ARSENIC, IRON, AND URANIUM IN GROUND WATER IN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AREA

This study was part of a mineral exploration program in an area covered by Mississippi River sediments. Domestic and farm wells were sampled in December 2008 and analyzed for a suite of 73 metals and 6 anions.

Very preliminary results show that high-arsenic ground waters (to 50 ppb) are spatially related to high iron and uranium. This suggests a mechanism such as that observed in recent studies in SE Asia. We also observed that total sulfur divided by sulfate may be useful as a redox indicator.

Available magnetic (and other) data were used to suggest basement structures.

Geochemical and temperature data form map patterns suggesting structural control on vertical ground-water flow.

At the time of abstract preparation, the exact locations of samples cannot be released, but will be presented in the talk. Potential field data would reveal the study location, and will also be presented in the talk.