WATER QUALITY OF LARGE DISCHARGES FROM MINES IN THE ANTHRACITE REGION OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA By Charles R. Wood U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Water-Resources Investigations Report 95-4243 Prepared in cooperation with the PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES BUREAU OF TOPOGRAPHIC AND GEOLOGIC SURVEY Lemoyne, Pennsylvania 1996 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY GORDON P. EATON, Director For additional information Copies of this report can be write to: purchased from: District Chief U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey Branch of Information Services Water Resources Division Box25286, MS 517 840 Market Street Denver Federal Center Lemoyne, Pennsylvania 17043-1586 Denver, Colorado 80225 CONTENTS Page Abstract................................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction.....................................................................................»^ 1 Purpose and scope....................................................................................................................................................... 1 General description of the study area.......................................................................................................................... 1 Methods of study ...................................................................... 3 Previous investigations ............................................................................................................................................... 3 Acknowledgments............................................................................................................................................^ 12 Water quality......................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Sites studied................................................................................................................................................................ 15 Field measurements................................................................................................................................^ 15 Temperature....................................................................................................................................................... 15 pH........................................_ 15 Acidity............................................................................................................................................................... 45 Dissolved oxygen.............................................................................................................................................. 45 Silica..............................................» 48 Cations ................................................................................................................................................................^ 48 Aluminum......................................................................................................................................................... 51 Barium............................................................................................................................................................... 51 Boron........................................................................................................................................................^ 51 Cadmium........................................................................................................................................................... 51 Calcium............................................................................................................................................................. 52 Cobalt................................................................................................................................................................ 52 Copper............................................................................................................................................................... 52 Iron.................................................................................................................................................................... 52 Lead................................................................................................................................................................... 60 Lithium.............................................................................................................................................................. 60 Magnesium........................................................................................................................................................ 60 Manganese........................................................................................................................................................ 60 Nickel......................................................................................^ 60 Potassium.......................................................................................................................................................... 62 Sodium...................................................................................................................................................^ 62 Strontium........................................................................................................................................................... 63 Zinc ......................................................................................................................................................^ 63 Anions............................................................................................................................^^ 63 Alkalinity ...................................................................................^^^ 63 Chloride............................................................................................................................................................. 63 Fluoride............................................................................................................................................................. 63 Nitrogen............................................................................................................................................................ 64 Sulfate............................................................................................................................................................... 64 Summary................................................................................................................................................................^ 66 Selected references ............................................................................................................................................................... 66 CONTENTS iii ILLUSTRATIONS Page 1. Map showing locations of the four coal fields in eastern Pennsylvania................................................................ 2 2-3. Graphs showing: 2. Relation of monthly sulfate and iron concentrations to discharge for the Owl Hole Tunnel (site 30), Eastern Middle Anthracite Field, east-central Pennsylvania, 1986-91................................................... 13 3. Relation of monthly sulfate and iron concentrations to discharge for the Centralia Drainage Tunnel (site 68), Western Middle Anthracite Field, east-central Pennsylvania, 1986-92.................................. 14 4-7. Maps showing sites where discharge water from mines was sampled in the: 4. Northern Anthracite Field, northeast Pennsylvania..................................................................................... 16 5. Eastern Middle Anthracite Field, east-central Pennsylvania....................................................................... 17 6. Western Middle Anthracite Field, east-central Pennsylvania...................................................................... 18 7. Southern Anthracite Field, east-central Pennsylvania................................................................................. 19 8-12. Graphs showing: 8. Change in pH between 1975 and 1991 for water discharged from mines in the four anthracite coal fields of eastern Pennsylvania................................................................................................................. 44 9. Comparison of hot and cold field and laboratory acidity titrations for water discharged from the Beaver Meadow (Quakake) Tunnel (site 37), Eastern Middle Anthracite Field, east-central Pennsylvania...... 47 10. Relation of dissolved oxygen concentration to acidity in water discharged from mines in the anthracite coal fields of Pennsylvania..................................................................................................................... 49 11. Relation of dissolved oxygen concentration to dissolved iron concentration in water discharged from mines in the anthracite coal fields of Pennsylvania................................................................................ 50 12. Annual mean iron concentration in water discharged from the Old Forge borehole (site 13), Northern Anthracite Field, northeast Pennsylvania, 1962-91...............................................................................