ANALYTICAL RESULTS FOR TOTAL-DIGESTIONS, EPA-1312 LEACH, AND NET

ACID PRODUCTION FOR TWENTY-THREE ABANDONED METAL-MINING

RELATED WASTES IN THE BOULDER RIVER WATERSHED, NORTHERN

JEFFERSON COUNTY, MONTANA

by David L. Fey1, George A. Desborough1,

and Christopher J. Finney1

Open-File Report 00-114

2000

On-Line Edition

This report is preliminary and has not been reviewed for conformity with U.S. Geological Survey editorial standards

and stratigraphic nomenclature. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does

not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

1 Denver, Colorado
i

Table of Contents

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

Methods of Study....................................................................................... 1

Discussion of Results................................................................................. 4

References cited....................................................................................... 16

Figures

Figure 1. Index map of Montana and localities of mine-waste samples................. 2

Figure 2. Relationship between NAP and summed metals in EPA-1312 leach test.. 4

Figure 3. Relationship between NAP and dissolved iron in EPA-1312 leach test..... 5

Tables

Table 1. Sample numbers, localities, size estimates, and site descriptions 7

Table 2. Total-digestion ICP-AES analyses of mine wastes................................ 9

Table 3. pH, conductivities, NAP, and ICP-AES analyses of EPA 1312 leach

 solutions..................................................................................... 12

Table 4. NAP, summed metals, and chemical ranks of mine wastes.................... 15
1

INTRODUCTION

Metal-mining related wastes in the Boulder River basin study area in northern Jefferson

County, Montana, have been implicated in their detrimental effects on water quality with

regard to acid generation and toxic-metal solubilization during snow melt and storm

water runoff events (Buxton and others, 1997). This degradation of water quality is

defined chiefly by the “Class 1 Aquatic Life Standards” that give limits for certain

dissolved metal concentrations according to water alkalinity (Montana Department of

Health and Environmental Sciences, 1994).

Veins enriched in base- and precious metals were explored and mined in the

Basin, Cataract Creek, and High Ore Creek drainages over a period of more than 70

years. Extracted minerals included galena, sphalerite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, tetrahedrite

and arsenopyrite. Most of the metal-mining wastes in the study area were identified and

described by the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology (Metesh and others, 1994;

Metesh and others, 1995; Marvin and others, 1996). In 1997, the U.S. Geological Survey

collected 20 composite samples of mine-dump or tailings waste from ten sites in the

Basin and Cataract Creek drainages, and two samples from one site in the High Ore

Creek drainage. Desborough and Fey (1997) presented data concerning acid generation

potential, mineralogy, concentrations of certain metals by energy-dispersive X-ray

fluorescence (EDXRF), and trace-element leachability of mine and exploration wastes

from the ten sites of the Basin and Cataract Creek drainages. The present report presents

total-digestion major- and trace-element analyses, net acid production (NAP), and results

from the EPA-1312 synthetic precipitation leach procedure (SPLP) performed on the

same composite samples from the ten sites from the Basin and Cataract Creek drainages,

and two composite samples from the site in the High Ore Creek drainage.

METHODS OF STUDY

Sample Collection

Twenty-three mine waste samples (exploration waste, dump material, or mill

tailings) were taken at eleven sites distributed in the Boulder River study area (see figure

1). Material from each site was collected from 30 or more randomly selected cells across

the top and sides of a dump to a depth of about 5 cm using four to six randomly selected

50-80 g scoops. This material was passed through a 2-mm screen to remove coarse

material, because the minus-2-mm fraction was deemed to be the most reactive to water

in short-term exposures. The resulting composite sample typically contained 1 to 2 kg of

mine-waste or dump material (Desborough and Fey, 1997; Smith and others, 2000).

Sample Preparation

In the laboratory, samples were dried at 40oC, split using a Jones splitter, and

recombined several times to achieve thorough mixing. Splits from the homogenized

material were made for: 1) total-digestion inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission

spectroscopy (ICP-AES), 2) EPA-1312 leach test, and 3) net acid production (NAP)

determination. Material for the EPA-1312 leach did not require further processing; splits
Missoula

