Chemical composition of sediments and soils are of interest because of the potential for human and wildlife health impacts from high metal contents due to over 100 years of mining activity.

Chemical data from stream water, groundwater, and soil samples collected in 2019 and 2020 in this area. Data from a tracer study is included as tool for understanding sources and loading rates of metals affecting stream water quality in a watershed affected by legacy mining and natural sulfide-weathering. Data are provided in CSV format.

The site, on the Wind River Indian Reservation, has Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapahoe tribes concerned about groundwater and soil contamination. This effort studies geochemical soil variation and compares concentrations with levels established by EPA

Detailed study of mine waste material and sediments from streams passing through it. Arsenic is the main contaminant of interest here.

Data collected to determine geologic background concentrations of trace metals in water and stream sediment, and to quantify the increase in dissolved constituents in streams attributable to historical mining activity in this area. Data are provided in CSV format.

Antimony’s leading use is as a fire retardant in safety equipment and in household goods such as mattresses. The U.S. Government has considered antimony to be a critical mineral mainly because of its use in military applications.

A wide variety of geochemical analyses show strong local impact on water quality in this area of historical copper mining.

Barite (barium sulfate, BaSO4) is vital to the oil and gas industry because it is a key constituent of the mud used to drill oil and gas wells. Elemental barium is an additive in optical glass, ceramic glazes, and other products.

Beryllium is a mineral commodity that is used in a variety of industries to make products that are essential for the smooth functioning of a modern society.

Multi-element geochemical analysis of host rock, ore, mine waste, flotation-mill tailings, slag, stream sediments, creek and adit waters, and leachates of mine waste and mill tailings.

Geological and borehole geophysical data and observations collected to characterize the basin and its surface and groundwater flow systems with primary focus on the physical characteristics of the fault vein, related mine workings, and surrounding bedrock

Preliminary information about the concentration, spatial distribution and mineral hosting of metals and other elements in solid materials at the Elizabeth copper mine after 50 years (or more) of weathering and oxidation.

Chemical analyses for 31 samples collected from various phosphate mine sites in southeastern Idaho (25), northern Utah (2), and western Wyoming (4)

Report containing tables of geochemical data

Cobalt is a silvery gray metal that has diverse uses due to its ferromagnetism, hardness and wear-resistance when alloyed with other metals, low thermal and electrical conductivity, high melting point, multiple valences, and color effects with silica.

Samples of surficial materials analyzed for aluminum, barium, cadmium, lead, and zinc concentrations.

Geochemical and radionuclide analyses of surface samples and cores taken near the outflow of this old uranium mine.

Details of materials and geologic environments in an area where a long history of mining has enriched stream sediments in silver, lead, zinc, arsenic, antimony and mercury, copper, cadmium, manganese, and iron.

Stable hydrogen, oxygen, and sulfur isotope data were collected from surface water, groundwater, and bulk mill tailings samples at this mine in South Strafford, Vermont. Where available, supporting data for water samples include discharge, pH, specific conductance, and dissolved sulfate concentration. The water samples span a time period from August 1998 to October 2009. Data are provided in CSV format.

A key aspect of identifying and mitigating environmental risks of mining is understanding how they vary from one deposit type to another—a concept that forms the basis for geoenvironmental mineral-deposit models.

Data from field sampling of tailings, waste rock, sediment, and water at the mines, along with water, sediment, and biota in a pond and tributaries that drain from the mine area, to help assess the chemical hazards due to historic mining.

Data from field sampling of tailings, waste rock, sediment, and water at the mines, along with water, sediment, and biota in a pond and tributaries that drain from the mine area, to help assess the chemical hazards due to historic mining.

Data from pipelines from 2012-2015, includes water chemistry of the acid mine drainage, mineralogy of pipe scale (by X-ray diffraction and chemical extractions), and laboratory experiment results. Data are provided in CSV format.

Fluorine compounds are essential in numerous chemical and manufacturing processes. Fluorspar is the commercial name for fluorite (isometric CaF2), which is the only fluorine mineral that is mined on a large scale.

Gallium is a soft, silvery metallic element with an atomic number of 31 and the chemical symbol Ga. Gallium is used in a wide variety of products that have microelectronic components containing either gallium arsenide (GaAs) or gallium nitride (GaN).

