Baseline, Historic and Background Rates of Deposition of Lead-Rich Sediments on the Floodplain of the Coeur D’Alene River, Idaho
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In cooperation with the Coeur d’Alene Tribe Baseline, Historic and Background Rates of Deposition of Lead-Rich Sediments on the Floodplain of the Coeur d’Alene River, Idaho By Arthur A. Bookstrom1, Stephen E. Box1, Robert S. Fouseck2, John C. Wallis1, Helen Z. Kayser1 and Berne L. Jackson3 2004, revised 2013 1 USGS, 904 West Riverside Avenue, Room 202, Spokane, WA 99201 2 PO Box 2756, Auburn, AL 36831 3 Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Plummer, ID 83851 Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government Open-File Report 2004-1211, Version 1.1 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior Gale A. Norton, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Charles G. Groat, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia 2006 For product and ordering information: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted material contained within this report. 2 Contents Contents .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Abstract ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Introduction..................................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Purpose....................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Overview .................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Description of Study Area and Surroundings.................................................................................................................................. 8 Water Levels and Topography ................................................................................................................................................... 9 Precipitation and Vegetation ...................................................................................................................................................... 9 Deforestation, Runoff and Floods ............................................................................................................................................ 10 Upper Perennial Riverine Subsystem....................................................................................................................................... 10 Lower Perennial Riverine Subsystem....................................................................................................................................... 10 Coeur d’Alene Mining Region ................................................................................................................................................. 11 History of Production of Ore, Lead, Zinc, and Silver.......................................................................................................... 11 History of Tailings Production ............................................................................................................................................ 12 History of Tailings-Management Practices ......................................................................................................................... 12 Data Sets and Methods.................................................................................................................................................................. 13 Sampling Strategies.................................................................................................................................................................. 13 Sampling Methods.................................................................................................................................................................... 14 Chemical Analytical Methods .................................................................................................................................................. 14 Data-Classification and Estimation Methods ........................................................................................................................... 14 Descriptive Summary Statistics .................................................................................................................................................... 15 Statistical Definitions ............................................................................................................................................................... 15 Statistical Characterizations ..................................................................................................................................................... 15 Statistically Based Estimates.................................................................................................................................................... 16 Stratigraphy of Unconsolidated Sediments ................................................................................................................................... 16 Pre-Industrial Sediments .......................................................................................................................................................... 16 Background Sediment-Deposition Rates (sdrBG) ............................................................................................................... 16 Background Lead Concentrations (PbBG) .......................................................................................................................... 17 The Section of Lead-Rich Sediments (PbR)............................................................................................................................. 17 Time-Stratigraphic Markers ..................................................................................................................................................... 17 Surface at the Time of Sampling (1991 to 1998)................................................................................................................. 18 Mt. St. Helens Volcanic-Ash Layer (1980) ......................................................................................................................... 18 Base of Section of Lead-Rich Sediments (~1903)............................................................................................................... 18 Time-Stratigraphic Intervals..................................................................................................................................................... 19 Pre-Remedial Baseline Interval, AA (1980 ~1993)............................................................................................................. 19 Historic Floodplain-Contamination Interval, BA, (~1903 to 1980)..................................................................................... 19 Early Post-Tailings-Release Subinterval, BA1 (~1968 to 1980)..................................................................................... 19 Tailings-Release Subinterval, BA2 (~1903 to ~1968)..................................................................................................... 20 Jig Tailings-Release Sub-Subinterval, BA2J (~1903 to ~ 1918)..................................................................................... 20 Flotation Tailings-Release Sub-Subinterval, BA2F (~1918 to ~ 1968) .......................................................................... 20 Early Metal-Enrichment Interval, EME (~1893 ~1903)................................................................................................. 20 Character of Sediments by Depositional Setting........................................................................................................................... 20 Riverbed Sediments.................................................................................................................................................................. 21 Riverbank and Levee Sediments .............................................................................................................................................. 21 Palustrine Sediments ................................................................................................................................................................ 21 Lacustrine Sediments ............................................................................................................................................................... 22 Baseline Depositional Rates and Lead Concentrations ................................................................................................................. 22 Baseline Sediment-Deposition Rates, Overall Summary Statistics.........................................................................................