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times as much pyritic sulfur in the Seneca II overburden and 2.4 times as much sulfate • <br />sulfur in the Seneca II-W overburden. The total sulfur concentrations in the tr+o <br />overburdens are almost comparable. <br />There are no noticeable high trace element concentrations in either mine's overburden. As <br />was mentioned earlier, the pH at Seneca II-W is not expected to drop below seven, thus <br />there is no potential for mobilizing significant concentrations of trace elements in the <br />Seneca II-W spoil aquifer. Of note, mean weighted concentrations of boron, iron, and <br />manganese were twice as high in the Seneca II-W overburden. The mean weighted copper and <br />mercury concentrations at Seneca II-W are 10 times and 1.4 times as great, respectively, <br />as those in the Seneca II overburden. All other trace elements are comparable or below <br />the concentrations measured in the Seneca 11 overburden. Ta61e 17-10 summarizes the <br />aforementioned statements concerning major ion and trace element concentrations in the <br />Seneca II and II-W overburden. Tab 6, Geology, should be referred to for additional <br />discussions regarding overburden characteristics and chemistry. <br />Controls on Spoil and Downgradient Water Quality. The resultant chemistry and water <br />quality of the Seneca II-W spoil aquifer will be a function of several processes: 1) the • <br />dissolution of mineral species present in the spoil; 2) dissociation of the dissolved <br />compounds; 3) oxidation; 4) reactions with atmospheric C02; and 5) cation exchange <br />processes. Several mineral species have been identified by x-ray diffraction analyses <br />performed by the USGS on spoil samples and core samples of the Wadge overburden. <br />The principal rock minerals identified were plagioclase feldspar (NaA1Si308-CaA75i308), <br />calcite (CaC03), dolomite (CaMg(C03)2), quartz (5102), ankerite (CaFe(C03 )2 ), potash <br />feldspar (KA75i30g), pyrite (Fe52), sideri to (FeC03), and gypsum (CaSO4.2M20), Powder <br />x-ray diffraction analyses were also performed to determine clay mineral species present <br />and their relative proportions. Clay minerals identified were illite, which is a general <br />term used to refer to both trioctahedral and dioctahedral micas and can be described by <br />the formulas for muscovite and bioti to (KA72(A1513010)(OH)2-N(Mg,Fe)3(A15i3070)(OH)2), <br />kaol finite (A125i205(OH)4), chlorite (Mg,Fe)3(Si ,AI)4010(OH)2.(Mg,Fe)3(OH)6, and mixed <br />layered illite/sonectites. The smecti to clay mineral present is most likely <br />montmorillonite, which has the general formula ((A1,Mg)8(5i4 10)3(OH)10.12H2 <br />8a sed on a knowledge of the mineral and clay mineral species present, the more probable • <br />chemical reactions can be formulated. Atmospheric CO will mix with the spoils water <br />2 <br />28 <br />