Helena

Butte

Billings

M O N T A N A

Bozeman

Dillon

Study Area

0

0 1

1 2 MILES

2 KILOMETERS

Base from U.S. Geological Survey

Digital line graphs, 1:100,000

CONTINENTAL

DIVIDE

Basin

Weasel Gulch

Joe Bowers

Cr

Jimmys

Cr

Clear Creek

Grub

Gulch

Jack

Creek

Nellie Grant

Cr

Overland Cr

Rocker

Creek

Snow drift

Creek

Hoodoo Creek

Cataract

Creek

Uncle Sam

Deer

Gulch

Basin

Creek

Creek

Saul Haggerty Gulch Boulder River

Big

Limber

Gulch

Bishop

Creek

High

Ore

Creek

Peters Gulch

Boomerang

Gulch

Galena

Gulch

Little

Galena

Kleinsmith

Gulch

112 22'30'' o

112 15 o

46 22'30'' o

46 15' o

R.6W. R.5W.

T.8N.

T.7N.

T.6N.

P O W E L L C O

L E W I S A N D C L A R K C O

J E F F E R S O N C O 

R.4W.

BEAVERHEAD-DEERLODGE

 NATIONAL FOREST

 Three

 Brothers

 Jack 

Mountain

 

Gulch

Little Boulder R.

Boulder

River

N

Bullion 

Buckeye/Enterprise

Daily West

Crystal 

Boulder Chief 

Cracker 

Waldy 

Sirius 

Morning/Mare

High Ore Creek

waste piles

Figure 1. Index map of Montana showing Boulder River study area, and location

 map for mine-waste sample sites.

mine site sampled (see table 1 for sample numbers and descriptions)

High Ore Creek waste piles (since removed)

2
3

for ICP-AES and NAP determinations were ground to minus-200-mesh (75 microns)

using a vertical pulverizer with ceramic plates.

Analytical Methods

Total-digestion ICP-AES method

A 0.2 gram portion of minus-200-mesh material was subjected to a mixed-acid

total digestion using HCl, HNO3, HClO4 and HF acids (Briggs, 1996). The resulting

solution was analyzed for 40 elements, using inductively coupled plasma-atomic

emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Results for 32 selected elements are shown in table 2.

This digestion is very effective in dissolving sulfides and most silicates and oxides;

resistant or refractory minerals such as zircon, spinels, and some tin oxides are only

partially dissolved. Standard reference materials (SRM’s) were digested and analyzed

with the samples. These standards were SRM-2704, SRM-2709, SRM-2710, and SRM2711, available from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). A

statistical summary of mean values, median values, and standard deviations for multiple

analyses of these materials, and comparisons with certified values are given in Fey and

others (1999).

EPA-1312 Leach Method (Synthetic Precipitation Leach Procedure-SPLP)

A 100-g sample of mine waste was placed in a 2.3L polyethylene bottle. Two

liters of extract solution were added, resulting in a 1:20 sample/extract ratio, with 300 cc

of headspace. The SPLP method mandates that an extract solution of pH 4.2 be used on

soils from east of the Mississippi River and a solution with pH of 5.0 be used on soils

from west of the Mississippi River. The more acidic pH 4.2 solution is to be used on

mine-waste material; since the materials of this report are all mine wastes, the pH 4.2

solution was used here. The extract solution was made from de-ionized water acidified to

a pH of 4.2 with a one-percent solution of 60/40 H2SO4/HNO3. The capped bottles were

placed on an end-over-end (tumbling) rotating agitator at 30 rpm for 18 hours. The

leachates were then pressure-filtered through a 142 mm diameter-0.7 micron glass-fiber

filter (US-EPA, 1986). A 100 mL aliquot of filtered solution was acidified with ultrapure HNO3 for analysis for 25 elements by ICP-AES (Briggs and Fey, 1996) and for

sulfate by ICP-AES as sulfur. Conductivity and pH were determined on the bulk filtered

leachate.

Net Acid Production (NAP) method

A 1.0-g sample of pulverized, minus-200-mesh material was digested with a

solution of 30 percent hydrogen peroxide to oxidize pyrite, thereby producing sulfuric

acid (Lapakko and Lawrence, 1993). This acidic solution reacted with the bulk of the

sample, releasing additional acidity from water-soluble salts, and reacted with acidconsuming minerals such as carbonates and some non-carbonate minerals (e.g. biotite,

chlorite and epidote). The solutions were heated for one hour, cooled, and filtered. The

acidic filtrate was then titrated to a pH of 7 with 0.1M NaOH. A calculated net acid

production (NAP) is expressed in terms of kg-equivalent CaCO3 per metric ton of mine

waste. This NAP is meant to represent the net long-term or total potential of a material to

produce acid over an unspecified period of weathering.
4

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS

Site descriptions, tonnages, and localities are given in table 1. The estimated

tonnages are from Desborough and Fey (1997). The results for total-digestion analyses

(ICP-AES) are presented in table 2. The results for leachable metals in the EPA-1312

leach are in table 3. The pH, sulfate, and conductivities of EPA-1312 leach solutions,

and the net acid production determinations are also in table 3.

