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Geochemical mapping of Pb- and Zn-contaminated streambed sediments in southwest Missouri, USA

  • SEDIMENTS, SEC 1 • SEDIMENT QUALITY AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT • RESEARCH ARTICLE
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Abstract

Purpose

Four locations in southwest Missouri, USA, purportedly contaminated with mining wastes, Joplin, Aurora, Springfield, and the James River, were investigated for lead and zinc content using spatial distribution and statistical analyses. Lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) concentrations in streambed sediment samples were compared spatially against a regional background concentration map to determine both the contamination level and dispersion of these metals.

Materials and methods

Streambed sediment data were retrieved from USGS Geochemical Databases (N = 1,019) with which sediment geochemical maps were constructed. Publically available metal content data for each of four historic mining sites were also retrieved from separate studies. The Pb and Zn concentrations at each of the historic mining sites were compared against background concentrations using geochemical mapping interpolation (inverse distance weighted (IDW) method), box plot diagrams, Pearson correlation, and rationing.

Results and discussion

Pb and Zn were present in a large range of concentrations in the regional background concentration data (concentrations up to 3,460 mg kg−1 Pb and 14,027 mg kg−1 Zn) with a median of 22.0 and 53.0 mg kg−1, respectively. Concentrations of Pb and Zn in Joplin and Aurora were significantly higher, while the concentrations of Pb and Zn at the two sites near Springfield were closer to regional background concentrations. The metal content maps and association among metals both indicate that mining wastes are the main source of contamination.

Conclusions

Even though mining ceased over 40 years ago and remediation has been applied to the area, some streambed sediments in the area contain potentially toxic concentrations of Pb and Zn, especially around the cities of Joplin and Aurora. The background geochemical maps of the area were instrumental for identifying the sources and extent of these metals in sediments in this area.

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Acknowledgments

The Geological Society of America and Missouri State University’s Graduate College grants awarded to Jessica Peebles partially funded sample collection and analyses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, Geology and Planning, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO, 65897, USA

    Mélida Gutiérrez, Shuo-Sheng Wu & Jessica L. Peebles

Authors
  1. Mélida Gutiérrez
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  2. Shuo-Sheng Wu
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  3. Jessica L. Peebles
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mélida Gutiérrez.

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Responsible editor: Rajith Mukundan

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Gutiérrez, M., Wu, SS. & Peebles, J.L. Geochemical mapping of Pb- and Zn-contaminated streambed sediments in southwest Missouri, USA. J Soils Sediments 15, 189–197 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-014-1010-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-014-1010-5

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