Sediment-bound Arsenic and Uranium Within the Bowman–Haley Reservoir, North Dakota

The purpose of this study was to determine the impacts of regional historical uranium mining activities within sediments of the Bowman–Haley reservoir of southwestern North Dakota. The extent of anthropogenic-influenced watershed impacts were quantified through the determination of sediment metals c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water, air, and soil pollution air, and soil pollution, 2011-07, Vol.219 (1-4), p.27-42
Main Authors: Larson, Lance N., Stone, James J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Anthropogenic factors
Applied sciences
Arsenic
Arsenic content
Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution
Climate Change/Climate Change Impacts
Contamination
Cores
Creeks
Creeks & streams
Earth and Environmental Science
Environment
Environmental monitoring
Exact sciences and technology
Heavy metals
Hydrogeology
Inlets
Metal concentrations
Metals
Mining
Outlets
Pollution
Pollution studies
Reservoirs
Sediments
Soil Science & Conservation
Stone
Toxicity
Uranium
Vertical migrations
Water column
Water Quality/Water Pollution
Watersheds
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Summary:The purpose of this study was to determine the impacts of regional historical uranium mining activities within sediments of the Bowman–Haley reservoir of southwestern North Dakota. The extent of anthropogenic-influenced watershed impacts were quantified through the determination of sediment metals concentrations and metal enrichment factors to evaluate the potential of geochemically influenced As and U remobilization within the reservoir sediments. Sediment cores were collected and analyzed for total metal concentrations at five locations within the reservoir: Spring Creek delta, Alkali Creek delta, two locations within the North Fork of the Grand River confluence, and adjacent to the reservoir outfall. Pearson-moment correlations were used to establish inter-core metal correlations, while sediment enrichment factors were determined relative to background concentrations. Enrichment factor results suggest all sampling sites are classified as minor to moderately enriched for As and U. Metal behavior for the three reservoir inlets indicated similar metal loading sources and post-depositional behavior, while metals migration within the vicinity of the reservoir outlet appear to be controlled by geochemical and/or physical processes. For the reservoir outlet, As and U normalized to Al suggest the occurrence of vertical migration of As, while surface-bound U remobilization was apparent within the water column immediately above the sediments. Elevated U was found within the Spring Creek inlet, and appear attributed to historical uranium processing operations located in Griffin, North Dakota. While the reservoir As and U sediment concentrations may be considered low, their presence appears directly attributed to historical uranium mining activities within the Bowman–Haley reservoir watershed.
ISSN:0049-6979
1573-2932
DOI:10.1007/s11270-010-0681-9