A systematic comparison of results between the passive leach utilized and

described in Desborough and Fey (1997) and the EPA-1312 leach is discussed in Fey and

others (2000). A chemical method for ranking wastes by plotting net acid production

against dissolved elements iron, arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc in the EPA1312 leach is presented in figure 2 and figure 3.

Figure 2. Relationship between NAP (net acid production) of mine waste and sum of

dissolved metals As+Cd+Cu+Pb+Zn in EPA-1312 leach. From Fey and others (2000).

These figures were generated from data obtained from NAP measurements and

EPA-1312 leaches of 109 mine wastes collected from the Boulder River study area and

from the upper Animas River study area in southwest Colorado (Fey and others, 2000).

The samples from both areas are similar polymetallic vein mine wastes (shown by the

symbols for Animas and Boulder), plus nine acid-sulfate wastes from the Animas River

study area (shown by symbol for Acid-sulfate). The figures show that the wastes can be

segregated into three or four classes, based on the NAP and the dissolved metals in the

leach. Referring to figure 2, Group 1 consists of wastes with less than 1,000 μg/L

summed toxic metals (As+Cd+Cu+Pb+Zn). This group contains nine samples from the

Boulder River study area. Group 2 consists of wastes with the summed metals between
5

1,000 and 5,000 μg/L. Group 2 contains two samples from the Boulder River study area.

Group 3 consists of wastes with summed dissolved metals greater than 5,000 μg/L, and is

subdivided into Groups 3a and 3b. The distinction between the latter two groups is based

on the NAP; Group 3a has a NAP of less than 10 kg per ton CaCO3 equivalent, and

Group 3b has a NAP of greater than 10 kg per ton CaCO3 equivalent. Waste materials in

Group 3b have the greatest potential for degrading water quality, should waters produced

from these wastes migrate to ground or surface waters. Groups 3a and 3b contain seven

and five samples, respectively, from the Boulder River study area.

Figure 3. Relationship between NAP (net acid production) of mine waste and dissolved

iron in EPA-1312 leach. From Fey and others (2000).

Figure 3 shows the relationship between the net acid production and the dissolved

iron in the EPA-1312 leach solutions. This figure is derived from the same samples as

figure 2. This figure segregates the waste materials into three groups. The group

boundaries are determined on the basis of dissolved iron in the leach solutions, because

dissolved iron in waters can also have a toxic effect on aquatic life (Nordstrom and

others, 1999). Group 1 consists of wastes with dissolved iron less than 1,000 μg/L, and

contains fifteen samples from the Boulder River study area. Group 2 consists of wastes

with dissolved iron greater than 1,000 μg/L and NAP less than 10 kg per ton CaCO3

equivalent; this group has two samples from the Boulder River study area. Group 3

consists of wastes with dissolved iron greater than 1,000 μg/L and NAP greater than 10

kg per ton CaCO3 equivalent. This group contains four samples from the Boulder River

study area.

The NAP, summed dissolved toxic metals, dissolved iron, and sample ranks are in

table 4. Note that when the rank based on the dissolved summed metals is compared with

the rank based on dissolved iron, there is not a simple one-to-one correspondence. Some
6

samples with a rank of 3a or 3b based on the dissolved summed toxic metals may have a

low rank of 1 or 2 based on dissolved iron. This can occur in samples whose dissolved

summed toxic metals are dominated by dissolved zinc. These samples may have low

amounts of iron, or generate leach solutions whose pH values are sufficiently high

(greater than about 3.5) that iron is removed by precipitation (Smith and others, 1993),

and zinc remains in solution. It is therefore important to note that either the summed

dissolved toxic metals or the dissolved iron generated in a leach solution indicate

potential for water quality degradation by acidic drainage generated by these mine

wastes.