Geochemical data for all solid sample media, along with mineralogical data, and results of weathering experiments on Valzinco tailings and field experiments on sediment accumulation in Knights Branch.

Geochemical analysis of water samples to provide a pre-reclamation assessment of seasonal variations of acid and metal concentrations in Knight's Branch help evaluate the reclamation project.

An environmental impact study is done for the abandoned Ely copper mine. The extent of contamination is studyed along with the type and chemical composition of the mine waste piles.

Sampling procedures, analytical methodologies, and results to assess the potential for mine waste and drainage to have an adverse impact on aquatic ecosystems, on drinking- water supplies, and to human health

In this area of historical lead-zinc mining activity, studies such as this help to assess the possibility of human exposure to cadmium and lead through eating fish.

Water samples near this abandoned mine were analyzed for specific conductance, pH, temperature, and dissolved oxygen with handheld field meters, and metals were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry.

This report presents chemical characteristics of transient unsaturated-zone water collected by lysimeter from the Manning Canyon repository site in Utah. Data collected by U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Manageme

To help understand the hydrogeologic controls in the basin and how they affect surface and groundwater interactions with nearby mine workings, electrical resistivity profile, self–potential, and magnetic measurement data are provided herein.

This large producer of mercury operated from 1933 to 1971. As part of remediation work, this survey used electromagnetic methods to study subsurface resistivity.

Data for 90 rock samples collected from 2001 to 2007 for geophysical, geochemical, mineralogical, and environmental rock properties of acid neutralizing capacity and net acid production.

Study focusing on the effects of historical mining on Forest Service lands in this area.

Germanium and indium are used in electronics devices, flat-panel display screens, light-emitting diodes, night vision devices, optical fiber, optical lens systems, and solar power arrays.

Steelmaking and refractory applications in metallurgy use the largest amount of produced graphite; however, emerging technology uses in large-scale fuel cell, battery, and lightweight high-strength composites promise more uses.

Shallow subsurface electrical conductivity mapped at selected U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service managed lands in northeast Montana and northwest North Dakota in the winters of 2017 and 2018. Data are provided in CSV format, locations are provided in shapefile format.

Electromagnetic, resistivity, and magnetic surveys used to determine the extent of contamination in an abandoned mine area.

Describes zinc smelting processes used in the mid-Atlantic states, including locations and photographs of the plants, along with statistics and discussion of environmental issues.

Ground- and surface-water samples were collected in order to characterize the local ground-water flow system, determine metal concentrations in local ground water, and understand factors controlling the discharge of metal-rich waters from the mine.

Geochemical analysis of mine dumps, mill tailings, mine drainage, and surface waters indicate contamination from these historic mines is generally less than that asserted or suggested by some geochemical models

Detailed samples around these abandoned mines will help to determine how well site remediation efforts have worked to reduce the dangerous levels of mercury that come from both natural sources here as well as the abandoned mines.

Major assessment of the environmental effects of historical mining in the Animas River watershed with GIS data files, tables, and plates.

Geological, geochemical, hydrologic, and biological observations combined with geographic framework data, supporting a multidisciplinary assessment of the impact of historic mining in this area.

Tables containing locations and lead concentrations of 998 surface-sediment geochemical sample sites

Lithium, the lightest of all metals, is used in air treatment, batteries, ceramics, glass, metallurgy, pharmaceuticals, and polymers.

Manganese is used to make steel, where it serves as a purifying agent in iron-ore refining and as an alloy.

Total mercury and methylmercury measured in sediments, tailings, and water in an area where historical gold mining has occurred; proposed habitat restoration work may release some of the mercury that is currently buried there.

Summary of data obtained from field sampling of mine tailings and waste rock and water and sediment in regional springs and tributaries that drain from the mine area into Bear Creek. Ground-water springs are also potential sources of mercury here.

This report releases data for waters in which naturally occurring acid-rock drainage occurs but acid-mine drainage from historical mining continues to contribute dissolved metals further degrading preexisting water quality.

Geochemical analysis of rock samples focusing on characteristics relevant to mine cleanup discussions

Chemical analysis of altered volcanic rocks to determine their potential for neutralization of acid-rock drainage. Includes magnetic susceptibility measurements as well.

Niobium and tantalum are found together in nature because they have similar physical and chemical properties. Niobium is used in high-strength steel alloys, while tantalum is used in electronic capacitors.

