GEOCHEMISTRY OF MINERAL SPRING AND ITS EFFECT ON COLD RUN, WORLD'S END STATE PARK, SULLIVAN COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Mineral Spring in World's End State Park, middle Sullivan County, Pennsylvania is a natural spring with iron oxide and hydroxide precipitate similar to that found at mine drainage sites. In Fall 2006, conductivity, pH, temperature, oxygen reduction potential, dissolved oxygen content, and flow rate were measured in situ. In addition, triplicate samples were collected to be analyzed in the lab for alkalinity, acidity, dissolved sulfate, lead, iron, and manganese. Also, samples of the substrate were taken at three sites between the spring and the confluence with Cold Run to be imaged on the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The pH was 5 to 5.9 at the Mineral Spring, but 3.5 in Cold Run both above and below the confluence. Temperature, total alkalinity, and total acidity were also higher in the spring relative to Cold Run. Conductivity, oxygen reduction potential, dissolved oxygen, and dissolved sulfate were all lower at Mineral Spring sites relative to those in Cold Run. Dissolved iron and manganese were found in the Mineral Spring at ppb levels. Lead was not found in samples from any site. SEM images of the sediment samples revealed very iron-rich spheres typical of microbial deposits and hollow tube-like structures. Measurements of the same geochemical parameters in the waters of Loyalsock Creek near the shore both above and below the merging point of Cold Run were similar to each other and distinct from those of Cold Run, indicating little influence of either Mineral Spring or Cold Run on the much higher discharge Loyalsock Creek.