AERIAL SALT DISPERSION FROM A LOCAL MINE SITE

Premature wilting of trees in a pasture directly across from a salt mine located in Mt. Morris, New York suggests the influence of wind-blown salt. This study examines the amount, distribution and composition of air-borne sediment down-wind from the mine site. Previous research detected wind-blown salt in the pasture but was inconclusive in determining its composition and whether the amount of salt differed from background levels. In addition, the study was conducted prior to the installation of a salt curtain that prevents the salt from coming in contact with wind currents during deposition on the salt mine. Thus, the salt curtain reduces the possibility of the salt being carrying away by wind. In this current study, airborne particulate samples were collected from within the pasture and an area more distal to the mine for comparison. Furthermore, samplers were strategically placed to distinguish the effects of salt spray due to road salting practices from salt being transported off-site from the mine. The samplers consisted of cheesecloth held in embroidery hoops that were staked into the ground. The cheesecloth was coated with silicon grease to catch airborne particulates. The composition of the salt will be determined and compared to that being mined.