Desborough and Fey (1997) also developed a qualitative ranking method,

utilizing the pH of a passive leach, summed toxic metals (As+Cd+Cu+Pb+Zn) from the

passive leach, and the estimated size of dumps as additive factors. This resulted in a

ranking scale ranging from one (low potential for water quality degradation) to nine

(highest potential for water quality degradation). In table 4, the size classes from

Desborough and Fey (1997) are in column 6, and are incorporated into a final ranking of

the samples of this study by adding both chemistry-based ranks (columns 3 and 5) and

the size ranks. This final ranking approach (column 7) yields values between three

(lowest) and nine (highest). The division of chemical ranking based on the NAP of

samples (as derived from figure 2) is reflected by carrying the letter suffix a or b (a:

NAP less than 10 kg per ton CaCO3 equivalent; b: NAP greater than 10 kg per ton

CaCO3 equivalent). Samples with no letter suffix were in either Group 1 or 2 in figure 2,

and contain NAP less than 10 kg per ton CaCO3 equivalent. The method of this report

yields rankings similar to the method presented in Desborough and Fey (1997).

Evaluating the combined ranking scores, one can divide the samples into three

broad classes. The first class, with a combined score of three to four, would represent

material with a relatively low potential for water quality degradation. The middle class,

with a combined score of five to six, would represent material with a moderate potential

for water quality degradation. The third class, with a combined score of seven, eight, or

nine, represents material with a high potential for water quality degradation. Absent from

these chemical ranks, however, is consideration of whether adit or surface water is

present and flowing across waste material, which can have an important influence on the

desirability of removing material. For example, material from the upper and lower

tailings impoundments below the Bullion Mine are placed in the class with low potential

for degradation, but these impoundments were placed in a tributary to Jack Creek, which

bisects them. Clearly these two sites have a greater impact on stream water quality than

their low chemical ranking would imply. For each site, it is important to combine

knowledge of local hydrologic conditions that may provide transport pathways for

dissolved metals, with chemistry-based and size ranks.
7

Table 1. Sample numbers, localities, estimated size, and site descriptions for mine-waste samples collected in Boulder River

watershed study area, 1997. Given coordinates are approximate; sample sets collected at one mine site are not all from exact

same point. See descriptions for relative locations.

Basin Creek drainage

Latitude Longitude estimated description

Sample No. dec. deg. dec. deg. size (tons)

D97B017 46.3561 112.2944 6,000 Bullion Mine, upper waste dump, from upper adit

D97B018 7,000 Bullion Mine, middle waste dump, from middle adit

D97B019 12,000 Bullion Mine, lower waste dump, from lower adit

D97B002 500 Bullion Mine, lowest small dump, lowest adit near tailings impoundment

D97B001 1,200 Bullion Mine, upper tailings impoundment

D97B003 3,600 Bullion Mine, lower tailings impoundment

D97B004 46.398 112.2944 5,000 Buckeye/Enterprise Mines, brown waste on east side (Enterprise)

D97B005 10,000 Buckeye/Enterprise Mines, light-gray waste on west side (Buckeye)

D97B006 16,000 Buckeye/Enterprise Mines, flotation tailings near Basin Creek

D97B012 46.2955 112.2952 300 Daily West Mine, yellow waste at creek bed

Cataract Creek drainage

D97MT007 46.3305 112.2094 3,500 Boulder Chief Mine, waste from open cut above mine adit

D97MT008 3,500 Boulder Chief Mine, waste from below mine adit

D97MT009 46.3228 112.2364 4,000 Cracker Mine, waste from adit

D97MT009D Cracker Mine, waste dump, re-sample

D97B014 46.3500 112.2606 20,000 Crystal Mine, waste along east side of large open cut on hilltop

D97B015 10,000 Crystal Mine, waste along west side of large open cut on hilltop

D97B016 4,000 Crystal Mine, waste at ore bins near Uncle Sam Gulch
8

Table 1. (cont.) Sample numbers, localities, estimated size, and site descriptions for mine-waste samples collected in Boulder

River watershed study area, 1997. Given coordinates are approximate; sample sets collected at one mine site are not all from

exact same point. See description for relative locations.

Cataract Creek drainage (cont)

Latitude Longitude estimated description

Sample No. dec. deg. dec. deg. size (tons)

D97MT013 46.3128 112.2400 1,000 Morning/Mare Mines, waste piles from adit

D97MT010 46.3361 112.2444 5,000 Sirius Mine, waste dump at adit

D97MT011 46.3039 112.2175 700 Waldy Mine, waste dump at adit

High Ore Creek drainage

97BMF-132A dredged tailings/gravel mix from High Ore Creek

97BMF-132B approximately 1 km below Comet Mine

Dredged material from High Ore Creek (samples 97-BMF-132A and 97-BMF-132B) has since been removed by

the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
9

Table 2. Total-digestion ICP-AES analyses for mine waste samples collected from the Boulder River watershed study area, Jefferson

County Montana.

