Understanding and Responding to Hazardous Substances at Mine Sites in the Western United States
This volume documents interesting approaches, techniques, and practical scientific considerations associated with mine site remediation. It also highlights how various federal, state, and local agencies and organizations are trying to bring the best science possible to bear on this serious problem. Some chapters focus on specific methods for characterization, particular contaminant issues, and impacts from the release of hazardous substances from mine and mill sites. Others describe successful response actions, technologies, or practical approaches for addressing contaminant releases to the environment.
Approaches to site characterization, reclamation of uranium mine overburden, and neutralization of a mine pond at the White King–Lucky Lass mines site near Lakeview, Oregon
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Published:January 01, 2007
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CiteCitation
Kent Bostick, Norm Day, Bill Adams, David B. Ward, 2007. "Approaches to site characterization, reclamation of uranium mine overburden, and neutralization of a mine pond at the White King–Lucky Lass mines site near Lakeview, Oregon", Understanding and Responding to Hazardous Substances at Mine Sites in the Western United States, Jerome V. DeGraff
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Abstract
Remediation of uranium mine overburden and an acidic mine pond at the White King–Lucky Lass mines near Lakeview, Oregon was completed in November 2006. The site was remediated under Superfund due to risk from arsenic and radium-226 in overburden soils. Separate clean-up standards were developed for each mine site for arsenic and radium-226 due to differing ore-body geochemistry. Gamma surveys were used to identify overburden with elevated radium-226 activities and to provide confirmation of visual clean-up of materials. Because arsenic is collocated with radium-226 at the White King mine, gamma surveys reduced the number of arsenic confirmation samples. Secularequilibrium in the uranium-238 decay series was used to determine the extent of leaching of uranium-238 and daughter products from overburden to groundwater. Trilinear geochemical analysis distinguished mineralized groundwater within the ore bodies from regional groundwater and detected any influence from seepage from overburden piles. Remedial actions include neutralization of an acidic mine pond and consolidation of elevated-activity overburden into a pile with a soil/rock cover at White King mine. Ecological toxicity studies determined that neutralization of the pond would provide a benthic community supportive of aquatic wildlife. An overburden pile at the Lucky Lass mine and disturbed areas were covered with clean soil. The remedial actions comply with State of Oregon siting regulations, which required removal of radioactive overburden from the 500-year flood plain. Protection of human health is assured by institutional controls to prevent use of mineralized groundwater and by fencing to prevent site access.
- acid mine drainage
- acidification
- actinides
- alkaline earth metals
- aquatic environment
- aquifer vulnerability
- aquifers
- arsenic
- constructed wetlands
- depositional environment
- environmental management
- geochemistry
- ground water
- in situ
- isotopes
- Lake County Oregon
- metal ores
- metals
- migration of elements
- mines
- mining
- open-pit mining
- Oregon
- pH
- pollution
- public health
- Ra-226
- radioactive isotopes
- radium
- reclamation
- remediation
- risk assessment
- soils
- surface mining
- surface water
- tailings ponds
- toxic materials
- transport
- United States
- uranium
- uranium ores
- water quality
- wetlands
- White King Mine
- Lucky Lass Mine
- Lakeview Oregon