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Mining Related Contamination

 

Many mining areas over the years have suffered various forms of contamination from the act-
ivities that have occurred there. Mercury contamination is noted above. Acid mine drainage is
another that occurs when sulfide minerals such as pyrite within the rock is exposed and weath-
ered. This results in the formation of sulfuric acid and the lowering of the pH in water that seeps
into the mine and may eventually drain out. The Leviathan Mine is an example of this happening
on a large scale at an abandoned sulfur mine. Water seeping through the rock may also become
contaminated by leaching out metals and other minerals such as arsenic, copper, and lead.

NBMG Open-File Report 95-4, Water Quality at Inactive and Abandoned Mines in Nevada, reports
a study of the water in 12 pits and 72 abandoned mines around the State. It is available from
the NBMG Publication Sales Office and is free on the website. Also, the USGS has a large number
of general and site specific publications dealing with acid mine drainage and other mining related
contamination issues.

It is important to note that not all areas of potential acid mine drainage or mine related contam-
ination in the State have been studied or even identified. If a person has concerns about a part-
icular site, then they should hire a consulting geologist or an engineering firm to do a study. It is
also important to note that a person may be held liable for the clean-up of any land they acquire
or stake that has an mine related contamination problem.

Leviathan Mine
The Mining District Files include a small file on the Leviathan Mine. The Leviathan Mine in Sections 15 and 22, T10N, R21E in Alpine County, California, was operated as an open-pit sulfur mine by the Anaconda Co. from 1953 to 1962. The sulfur was used to make sulfuric acid used in leaching secondary or oxide copper ore at Anaconda's copper mine near Yerington, Nevada. Since its closing, the Leviathan Mine has been the site of acid mine drainage into the local creeks that feed into the West Fork of the Carson River and eventually into Nevada. The Leviathan Mine is a Superfund Site.

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