GB 17, Acid Mine Drainage in Southeastern Ohio
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GUIDEBOOK NO. 17 ACID MINE DRAINAGE IN SOUTHEASTERN OHIO by Mary W. Stoertz and Dina L. López Department of Geological Sciences, Ohio University originally prepared for the 1998 North-Central Section meeting of the Geological Society of America Columbus 2008 DIVISION OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 2045 MORSE RD., BLDG. C-1 COLUMBUS, OHIO 43229-6693 (614) 265-6576 (614) 447-1918 (FAX) e-mail: [email protected] World Wide Web: http://www.ohiodnr.com/geosurvey/ OHIO GEOLOGY ADVISORY COUNCIL Ms. Tina G. Niven, representing At-Large Citizens Dr. Mark R. Boardman, representing Higher Education Mr. David A. Wilder, representing Coal Dr. Robert W. Ritzi, Jr., representing Hydrogeology Mr. Mark R. Rowland, representing Environmental Geology Mr. Garry L. Getz, representing Industrial Minerals Mr. William M. Rike, representing Oil and Gas SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL STAFF OF THE DIVISION OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY ADMINISTRATION (614) 265-6988 Lawrence H. Wickstrom, MS, State Geologist & Division Chief Edward Mac Swinford, MS, Division Assistant Chief Elizabeth M. Alguire, BS, Executive Secretary Betty R. Lewis, Administrative Assistant GEOLOGIC MAPPING & INDUSTRIAL MINERALS GROUP (614) 265-6473 Michael P. Angle, MS, Geologist Supervisor Glenn E. Larsen, MS, Senior Geologist Sharon Lingle, MS, Geologist Richard R. Pavey, MS, Surfi cial Mapping Administrator Gregory A. Schumacher, MS, Senior Geologist and H. R. Collins Laboratory Coordinator Douglas L. Shrake, MS, Senior Geologist Erik R. Venteris, PhD, Geologist Mark E. Wolfe, BS, Senior Geologist ENERGY RESOURCES GROUP (614) 265-6597 Douglas J. Mullett, MS, Geologist Supervisor Mark T. Baranoski, MS, Senior Geologist Christopher P. Gordon, BS, Geologist Ronald A. Riley, MS, Senior Geologist Ernie R. Slucher, MS, Senior Geologist TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER GROUP (614) 265-6591 Donovan M. Powers, BA, GIMS System Supervisor James McDonald, MS, GIMS Specialist Kelli L. Vogt, MA, GIMS Specialist Joseph G. Wells, MS, Database Administrator Edward V. Kuehnle, BA, Publications and Geologic Records Center Supervisor Madge R. Fitak, BS, Customer Service Specialist Katherine H. Pan, MS, Editor Lisa Van Doren, BA, Electronic Designer THE OHIO SEISMIC NETWORK (OHIOSEIS) (740) 548-597 Michael C. Hansen, PhD, OhioSeis Coordinator An Equal Opportunity Employer - M/F/H recycled paper STATE OF OHIO Ted Strickland, Governor DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Sean D. Logan, Director DIVISION OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Larry Wickstrom, Chief GUIDEBOOK NO. 17 ACID MINE DRAINAGE IN SOUTHEASTERN OHIO by Mary W. Stoertz and Dina L. López Department of Geological Sciences, Ohio University Guidebook originally prepared for the North-Central Section meeting of the Geological Society of America, Columbus, Ohio, March 19-20, 1998 Columbusi 2008 Composition and layout by Lisa Van Doren. EDITOR’S NOTE: This guidebook has only been cursorily edited and has not been reviewed for scientifi c accuracy. All fi gures in this guidebook are presented as they were received from the authors except for resizing that was necessary for formatting. Units of measurement are also the same as originally received. The views and interpretations expressed herein are those of the authors; the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geological Survey does not make any warranty, expressed or implied, nor assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy of this product. Cover illustration: Acid mine drainage from the Majestic Mine, Athens County, Ohio. An apron of ferric hydroxide that has accumulated over about 70 years is visible in the foreground. ii CONTENTS Page Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 1 History of mining around Monday Creek ..................................................................... 1 Geologic setting .............................................................................................................. 1 Mining methods and implications ................................................................................ 5 Acid mine drainage ........................................................................................................ 5 Extent of AMD in the northern Appalachian region ................................................... 9 Water-quality effects of AMD ........................................................................................ 9 Stop 1, Majestic Mine, Athens County, Ohio ...................................................................... 10 Surface and ground water ............................................................................................. 11 Subsidence features ....................................................................................................... 11 Majestic Mine hydrology ............................................................................................... 11 Duration curve ........................................................................................................ 11 Mine hydrograph .................................................................................................... 11 Evaporation and water recharge ........................................................................... 12 Sources of water for the Majestic Mine discharge ................................................ 12 Seasonal variation in water chemistry ......................................................................... 12 Chemical loadings to Monday Creek ............................................................................ 12 Conceptual model for the Majestic Mine ...................................................................... 13 Stop 2, Essex Mine, Hocking County, Ohio ......................................................................... 22 Hydrology ....................................................................................................................... 22 Physical, chemical, and biological controls on water quality ...................................... 22 Dissolved oxygen ..................................................................................................... 22 Solute concentrations ............................................................................................. 22 Chemical loads ........................................................................................................ 23 Mineral saturation indexes .................................................................................... 23 Microbial activity .................................................................................................... 23 Conceptual model of Essex Mine hydrogeochemistry .................................................. 24 Stop 3, Rock Run gob pile, Perry County, Ohio ................................................................... 36 Water budget and numerical fl ow model ...................................................................... 36 Conceptual model for the Rock Run gob pile ................................................................ 36 References cited .................................................................................................................... 43 FIGURES 1. Location of fi eld-trip stops ............................................................................................. 2 2. Map of Monday Creek watershed ................................................................................. 3 3. Coal mining in Athens, Hocking, and Perry Counties ................................................. 4 4. Location of the Eastern Coal Province ......................................................................... 4 5. Lower portion of the stratigraphic column for Athens County ................................... 6 6. Physical fl ow model based on stress-relief fracturing ................................................. 7 7. Schematic room-and-pillar mine layout ....................................................................... 7 8. Types of underground mines ......................................................................................... 7 9. Extent of underground mining in the Monday Creek watershed ............................... 8 10. Schematic balance between acidity and alkalinity in generation of AMD ................. 9 11. Extent of reduced fi sh populations due to acid mine drainage ................................... 10 12. Extent of the Majestic Mine and adjacent underground mines .................................. 14 13. Plan view of the Majestic Mine discharge area ............................................................ 14 14. Strike-normal geologic cross section ESE from the mine opening .............................. 15 15. Map of subsidence features overlying the Majestic Mine ............................................ 15 16. Photograph of a vertical subsidence fracture in the Lower Freeport sandstone overlying the Majestic Mine ................................................................................... 16 17. Photograph of bedding separation in the Lower Freeport sandstone overlying the Majestic Mine .......................................................................................................... 16 18. Duration curve of the Majestic Mine discharge, March 26 to October 16, 1996 ........ 17 19. Majestic Mine discharge hydrograph and daily total rainfall, April 1, 1996, to March 1, 1997 ........................................................................................................