Department
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering
Major
Geological Engineering
Research Advisor
Wronkiewicz, David
Advisor's Department
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering
Funding Source
Missouri S& T Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experiences (OURE) Program
Abstract
The Black River is located in southeast Missouri and runs through the actively mined New Lead Belt. During the study Fate and Transport of Contaminant Metals in the Big River and West Fork of the Black River, Southeastern Missouri, Dr. Wronkiewicz obtained a sediment sample at Warner Bay Spring with a high copper concentration that was unexplained. The purpose of this study was to discover the source for the copper anomaly.
One hypothesis for the source of the copper was from brake dust washed off 4x4 vehicles as they drove through the river above Warner Bay Spring at a campground. Sediment samples were taken above and below the campground, including the original site of the copper anomaly. Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometry (ICP MS) data showed heavy metal contamination, including copper, at levels for below that of the anomaly. The most likely cause for the original copper anomaly was random error.
Biography
Benjamin Haring was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He grew up in St. Louis and attended St. Pius X High School in Festus, Missouri until 2005. He is currently a junior in Geological Engineering at the Missouri University of Science and Technology. He is emphasizing his studies in hydrology and environmental sciences. He is an active member in the C.L. Dake Geological Society.
Research Category
Natural Sciences
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Document Type
Poster
Location
Havener Center, Upper Atrium/Hallway
Presentation Date
9 Apr 2008, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Heavy Metal Contamination on the Black River, Missouri
Havener Center, Upper Atrium/Hallway
The Black River is located in southeast Missouri and runs through the actively mined New Lead Belt. During the study Fate and Transport of Contaminant Metals in the Big River and West Fork of the Black River, Southeastern Missouri, Dr. Wronkiewicz obtained a sediment sample at Warner Bay Spring with a high copper concentration that was unexplained. The purpose of this study was to discover the source for the copper anomaly.
One hypothesis for the source of the copper was from brake dust washed off 4x4 vehicles as they drove through the river above Warner Bay Spring at a campground. Sediment samples were taken above and below the campground, including the original site of the copper anomaly. Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometry (ICP MS) data showed heavy metal contamination, including copper, at levels for below that of the anomaly. The most likely cause for the original copper anomaly was random error.