SAMPLE NO. Al % Ca % Fe % K % Mg % Na % P % Ti % Mn ppm Ag ppm As ppm Ba ppm

D-97-B001 4.3 0.04 1.8 1.9 0.15 0.06 0.05 0.14 93 34 3200 300

D-97-B002 7.1 0.06 5.7 3.3 0.28 0.08 0.04 0.17 460 5 3100 300

D-97-B003 4.1 0.05 1.7 1.8 0.15 0.06 0.05 0.14 84 32 3300 260

D-97-B004 7.2 0.23 7.4 3.2 0.39 0.94 0.05 0.24 220 6 8200 840

D-97-B005 6.9 0.05 4.4 3.4 0.20 0.18 0.02 0.13 160 32 13000 520

D-97-B006 4.7 0.04 2.1 2.2 0.16 0.08 0.02 0.10 170 98 13000 350

D-97-B0012 5.7 0.07 6.1 3.5 0.23 0.08 0.05 0.16 390 14 77 220

D-97-B0014 7.6 0.74 3.9 3.6 0.49 0.73 0.07 0.22 1800 31 3200 700

D-97-B0015 8.1 0.97 5.3 3.7 0.67 0.84 0.08 0.34 1800 6 2500 700

D-97-B0016 6.1 0.16 3.4 3.2 0.23 0.32 0.03 0.10 890 41 4400 390

D-97-B0017 6.2 0.25 4.0 3.1 0.31 0.35 0.04 0.18 240 56 8700 300

D-97-B0018 6.9 0.19 3.8 3.3 0.28 0.18 0.06 0.22 330 45 4400 420

D-97-B0019A 5.7 0.36 4.7 2.8 0.34 0.31 0.06 0.17 490 49 4900 500

D-97-B0019B 6.1 0.22 3.6 2.8 0.26 0.18 0.06 0.18 470 48 3200 420

D-97-MT007 8.7 1.2 2.5 3.3 0.47 0.48 0.07 0.33 1300 15 70 1100

D-97-MT008 6.9 0.13 2.5 3.2 0.42 0.37 0.08 0.20 320 32 87 520

D-97-MT009 7.6 0.10 3.1 3.5 0.49 0.13 0.04 0.29 740 48 200 310

D-97-MT009D 7.4 0.16 3.1 3.7 0.43 0.20 0.04 0.24 790 43 220 410

D-97-MT0010 7.4 0.25 3.8 3.4 0.27 0.56 0.04 0.16 210 34 8600 480

D-97-MT0011 6.6 0.90 4.3 3.0 0.37 0.54 0.05 0.12 3300 16 340 520

D-97-MT0013 7.6 0.12 2.8 4.1 0.36 0.19 0.06 0.25 810 43 220 500

97-BMF-132A 7.0 0.88 3.5 2.6 0.44 1.4 0.07 0.21 590 36 2500 850

97-BMF-132B 6.9 0.92 3.4 2.9 0.36 1.5 0.06 0.20 790 28 2200 860
10

Table 2. (cont.) Total-digestion ICP-AES analyses for mine waste samples collected from the Boulder River watershed study area,

Jefferson County Montana.

SAMPLE NO. Cd ppm Ce ppm Co ppm Cr ppm Cu ppm Ga ppm La ppm Li ppm Mo ppm Nb ppm Nd ppm Ni ppm

