Legacy Sediment, Lead, and Zinc Storage in Channel and Floodplain
Geomorphology 299 (2017) 54–75 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Geomorphology journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/geomorph Legacy sediment, lead, and zinc storage in channel and floodplain deposits of the Big River, Old Lead Belt Mining District, Missouri, USA Robert T. Pavlowsky a,⁎, Scott A. Lecce b,MarcR.Owenc, Derek J. Martin d a Department of Geography, Geology, and Planning, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO 65804, USA b Department of Geography, Planning and Environment, East Carolina University, NC 27858, USA c Ozarks Environmental and Water Resources Institute, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO 65804, USA d Department of Geography and Planning, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608, USA article info abstract Article history: The Old Lead Belt of southeastern Missouri was one of the leading producers of Pb ore for more than a century Received 4 March 2017 (1869–1972). Large quantities of contaminated mine waste have been, and continue to be, supplied to local Received in revised form 17 August 2017 streams. This study assessed the magnitude and spatial distribution of mining-contaminated legacy sediment Accepted 17 August 2017 stored in channel and floodplain deposits of the Big River in the Ozark Highlands of southeastern Missouri. Available online 27 September 2017 Although metal concentrations decline downstream from the mine sources, the channel and floodplain sediments are contaminated above background levels with Pb and Zn along its entire 171-km length below Keywords: fl N −1 N −1 Legacy sediment the mine sources. Mean concentrations in oodplain cores 2000 mg kg for Pb and 1000 mg kg for Zn Mining contamination extend 40–50 km downstream from the mining area in association with the supply of fine tailings particles Fluvial storage that were easily dispersed downstream in the suspended load.
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