Hydrology and geochemistry of a slag-affected aquifer and chemical characteristics of slag-affected ground water, northwestern Indiana and northeastern Illinois

摘要: Slag is a by-product of steel manufacturing and ubiquitous fill material in northwestern Indiana. Ground water associated with slag deposits generally characterized by high pH elevated concentrations many inorganic water-quality constituents. The U.S. Geological Survey, cooperation the Indiana Department Environmental Management, conducted study from June 1995 to September 1996 improve understanding effects on quality glacial-outwash aquifer. Bairstow Landfill, slag-fill deposit overlying Calumet aquifer near Hammond, Indiana, was studied represent conditions slag-deposit settings that are common 10 observation wells, located four nests at site, surface adjacent Lake George were analyzed for values field-measured parameters major ions, nutrients, trace elements, bulk properties. Solid-phase samples sediment collected during drilling examined X-ray diffraction geochemical digestion analysis. ^.S. Survey. 2Indiana University, Bloomington, Concentrations calcium, potassium, sodium, sulfate highest wells screened partly or fully slag. Potassium ground ranged 2.9 120 milligrams per liter (mg/L), deposits, decreased depth. aluminum, barium, molybdenum, nickel, selenium Silica directly beneath interface, magnesium intermediate deep wells. shallow 27 41 mg/L about times greater than those deposits. chromium, lead, zinc immediately below slag-aquifer interface. solid-phase analyses indicated calcite, dolomite, quartz present throughout system; barian celestite, cristobalite, manganesebearing minrecordite fewer samples. Trace elements liberated may be incorporated as impurities precipitation minerals, sorbed onto clays other grain-