D-97-B001 < 2 30 2 16 170 10 16 39 12 17 11 4

D-97-B002 < 2 36 10 12 19 17 20 16 19 22 15 9

D-97-B003 < 2 25 2 15 150 10 14 35 12 15 9 4

D-97-B004 < 2 28 4 4 91 19 15 25 5 34 10 10

D-97-B005 < 2 58 3 3 100 16 34 43 3 26 22 5

D-97-B006 5 40 1 5 81 11 24 27 5 18 15 2

D-97-B0012 50 45 8 20 880 18 27 18 7 22 17 10

D-97-B0014 8 63 15 13 300 13 35 76 11 33 24 12

D-97-B0015 2 63 20 27 180 14 34 34 6 35 24 16

D-97-B0016 9 50 9 4 380 13 27 49 15 32 18 7

D-97-B0017 2 54 13 14 170 14 30 36 8 27 21 8

D-97-B0018 4 45 10 18 300 15 25 35 10 29 16 8

D-97-B0019A 10 38 9 12 440 12 21 28 10 24 15 9

D-97-B0019B 6 42 8 17 400 14 24 29 11 27 16 8

D-97-MT007 8 64 7 2 73 16 36 19 3 36 26 8

D-97-MT008 12 58 4 20 120 16 34 30 7 31 23 10

D-97-MT009 12 56 4 18 94 18 33 29 17 40 19 6

D-97-MT009D 4 42 3 16 110 17 25 32 20 32 15 6

D-97-MT0010 3 49 4 6 180 17 28 22 15 37 17 6

D-97-MT0011 4 59 11 13 68 8 35 28 21 22 22 13

D-97-MT0013 < 2 66 5 16 49 15 38 23 14 34 24 8

97-BMF-132A 17 54 9 21 450 15 31 28 8 30 22 10

97-BMF-132B 15 49 10 15 360 14 26 25 6 27 18 9
11

Table 2. (cont.) Total-digestion ICP-AES analyses for mine waste samples collected from the Boulder River watershed study area,

Jefferson County Montana.

SAMPLE NO. Pb ppm Sc ppm Sr ppm Th ppm V ppm Y ppm Yb ppm Zn ppm

D-97-B001 3400 6 32 10 66 4 < 1 200

D-97-B002 740 9 47 14 94 4 < 1 340

D-97-B003 3300 5 28 8 61 3 < 1 150

D-97-B004 690 7 210 19 53 4 < 1 200

D-97-B005 5200 4 77 6 36 3 < 1 220

D-97-B006 20000 4 46 7 30 2 < 1 610

D-97-B0012 16000 8 140 9 89 6 < 1 6900

D-97-B0014 3200 8 210 18 73 13 1 1100

D-97-B0015 480 12 240 14 120 14 1 420

D-97-B0016 4800 5 76 20 38 8 < 1 1000

D-97-B0017 3500 8 110 16 70 7 < 1 280

D-97-B0018 3400 9 76 10 93 5 < 1 560

D-97-B0019A 8200 8 94 14 72 7 < 1 1300

D-97-B0019B 5600 8 70 10 83 7 < 1 800

D-97-MT007 630 8 200 6 52 20 2 1200

D-97-MT008 3800 6 100 16 60 17 2 1700

D-97-MT009 11000 10 62 10 100 5 < 1 1800

D-97-MT009D 5700 9 83 8 100 5 < 1 780

D-97-MT0010 8700 6 140 28 44 6 < 1 630

D-97-MT0011 2000 6 120 12 46 16 1 900

D-97-MT0013 730 10 73 18 92 9 < 1 240

97-BMF-132A 4400 8 330 12 62 13 1 2300

97-BMF-132B 2500 6 340 10 54 10 < 1 2200
12

Table 3. pH and conductivities of EPA-1312 leach solutions, net acid production (Acidity), and ICP-AES analyses for sulfate and 25

elements from EPA-1312 leach solutions for mine waste samples collected from the Boulder River watershed study area, Jefferson

County Montana.

Leach cond. NAP (acidity) [sulfate]

