Indiana Geological Survey

Permanent link for this communityhttps://hdl.handle.net/2022/154

The Indiana Geological and Water Survey (IGWS) is a long-standing, state-supported organization benefiting the welfare of the citizens of Indiana since Dr. David Dale Owen was hired to conduct a geological assessment of the state during 1837 and 1838. For most of the 20th century, the IGWS was associated with Indiana University (IU), and in 1993, Indiana statute (IC 21-47-2) formally established the IGWS as part of the university. The IGWS director serves as the state geologist of Indiana. Under the direction of the state geologist, the survey is charged with conducting geological research, providing geological information, data and educational outreach, and maintaining physical and digital geological collections.

https://igws.indiana.edu/

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Browsing Indiana Geological Survey by Subject "abandoned mine lands"

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    Effects of passive reclamation on water quality in the northeastern drainage of Augusta Lake, Pike County, Indiana
    (2006-11-20) Comer, J. B.; Smith, R. T.; Ennis, M. V.; Branam, T. D.; Welp, L. R.; Simon, T. P.
    Augusta Lake is a 33-acre man-made lake located on Mill Creek, a tributary of the Patoka River in the coal mining region of south-central Pike County, Indiana. The lake is strongly acidic (pH = 3.1-4.4) and mostly barren, receiving acidic inflows from a 1.5-square-mile drainage area, 60 percent of which consists of abandoned coal mines. The dominant source of acidity, sulfate, and metals is in the northeastern drainage area where acidic water seeps from mine spoil. An array of wetlands, anoxic limestone drains, and successive alkaline-producing systems (SAPS) was emplaced to treat this area. Beginning in 1997, water quality was monitored for 2 years at eight sites to evaluate the effectiveness of this passive reclamation strategy. The pH of water at all sites, other than the discharge from the SAPS and where surface water and SAPS outflow mix, remained acidic throughout the monitoring period. Acidity and pH varied seasonally at four sites, and pH was lowest and acidity highest during the months from late spring to early fall. Although Augusta Lake remained strongly acidic, outflows contained significantly reduced metals concentrations, indicating that natural processes operating in the lake remove metals from solution. Water flowing northward from the lake along Mill Creek rapidly approaches pH neutrality through natural reactions with the bedrock and sediments, and downstream reaches support aquatic life. Although Augusta Lake may not be suitable for recreational uses, it does serve the important function of cleaning dissolved metals from mine effluent.
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    Groundwater Flow Modeling of an Abandoned Mine Lands Site Scheduled for Reclamation
    (2010-06) Waddle, Robert C.; Olyphant, Greg A
    Groundwater flow models represent one tool that can be used in evaluating the hydrologic conditions of abandoned mine land (AML) sites, and they can be used to preview the probable hydrologic outcomes of reclamation designs. A three-dimensional, variably saturated groundwater flow model was used to characterize the hydrology of a 47 ha AML site in southwestern Indiana. Of particular concern was the flow field extending through a tailings deposit to a large seep contributing acid mine drainage to the local stream. The model was then used to evaluate a potential reclamation plan that would redirect the acidic flow into an onsite lowland area for passive treatment. A transient model was calibrated by adjusting the model parameters until a minimum residual was achieved between simulated and observed water table elevations in 6 observation wells over a time period of 50 days. The best-fit model had a root mean squared error (RMSE) of 0.195 m. Modeling results show that the seep is fed from a ground watershed of approximately 7.7 ha which spans across the tailings into the coarse-grained refuse bordering the deposit. Further results show that minor alterations of surface topography within the tailings deposit could potentially redirect and contain the acidic groundwater on site for passive treatment prior to discharging into the local drainage network. This study demonstrates the utility of using groundwater flow models to preview hydrologic conditions at AML sites and to anticipate the results of reclamation alternatives.
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    Toxic Metals Removal in Acid Mine Drainage Treatment Wetlands
    (Indiana Geological Survey, 2001) Smith, Ronald T.; Comer, John B.; Ennis, Margaret V.; Branam, Tracy D.; Butler, Sarah M.; Renton, Patricia M.
    The removal of trace metals from acid mine drainage was studied in four constructed wetlands on abandoned mine lands in southwestern Indiana. The wetlands vary in the constraints of their settings, their design, the materials used in their construction, and their effectiveness at removing metals. Aqueous and sediment samples were collected twice a year at each of sixteen sampling locations. Water, pore water, and sediment extracts were analyzed for their physicochemical characteristics, major ions, and the trace metals arsenic, beryllium, boron, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, and vanadium. A simplified sequential extraction was used to distinguish between bio-available and residual metals. The relative distributions of metals between the bio-available and residual fractions were compared with one another in order to determine the factors which control precipitation, sorption, and mineralization of trace metals, and assess their potential mobility. Data representing late winter and late summer conditions were compared to identify seasonal differences in metals concentrations in the various wetland cells. The overall percentage of major metals removed from the AMD was determined. The Aquachem computer program was used to generate a diagram of the prevalent chemical character of the wetlands waters and to introduce data to a water chemistry modeling program, PhreeqC. The PhreeqC program determined saturation indices for mineral phases in water entering and leaving the wetlands. The water and sediment metals values were compared with published criteria for water and sediment quality.