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Shallow Groundwater Flow in Unmined Regions of the Northern Appalachian Plateau: Part 2

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Shallow Groundwater Flow in Unmined Regions of the Northern Appalachian Plateau: Part 2 SHALLOW GROUNDWATER FLOW IN UNMINED REGIONS OF THE NORTHERN APPALACHIAN PLATEAU: PART 2. GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS 1 Keith B.C. Brady, Arthur W. Rose, Jay W. Hawkins, 2 and Michael R. DiMatteo ABSTRACT. Surface mines in Pennsylvania occur in the shallow (< 60 m depth) groundwater flow system and typically are located in groundwater recharge areas. Two shallow flow systems are usually present in unmined areas: an upper weathered-rock zone and a deeper unweathered-rock zone. The weathered-rock zone, although variable, is commonly 6 to 12 m thick. Groundwater in the weathered-rock flow system, as e,~denced by shallow wells and cropline springs, has low dissolved solids (specific conductance < 50 µSiem). The deeper unweathered-rock flow system, as ewdenced by water from wells deeper than IO m, has higher concentrations of dissolved constituents. The differences in water quality are due to previous intensive leaching of minerals within the weathered-rock zone and to much higher flow rates in the more porous and fractured weathered zone. In particular, calcareous minerals are absent or negligible in the weathered-rock zone, but can be appreciable in the unweathered-rock zone. This distribution of calcareous minerals, groundwater contact time with rock, and flow path influence the groundwater composition and concentrations of dissolved ions. A positive relationship exists between the presence and abundance of calcareous minerals and associated groundwater alkalinity. Our observations are probably applicable to much of the Appalachian Plateau. Groundwater alkalinity can help determine the presence and distribution of calcareous minerals within coal overburden. Coal-cropline springs should not be depended upon for showing groundwater quality associated with the coal seam; they typically only reflect shallow flow through weathered rock. Deeper wells are required to determine the chemical characteristics of water in the unweathered rock zone. Additional Key Words: groundwater chemistry, acid-base accounting, weathering, groundwater flow Introduction The three areas discussed in this paper lie The companion paper (Hawkins et al., 1996, within the Allegheny Mountain section of the this proceedings) prowdes a rewew of groundwater Appalachian Plateau physiographic prownce. This hydrology studies on the plateau. This paper addresses portion of the plateau has moderate to high relief (90 to chemical ewdence in support of that model. Our model 300 m), marked by deep, V-shaped valleys (Berg et al., defines two separate shallow groundwater flow systems 1989). Stratigraphically the sites occur within the in unmined areas within the unglaciated portions of the Pennsylvanian Period middle Allegheny Group (Sites A Appalachian Plateau of western Pennsylvania. Numerous and B) and upper Allegheny Group/lower Glenshaw studies throughout the plateau, from Kentucky to New Formation (Site C). Structurally the rocks are horizontal York have examined shallow groundwater hydrologic to gently dipping (generally< 6°). characteristics, but few have related water chemistry to the groundwater hydrology. Natural water quality in shallow groundwater flow systems of the Appalachian Plateau results 1Paper presented at the 13th Annual National Meeting of primarily from the influence of three factors: (I) the the American Society for Surface Mining and chemistry/mineralogy of the rock that the water contacts, Reclamation, May 18-23, 1996. (2) flow path, and (3) water and rock contact time. 2Keith B. C. Brady and Michael R. DiMatteo, Although many solutes are present, we concentrate on Hydrogeologists, Dept. of Enmoumental Protection, bicarbonate alkalinity, because it can be compared to Harrisburg, PA 17105; Arthur W. Rose, Professor, Dept. overburden neutralization potential (NP) (an estimation of Geosciences, Penn State Univ., University Park, PA of calcareous mineral content) and because it can be used 16802; Jay W. Hawkins, Hydrologist, USGS (formerly as a mine drainage quality prediction tool. Other water with US Bur. of Mines), Pittsburgh, PA 15222. quality parameters will be addressed where appropriate. 52 Methods Shallow groundwater is associated with two distinct flow-systems. The one system, represented by The three study areas discussed in this paper coal-cropline springs, is recharged from the near-surface were selected because they had: (I) water chemistry data zone of weathered rock up slope from the spring. This from coal-cropline springs, (2) water quality from wells zone consists of soil, colluvium (in some areas), and completed down to the same coal seam as the cropline weathered and highly fractured rock. This weathering is springs, and (3) acid-base accounting (ABA) data. both chemical and physical. The weathering is enhanced by stress-relief fracturing on the hill slopes and by ABA is defined by two parameters, bedding plane separations, which promote intensified neutralization potential (NP), which is an approximation chemical