Leach pH @ 18 hours kg CaCO3 SO4 Al As B Ba Be Ca Cd

SAMPLE NO. @ 18 hrs μS/cm per ton mg/L μg/L μg/L μg/L μg/L μg/L μg/L μg/L

D-97-B001 3.79 60 2.45 8.8 17 320 10 94 < 10 290 < 10

D-97-B002 3.5 107 3.6 20.8 49 20 16 25 < 10 1400 < 10

D-97-B003 3.85 61 2.45 7.9 20 540 < 10 82 < 10 280 < 10

D-97-B004 3.48 106 6.32 15.9 84 140 29 50 < 10 360 < 10

D-97-B005 3.18 240 20.9 43.6 110 230 28 78 < 10 1600 < 10

D-97-B006 3.23 210 4.59 37.3 270 800 < 10 55 < 10 470 < 10

D-97-B0012 2.71 1090 33.7 277.1 5600 < 20 18 24 < 10 13000 220

D-97-B0014 6.26 87 0.5 31.4 64 62 26 81 < 10 12000 < 10

D-97-B0015 4.45 60 1.31 23.7 15 30 11 51 < 10 6400 < 10

D-97-B0016 4 78 4.09 28.5 41 < 20 12 61 < 10 5400 43

D-97-B0017 2.92 597 17.3 117.8 5100 140 < 10 87 < 10 2600 < 10

D-97-B0018 3.3 315 18.1 127.6 940 < 20 12 82 < 10 20000 34

D-97-B0019A 3.63 238 2.93 82.6 130 < 20 < 10 45 < 10 19000 70

D-97-B0019B 3.68 227 5.42 86.7 140 < 20 30 64 < 10 20000 46

D-97-MT007 7.69 119 0.23 15.4 220 < 20 72 220 < 10 21000 < 10

D-97-MT008 3.13 333 5.61 66.9 910 < 20 47 94 < 10 6500 70

D-97-MT009 3.37 163 12.7 40.3 240 < 20 10 38 < 10 3400 12

D-97-MT009D 3.31 210 7.4 53.5 170 < 20 12 41 < 10 7700 16

D-97-MT0010 3.7 240 7.95 55 270 95 14 35 < 10 5400 14

D-97-MT0011 7.41 202 2.32 54.8 26 < 20 19 59 < 10 40000 < 10

D-97-MT0013 3.67 96 3.3 18.3 55 < 20 14 88 < 10 1900 < 10

97-BMF-132A 3.98 247 2.45 88.4 570 160 160 310 < 10 12000 240

97-BMF-132B 3.24 498 5.61 134.7 1200 100 80 270 < 10 25000 230
13

Table 3. (cont.) pH and conductivites of EPA-1312 leach solutions, net acid production (Acidity), and ICP-AES analyses for sulfate

and 25 elements from EPA-1312 leach solutions for mine waste samples collected from the Boulder River watershed study area,

Jefferson County Montana.

 Co Cr Cu Fe K Li Mg Mn Mo Na Ni

SAMPLE NO. μg/L μg/L μg/L μg/L μg/L μg/L μg/L μg/L μg/L μg/L μg/L

D-97-B001 < 10 < 10 37 210 2800 < 10 95 25 < 20 460 < 10

D-97-B002 12 < 10 < 10 120 3500 < 10 470 880 < 20 430 < 10

D-97-B003 < 10 < 10 29 360 3800 < 10 99 15 < 20 620 < 10

D-97-B004 < 10 < 10 43 190 3500 < 10 160 160 < 20 780 < 10

D-97-B005 < 10 < 10 29 1700 4000 < 10 160 94 < 20 500 < 10

D-97-B006 < 10 < 10 120 1200 3700 < 10 130 16 < 20 370 < 10

D-97-B0012 30 < 10 1700 22000 1600 < 10 3200 5100 < 20 130 32

D-97-B0014 < 10 < 10 15 190 3000 < 10 1800 610 < 20 280 < 10

D-97-B0015 < 10 < 10 31 26 2600 < 10 1300 470 < 20 250 < 10

D-97-B0016 < 10 < 10 330 37 2000 < 10 1300 1300 < 20 150 < 10

D-97-B0017 53 < 10 950 9700 1800 < 10 2600 2200 < 20 150 23

D-97-B0018 60 < 10 1500 5400 2000 < 10 6300 4400 < 20 69 18

D-97-B0019A 18 < 10 350 130 2200 < 10 3800 2500 < 20 75 15

D-97-B0019B 26 < 10 190 97 2400 < 10 4200 3400 < 20 130 11

D-97-MT007 < 10 < 10 12 80 4400 < 10 1400 130 < 20 1400 < 10

D-97-MT008 < 10 < 10 540 1000 3000 < 10 1300 1200 < 20 570 11

D-97-MT009 < 10 < 10 60 31 3800 < 10 450 2000 < 20 410 < 10

D-97-MT009D < 10 < 10 85 38 3200 < 10 520 1900 < 20 270 < 10

D-97-MT0010 < 10 < 10 120 620 4600 < 10 740 900 < 20 550 < 10

D-97-MT0011 < 10 < 10 < 10 33 3000 < 10 1500 32 < 20 420 < 10

D-97-MT0013 < 10 < 10 20 22 3600 < 10 280 790 < 20 290 < 10

97-BMF-132A 28 < 10 670 240 3600 23 2800 5200 < 20 2100 11

97-BMF-132B 30 < 10 980 210 2900 10 3300 6500 < 20 700 13
14

Table 3. (cont.) pH and conductivites of EPA-1312 leach solutions, net acid production (Acidity), and ICP-AES analyses for sulfate

and 25 elements from EPA-1312 leach solutions for mine waste samples collected from the Boulder River watershed study area,

Jefferson County Montana.

