Document Type

Technical Report

Publication Date

5-1-1983

Keywords

Zinc, lead, cadmium, ground water, water quality, contamination

Abstract

Three lead-zinc mineralized areas of northern Arkansas were selected to study the effect of mineralization on ground water chemistry. The Ponca area has the largest amount of lead sulfide mineralization, the Zinc area has a significant amount of zinc silicate and zinc sulfide; whereas, the Rush area has zinc carbonate and zinc sulfide. A total of 143 samples were collected from these areas and analyzed for general water chemistry parameters including heavy metal The water quality of the area is generally good; however, a few springs exceed the drinking water standards for ammonia, nitrate, iron, manganese and lead. The surface temperatures and subsurface temperatures (determined from silica geothermometry) do not indicate any significant geothermal heating of these spring waters. Geochemical exploration using ground water chemistry, especially lead, appears to be very useful in outlining these lead-zinc mineralized areas; however, location of individual deposits using ground water chemistry does not appear to be promising.

Report Number

PUB098

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