Estimating natural background groundwater chemistry, Questa molybdenum mine, New Mexico
This 2 1/2 day field trip will present an overview of a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) project whose objective was to estimate pre-mining groundwater chemistry at the Questa molybdenum mine, New Mexico. Because of intense debate among stakeholders regarding pre-mining groundwater chemistry standards, the New Mexico Environment Department and Chevron Mining Inc. (formerly Molycorp) agreed that the USGS should determine pre-mining groundwater quality at the site. In 2001, the USGS began a 5-year, multidisciplinary investigation to estimate pre-mining groundwater chemistry utilizing a detailed assessment of a proximal natural analog site and applied an interdisciplinary approach to infer pre-mining conditions. The trip will include a surface tour of the Questa mine and key locations in the erosion scar areas and along the Red River. The trip will provide participants with a detailed understanding of geochemical processes that influence pre-mining environmental baselines in mineralized areas and estimation techniques for determining pre-mining baseline conditions.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 2010 |
---|---|
Title | Estimating natural background groundwater chemistry, Questa molybdenum mine, New Mexico |
DOI | 10.1130/2010.0018(07) |
Authors | Phillip L. Verplanck, D. Kirk Nordstrom, Geoffrey S. Plumlee, Bruce M. Walker |
Publication Type | Book Chapter |
Publication Subtype | Book Chapter |
Index ID | 70156709 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | Central Mineral and Environmental Resources Science Center; Toxic Substances Hydrology Program |