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Evaluation of acid-producing sulfidic materials in Virginia highway corridors

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

Road construction through sulfidic materials in Virginia has resulted in localized acid rock drainage (ARD) that threatens water quality, sedimentation, integrity of building materials, and vegetation management. Geologic formations associated with acid roadcuts were characterized by potential peroxide acidity (PPA), expressed as calcium carbonate equivalence (CCE), and total sulfur (total-S) in order to develop a statewide sulfide hazard rating map. The geologic formations were grouped into four categories based on potential acid-producing severity: i) Tabb formation (PPA<6 Mg CCE/1000 Mg; S<0.2%); ii) Ashe formation (PPA<18 Mg CCE/1000 Mg; S<2.0%); iii) Chesapeake Group, Lower Tertiary deposits, Millboro shale, Marcellus shale, and Needmore Formation (PPA<60 Mg CCE/1000 Mg; S<2.6%), and; iv) Chattanooga shale and Quantico slate (PPA<99 Mg CCE/1000 Mg; S<3.9%). Sulfide hazard analysis should be an essential step in the pre-design phase of highway construction and other earth-disturbing activities.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Virginia Transportation Research Council (Project Officer: Mike Fitch) and the Virginia Department of Transportation for funding this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, , Blacksburg, Virginia, 24061-0404, USA

    Zenah W. Orndorff & W. Lee Daniels

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  1. Zenah W. Orndorff
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  2. W. Lee Daniels
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Correspondence to Zenah W. Orndorff.

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Orndorff, Z.W., Lee Daniels, W. Evaluation of acid-producing sulfidic materials in Virginia highway corridors. Env Geol 46, 209–216 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-004-1027-y

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