.

McKnight, E.T., and Fischer, R.P., 1970, Geology and ore 

deposits of the Picher field, Oklahoma and Kansas: U.S. 

Geological Survey Professional Paper 588, 165 p.

Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, 2004, Oklahoma plan for Tar Creek: accessed June 6, 2006, 

at http://inhofe.senate.gov/superfund1.pdf
References Cited 23

Rantz, S.E., and others, 1982, Measurement and computation of streamflow—Volume 1, Measurement of stage and 

outflow: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2175, 

284 p.

Robertson, D., 2006, Hard as the rock itself, place and identity 

in the American mining town: University Press of Colorado, 

216 p.

State of Oklahoma, 2000, Governor Frank Keating’s Tar Creek 

Superfund Task Force, Final Report: Office of Secretary of 

Environment, October 1, 2000, 27 p.

State of Oklahoma, 2002, Oklahoma Plan for Tar Creek, 

accessed on 9/28/2007 at http://www.deq.state.ok.us/lpdnew/

Tarcreek/Okplan.pdf

Wilde, F.D., and Radtke, D.B., Gibs, Jacobs, and Iwatsubo, 

R.T., eds., 1998, National field manual for the collection 

of water-quality data—Cleaning of equipment for waterquality samples: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of 

Water-Resources Investigations, book 9, chap. A3, variously 

paged.

Wilde, F.D., Radtke, D.B., Gibs, Jacobs, and Iwatsubo, R.T., 

eds., 1999, National field manual for the collection of 

water-quality data—Collection of water-quality samples: 

U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of Water-Resources 

Investigations, book 9, chap. A4, variously paged.
24 Streamflow, Water Quality, and Metal Loads from Chat Leachate and Mine Outflow into Tar Creek, Oklahoma, 2005

Prepared by Lafayette Publishing Service Center.

Edited by Lyn Osburn.

Illustrations by Jeff Hartley.

Layout and design by Lyn Osburn.

For more information concerning the research described in this report, 

contact:

U.S. Geological Survey

202 NW 66th St., Bldg. 7

Oklahoma City, OK 73116

(405) 810-4400

http://ok.water.usgs.gov