One hundred years of historical mining has resulted in substantial ongoing input of cadmium, lead, and zinc into the environment. This surficial-soil sampling and coring study provides information needed to support remediation efforts.

The platinum-group elements (PGEs)—platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium, and osmium—are metals that have similar physical and chemical properties and tend to occur together in nature. PGEs are indispensable to many industrial applications.

Water properties and water chemistry in an area containing abandoned mines where mine drainate is a concern.

Study of selenium in sample materials from these abandoned mines with mineralogical analysis as well.

Geochemical data for stream water, sediments, and mine tailings in this area

Results from sediment cores collected during 1997-1999 oxbow lakes and beaver ponds to assess impact of historic mining and exposed mineral deposits on the quality of the water and the aquatic and riparian habitats.

Because of their unusual physical and chemical properties, the REEs have diverse defense, energy, industrial, and military technology applications including glass, petroleum refining, automobiles, and magnets.

Mine tailings here have high levels of arsenic. Experiments conducted on these sediments indicate that the arsenic can be released into the environment and become hazardous through chemical processes that occur when fine sediment is ingested by animals.

Data from field sampling of mine tailings, wasterock, sediment, water, and biota at the mine in 2010. Results permit a preliminary assessment of the mining sources of Hg and associated chemicals that could produce elevated levels of monomethylmercury.

Rhenium is a rare metal that has an extremely high melting point and a heat-stable crystalline structure. It is used in high-temperature superalloys, to make turbine blades for jet aircraft engines and is a catalyst for petroleum refining.

Selenium is a trace element in Earth's crust. Modern uses for selenium include energy-efficient windows that limit heat transfer and thin-film photovoltaic cells that convert solar energy into electricity.

Geochemical analyses of solid mill tailings and other ore processing materials from worldwide localities, and leachates from those samples. Data are provided in CSV format.

Periodic sampling of water during the spring of 2010 was carried out to understand the range and timing of variation in pH and metal concentration, and help evaluate variation in water quality during spring runoff.

Analysis of stream sediments to assess the geochemistry, in particular the mercury and selenium contents, of mining-impacted sediments in the study area

Strontium isotopic data from water and rock samples collected in this area. Data are provided in CSV format.

Synoptic water-quality and benthic macroinvertebrate sampling at 14 stream sites to characterize the quality of surface water in the watershed on a seasonal and spatial basis, as well as to assess the effects of wetlands on water quality.

Tellurium is a rare element obtained as a byproduct of mining for other commodities whose main uses are in photovoltaic solar cells and as an additive to copper, lead, and steel alloys in various types of machinery.

This report is a compilation of water and sediment chemical data generated by the USGS study of indigenous, arsenic-sequestering microbial communities. A total of 9 synoptic sampling efforts conducted at specific sites are described.

Tin (Sn) is one of the first metals to be used by humans. Almost without exception, tin is used as an alloy. Its major uses today are for cans and containers, construction materials, transportation materials, and solder.

Titanium colors paint, paper, plastic, rubber, and wallboard. Because of its strength and corrosion resistance, titanium metal and its alloys are used in the aerospace industry as well as for welding rod coatings, biological implants, and consumer goods.

Explains the major questions and strategic actions to be carried out by the USGS to understand energy and mineral resources, their effects on the environment and on the economy and provide information to the public to support decision making.

Geochemical analysis of stream waters and sediments in mountainous areas immediately west of Denver, Colorado, to evaluate the concentration and distribution of uranium-bearing acid drainage originating from historical mines

Vanadium is used primarily in the production of steel alloys; as a catalyst for the chemical industry; in the making of ceramics, glasses, and pigments; and in vanadium redox-flow batteries (VRBs) for large-scale storage of electricity.

Water characteristics (measured in situ) and laboratory geochemical analysis of water and sediment in this area to quantify the increase in dissolved constituents in streams attributable to historical mining activity. Data are provided in CSV format.

Chemical analysis of geological materials at this EPA Superfund site located on lands of the Hopi and Navajo nations, which may contain mine waste.

Zirconium and hafnium are corrosion-resistant metals that are widely used in the chemical and nuclear industries. Most zirconium is consumed in the form of the main ore mineral zircon or as zirconium oxide or other zirconium chemicals.