Bobby G. Wixson

Lead, Zinc, Copper, and Cadmium in Fish and Sediments from the Big River and Flat River Creek of Missouri's Old Lead Belt

The Old Lead Belt of Missouri was a major lead-producing region for over a century. Several large tailings piles and other industrial wastes remain behind, though mining operations in the region ceased in 1972. Samples of stream sediments and fish were collected from established sites on the Big River and Flat River Creek over a 3-year period from 1998 to 2000 to evaluate ongoing remediation efforts and determine the current impact of residual mining wastes. Benthic sediments and fish taken in the vicinity of inactive industrial sites were found to contain elevated concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu, and Cd. Concentrations of Pb and Zn in fillets of suckers and sunfish, as well as in whole bodies of sunfish, correlate well with metal concentrations observed in surficial sediments. The results of analyses provide valuable quantitative information regarding specific sources, current levels of contamination, potential risk to public health, and will allow more accurate assessment of continuing remediation efforts.

Use of factor analysis to differentiate pollutants from other trace metals in surface soils of the mineralized area of Madison County, Missouri, U.S.A.

Barium, Be, Co, Cr, Cu, Li, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, and V concentrations were determined in 97 surface soil samples collected 1000 m apart on a regular grid in Madison county, Missouri, U.S.A. The data were normalized by a log10 transformation and a matrix of correlation coefficients computed. Strong correlations were observed between several metals and statistically significant correlations were found between others. The data were then analyzed by R-mode factor analysis. Three factors satisfactorily explained the data variance and were interpreted as follows. Factor 1 (55% variance) comprised a group of elements which contaminated local soils as a consequence of operations connected with non-ferrous metal mining. Factor 2 (33 % variance) contained elements which accumulate in soils during weathering. The remaining elements were grouped together in factor 3 (12% variance) and here soil contents appeared to be controlled by rock composition.

Evaluation of Toxicity, Bioavailability and Speciation of Lead, Zinc and Cadmium in Mine/Mill Wastewaters

The toxicity of common compounds of lead, cadmium and zinc was evaluated in waters similar to that found in the world’s largest lead producing area in Missouri. Static, acute toxicity tests were pe...

Biotreatment and Chemical Speciation of Lead and Zinc Mine/Mill Wastewater Discharges in Missouri, U.S.A.

Continued mining development in the worlds largest lead producing area has generated and increased concern over effective mine water treatment in Missouris New Lead Belt. A new type of mine/mill wastewater treatment system was constructed which consisted of a tailings pond followed by a series of artificially constructed meandering biotreatment channels and a polishing lagoon. This system provided additional retention time and distance for the removal of heavy metals by abundant aquatic plants and sedimentation. Seasonal field sampling and analytical testing that evaluated the present system confirmed that it provided good treatment for removal of heavy metals within the company property and produced a final effluent within the state and federal regulatory guidelines. On average, greater than 95% of zinc and manganese in the drainage water were removed by the biotreatment system, while lead and copper were 50 to 60%. A chemical equilibrium model, MINTEQ, was also used to identify various species of lead and zinc in the biotreatment system. The model predicted that the major species of carbonates and hydroxides would be the predominant complexes of lead and zinc for the pH and alkalinity values reported in the biotreatment system. These results were also supported by the literature.

Fish from Missouri's lead belt: To eat or not to eat

Data collected over the past four years indicate that filets of suckers and some species of sunfish taken from certain sites in Missouris Old Lead Belt consistently contain elevated lead concentrations which exceed the limit of 0.3 μg/g suggested by the World Health Organization. The problem exists in bottom-feeding species taken from some sites along the Big River affected by erosion from abandoned lead tailings piles. Fish from many other sites within the Old Lead Belt and the New Lead Belt, including current wastewater treatment systems, are within the acceptable limits for lead in food. Public health implications are discussed relative to observed lead concentrations and available data regarding lead toxicity to humans.

Some effects of century old abandoned lead mining operations on streams in Missouri, USA

Lead has been mined in the Old Lead Belt region of southeastern Missouri, USA since the early 1700s. Mining operations ceased totally in 1972. Since no other major industries were associated with the region, an investigation was initiated to study the long-term environmental effects of lead mining activities on the water quality sediments and biota otarea receiving streams. The principal study area was Flat River Creek,. which drained the major mining operations of the region.The findings of this study indicated the water of the lower Flat River Creek below the mining elevation contained elevated levels of lead, zinc, calcium and magnesium. The sediments and biota of the same stream area were also found to contain significantly higher levels of lead and zinc as well as copper and cadmium. Algae, crayfish and minnows were all found to have concentrated these metals. The studies indicated that some type of abandonment plan must be developed for the control and treatment of heavy metal pollution for mining operations on a continuing basis.

Geochemistry, mining and the environment

This paper reviews literature on the sources of lead-zinc mining pollution, and specifically deals with the water and air pollution aspects of these operations. Problems associated with mining and the environment are also discussed. The problems are geochemical in nature but also economic, social, political and legal. Individuals doing research in these boundary conditions are poorly publicised and rarely recognised outside of their own narrow industry.The paper notes that it is possible to have both an economical mining operation and a clean environment. The New Lead Belt region of Southern Missouri, the worlds largest lead-mining region lies underneath a national forest with a pure, pristine, undisturbed ecosystem having high recreational value to the nearby cities. By early cooperation between governmental scientists, mining industry, environmental scientists and engineers of the University of Missouri and other universities it was possible to develop this deposit and at the same time keep the pristine nature of the surrounding forest without spending a single day in court or litigation. Problems did arise, but problem-solving sessions dealt with them, not lawyers.