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Evaluation of Contaminant Attenuation in a Mining Impacted Aquifer, Stark County, Ohio

Adams, Heather R

Abstract Details

2015, Master of Science, University of Akron, Geology.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the attenuation of chemical species migrating in an aquifer, Stark County, Ohio. The study area has been significantly impacted by mining operations and the subsequent construction of a monofill. This study was funded by a grant from the Stark-Tuscarawas-Wayne Joint Solid Waste Management District and is one of many studies completed to evaluate the environmental impacts from the historical mining operations and the current construction and operation of the monofill. This study presents the results from eleven years of groundwater monitoring from four wells (M1, M2, WL7 and WL11) and the migration trends of select chemical species introduced to the aquifer at two source areas. The two source areas include the northern site which was used for coal washing prior to 1989 and reclaimed in 1993 and 1994 and the southern site which was used for strip mining and subsequently converted to a shredded tire monofill 1998. Groundwater samples were collected from four wells from 1993 to 2004 and analyzed for major cations, anions and trace elements. The migration rate of the individual chemical species concentration anomalies, as presented on time series plots, were evaluated to determine if attenuation has occurred during migration through the aquifer. Attenuation is demonstrated by the reduction in mass or concentration of a chemical species in groundwater over time, or distance from the source. The attenuation of chemical species SO42- and HCO3- were determined to be impacted by multiple source areas. Two sources of these species are believed to be from infiltration of the leachate from the coal washing at the northern site prior to and during remediation activities. The second source of these species is believed to be infiltration from the leachate ponds and mine spoil piles at the southern site prior to the construction of the monofill. Therefore, the use of the SO42- and HCO3- data to establish attenuation is not ideal and should be considered with some uncertainty. The opposite phenomenon is observed with the Cl- and Ca2+ concentration anomalies. Unlike SO42- and HCO3- peaks, the Cl- and Ca2+ peaks are decreasing in concentration as they migrate down gradient. This decrease in concentration could be attributed to attenuation since these species have a single source near well M2. Therefore, the use of the Cl- and Ca2+ data can be used to establish attenuation. Trace element data were not collected prior to 1995 for arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd). The initial concentration of these trace elements was extrapolated for this study and not measured in actual samples. Therefore, the use of the As and Cd data to establish attenuation is not ideal and should be considered with some uncertainty.
Ira Sasowsky, Dr. (Advisor)
John Peck, Dr. (Committee Member)
Teresa Cutright, Dr. (Committee Member)
142 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Adams, H. R. (2015). Evaluation of Contaminant Attenuation in a Mining Impacted Aquifer, Stark County, Ohio [Master's thesis, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1446030249

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Adams, Heather. Evaluation of Contaminant Attenuation in a Mining Impacted Aquifer, Stark County, Ohio. 2015. University of Akron, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1446030249.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Adams, Heather. "Evaluation of Contaminant Attenuation in a Mining Impacted Aquifer, Stark County, Ohio." Master's thesis, University of Akron, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1446030249

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)