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<br />OJ1581 <br /> <br />PROJECT TITLE: Sediment Chemistry at Prospective Surface- <br />Mining Sites (fig. 11) <br /> <br />COOPERATING AGENCY: None <br /> <br />PROJECT CHIEF: John T. Turk, ~istrict Office, Lakewood <br /> <br />PERIOD OF PROJECT: July 1979 to September 1982 <br /> <br />Prob2em.--Surface mining of coal can affect stream chemistry by changing the <br />chemical composition of suspended sediment transported by the stream. Spoil-pile <br />leachate may deposit chemical coatings on soils and stream-bottom materials or <br />dissolve coatings. Material washed from spoil piles may be'of a di,fferent compo- <br />sition than native-soil material. Data do not exist that can be used to define <br />the present chemistry of soil and stream-bottom material at prospective surface- <br />mining sites in Colorado. <br /> <br />Objectives.--Define the present composition of soil and stream-bottom <br />material in selected basins in Colorado. Interpret the chemistry of suspended <br />material in the streams, and provide a data base against which to evaluate changes <br />in soil and bottom-material chemistry following surface mining of coal. <br /> <br />Approach.--Seive composited-soil and bottom-material samples from areas and <br />streams within the basins. Determine the chemistry of insoluble materials for the <br />minus 80-mesh fraction. Compare data within and among basins. Compare ratios of <br />chemical concentration to suspended sediment during periods of peak discharge. <br /> <br />Progress.--Sampl ing of the Energy Mineral Rehabi] itation Inventory and Analy- <br />sis (EMRIA) sites in Colorado has almost been completed. <br /> <br />Plans.--Complete <br />northwestern Colorado. <br /> <br />sampl ing of the EMRIA sites and sample additional sites in <br />Prepare a report on the results of the sampling. <br /> <br />31 <br />