weathering and resulting porosity increases of calcareous mineral content (reported in terms of parts (Hawkins et al., 1996). The weathered zone, as seen in per thousand CaC03; traditionally reported as tons strip mines and drill logs, is typically 6 to 12 m thick, but CaC0,/1000 tons of material), and maximum potential can extend deeper along fractures. The weathered zone is acidity (MP A), which is an approximation of pyrite typically devoid of calcareous minerals and pyrite (Singh content. MP A is converted to the same units as NP by et al., 1982; Brady et al., 1988). It is characterized by a multiplication of the weight percent total sulfur by the yellow-red-brown color resulting from iron oxidation. stoichiometric equivalence factor of 31.25 (Cravotta et The lower boundary of the weathered zone is an irregular al., 1990). Average NP's and MP A's were determined for surface. The irregularity is caused by variations in each overburden drill-hole by using thickness weighting fractures, topography and lithology. and assuming each hole represented a column of constant diameter, following the methods described in Smith and The other flow-system is below the weathered Brady (1990). rock within the zone of largely unweathered bedrock. The unweathered bedrock zone is much less fractured, All water quality sample locations were having fewer bedding plane separations and stress-relief represented by multiple samples. Medians were fractures. The bedrock zone retains calcareous minerals determined for pH. Other water quality parameters and pyrite (if originally present) and the rocks are discussed in this paper, unless specified otherwise, are typically gray, with iron oxidation restricted to some n1ean concentrations. fractures and bedding plane separations. Mine Sites Most water flowing through the weathered zone has a relatively short residence time (days to weeks) To illustrate the relationship between rock because of the shallow nature of this material and higher chemistry and water chemistry, several specific examples permeability which is induced by the factors cited above. will be given. All sites discussed are isolated hill tops Some storage is present, however, because the springs where the only recharge is from direct precipitation. In continue to flow during dry periods. The absence of all cases the coal outcrops along the sides of the hill, and readily leachable or oxidizable minerals and the short cropline-springs and bedrock monitoring wells are residence time results in spring-water quality which present. typically has low concentrations of dissolved ions. MINE A: Boggs Township. Clearfield County The water flowing through the unweathered- rock zone has longer residence time (months to years) Mine A is the Kauffinan mine where various because of lower permeabilities (Hawkins et al., 1996) research studies have been and are being conducted (see and the slower flow rate allows longer contact with Abate, 1993; Evans. 1994; Rose et al., 1995; Hawkins et soluble minerals. Groundwater in unweathered rock al., 1996, this volume). Mine-site topography, locations typically has greater concentrations of dissolved solids of drill holes and water-sample points for this mine are than water emanating from weathered regolith. Water shown on Figure I. This map also shows alkalinity and chemistry from umnined areas can provide information specific conductivity of wells and springs associated with concerning the groundwater flow system. the lower Kittanning (LK) coal seam. plus a few springs flowing from the Clarion #2 cropline. All the wells are completed as IO-cm-diameter piezometers that are open for 1.5 m at the interval of the LK coal. Figure 1 also 53 LEGEND A3 Overburden Hole + 1.8 Neutralization Potential / ' N1 'r \ 7.9 Maximum Potential Acidity Monitoring Well I/'/ A;;.+o.5 \ ....___,, W5 2 /1( . a. -- Alkalinity, Specific Conductance 3 ~ V --=-=-"-::C::-c:::::----:::-:: 124 •282 JI \ ~~ s°"41 5 • 6 ----. <.l' ' ./ 'b\cR50.!_A 'f'i.R•o1,---..__ A Spring ' I ~A_.2 Jg A.37 I \ 1:,._ 5 A6~ 05' M 4 42 Alkalinity, Specific Conductance I I 7 +1.9 I 11W8 194 +~j1 A5+, •.• WB 5.3 79.184 ---- Lower Kittanning Coal-Cropline ,j rcs+g~ OB6 +:,5.3 5.9 \ 4.6..42 "'- Clarion Coal-Cropline AB 19.6 Ii W5 +3.8 B1 8 C3 I • ~m 12,1. 2s2 ct6.2 Contour Interval 20 meters II 90"231.\P 8.7 l J:i"l!O..:s'l 9064 (11 II - ~.t-.i. I W3 OBJ8 .i,. ·1, -- ____ ..,) "" • I 10s•2it7·3 =- --- / 4A35 +2.7 +2.B ,1' ,___00 ---- ---- / ,"'/ /0 / 8.3 7.3 ~ ' ... 32 c2 _ +9.41 9 w;2,,236 O 200 "' '" i/,, ,-{" ,•" '-::: !/ f' W1 ) ___:::iMEm'is"--- ,.?3yi, .•+:·' - "'\i-~-·- ' 11 11't2~(Ol..37~ C1 +o.34.9__ _ _ 084 (''~ ---:~-/- +.6.1W22 .,.-----,,~ L ,'A 1 11.4 ', ' - --- ,o /' 1' "'q"" ,/ ' 3 -, - ' ~-----:- .. 36 43 " ~ - ~ ' 2---- .. 61 - ' .. ', -- Figure Locatious of coal croplines, water sample ..... "-.....: -.,.- I. -- ) t ..... .,. points. overburden drill holes, and piezometers on mine o A 34 O -;:::. -- site A (Kauffman site). Values for select water quality parameters and overburden analysis summary numbers are portrayed next to the sample point. 7~ /~007 shows summaries of acid-base accounting data for groundwater and has. if an)1hing, an inverse relation to overburden drill holes.
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