 P Pb Si Sr Ti V Zn

SAMPLE NO. μg/L μg/L μg/L μg/L μg/L μg/L μg/L

D-97-B001 16000 < 50 410 2.4 < 50 < 10 120

D-97-B002 8800 < 50 1100 4.2 < 50 < 10 170

D-97-B003 19000 < 50 400 2.4 < 50 < 10 78

D-97-B004 4500 < 50 2800 4.2 < 50 < 10 150

D-97-B005 2300 11000 990 26 < 50 < 10 130

D-97-B006 12000 12000 630 56 < 50 < 10 230

D-97-B0012 12000 4300 1200 30 < 50 < 10 28000

D-97-B0014 23000 83 2200 65 < 50 < 10 550

D-97-B0015 14000 < 50 2000 83 < 50 < 10 200

D-97-B0016 4700 340 2100 18 < 50 < 10 2400

D-97-B0017 < 50 4000 1400 24 < 50 < 10 590

D-97-B0018 < 50 2000 1400 31 < 50 < 10 3600

D-97-B0019A 12000 920 2300 21 < 50 < 10 5600

D-97-B0019B 6200 650 1900 31 < 50 < 10 3000

D-97-MT007 35000 < 50 3400 42 < 50 < 10 54

D-97-MT008 15000 3300 1300 17 < 50 < 10 6600

D-97-MT009 3500 13000 1300 32 < 50 < 10 1300

D-97-MT009D 9200 9000 1600 31 < 50 < 10 1800

D-97-MT0010 3200 7500 1400 43 < 50 < 10 1700

D-97-MT0011 8700 < 50 3500 110 < 50 < 10 28

D-97-MT0013 9500 < 50 1800 9.3 < 50 < 10 180

97-BMF-132A 45000 460 3600 120 < 50 < 10 25000

97-BMF-132B 13000 91 2600 110 < 50 < 10 26000
15

Table 4. NAP (acidity), summed As+Cd+Cu+Pb+Zn from EPA-1312 leach, chemical rank based on summed As+Cd+Cu+Pb+Zn,

dissolved iron in EPA-1312 leach, chemical rank based on dissolved iron, size classes of mine-waste sites, and composite rank based

on combination of chemical ranks and size classes.

column 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

summed chemical rank size class rank based on

Acidity dissolved based on dissolved chemical rank from combining chemistry

kg CaCO3 metals dissolved iron based on Desborough ranks and

SAMPLE NO. per ton μg/L summed metals μg/L dissolved iron and Fey (1997) size rank

D-97-B001 2.5 477 1 210 1 2 4

D-97-B002 3.6 190 1 120 1 1 3

D-97-B003 2.5 647 1 360 1 3 5

D-97-B004 6.3 333 1 190 1 3 5

D-97-B005 20.9 11,389 3b 1,700 3 3 9b

D-97-B006 4.6 13,150 3a 1,200 2 3 8a

D-97-B0012 33.7 34,220 3b 22,000 3 1 7b

D-97-B0014 0.5 710 1 190 1 3 5

D-97-B0015 1.3 261 1 26 1 3 5

D-97-B0016 4.1 3,113 2 37 1 3 6

D-97-B0017 17.3 5,680 3b 9,700 3 3 9b

D-97-B0018 18.1 7,134 3b 5,400 3 3 9b

D-97-B0019A 2.9 6,940 3a 130 1 3 7b

D-97-B0019B 5.4 3,886 2 97 1 3 6

D-97-MT007 0.2 66 1 80 1 3 5

D-97-MT008 5.6 10,510 3a 1,000 2 3 8a

D-97-MT009 12.7 14,372 3b 31 1 3 7b

D-97-MT009D 7.4 10,901 3a 38 1 3 7a

D-97-MT0010 8.0 9,429 3a 620 1 3 7a

D-97-MT0011 2.3 28 1 33 1 2 4

D-97-MT0013 3.3 200 1 22 1 2 4

97-BMF-132A 2.5 26,530 3a 240 1 removed --

97-BMF-132B 5.6 27,401 3a 210 1 removed --
16

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