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• Most of the waters in the area are alkaline which, according to Skogerboe, limits or reduces <br />the solubility of heavy metals in surface and groundwater. <br />Because of this phenomenon, heavy metal concentrations in surface and groundwaters near <br />or on the Colowyo mine permit area are not expected to be significantly affected. <br />Samples of drainage water, i.e., leachate, were collected and analyzed by VTN (1975) to <br />show concentrations of water quality constituents of concern as a result of minim in <br />northwestern Colorado. Table 5 presents this information. It is interesting to note that these <br />values are not significantly higher than the values from the other wells sampled or from the <br />surface water samples. Turbidities (JTU's) are negligible, which is to be expected of water <br />seeping through a large filter. Iron is low with a value less than 1.0 mg/l. The major ions are <br />within the range of the other samples analyzed. <br />Table 5 is representative of concentrations from water subject to natural percolation, <br />leaching, and contact with the floor materials of the Streeter Mine. Water entering the <br />Streeter Mine came from surface runoff and traveled through cracks and fissures in the <br />fractured rock above the mine. It is likely water traveled and leached through the strata in this <br />manner for a long time prior to mining in the Streeter Mine. Table 5 should be viewed as <br />concentrations that can be expected to develop over time as leaching continues through the <br />Colowyo spoils and concentrations of minerals available to leaching decrease. Considering <br />the physical condition and mineralogy of the spoils, the predicted effects of the spoil would <br />be a gradual increase in TDS and associated major ions for a period of time, followed by a <br />• general and gradual decrease in concentration back to ranges seen in background data and <br />Table 5. <br /> <br />2.04.7-23 <br />