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Chemical Analyses of Water Samples From the
Picher Mining Area, Northeast Oklahoma and
Southeast Kansas

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Open-File Reports 87-453

By David L. Parkhurst

ABSTRACT

Chemical analyses are presented for 169 water samples from Tar Creek and the Picher lead-zinc mining area in northeast Oklahoma and southeast Kansas. Water samples were taken from November 1983 through February 1986 from the abandoned mines, from points of mine-water discharge, and from surface-water locations upstream and downstream from the mine-discharge area. The pH, temperature, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, and specific conductance were measured in the field. Laboratory analyses routinely included the major ions plus aluminum, cadmium, copper, iron, lead, manganese, nickel, and zinc. Non-routine analyses of dissolved gases and tritium are presented. Stable carbon-isotope ratios for 11 mine-water samples and three carbonate-rock samples are reported. Miscellaneous stream-discharge measurements made at the time of sampling or taken from gaging-station records are included in the report.

CONTENTS

Abstract
Introduction
     Purpose and scope
     Description of sampling sites
Methods
     Field methods
     Laboratory analyses
Description of data tables
References cited
Attachment 1
     Explanation of the site-numbering system


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