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DYE TRACE STUDIES |
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Rhodamine-WT dye was injected into the flow of Jam Up Creek near the Mountain View wastewater treatment plant on 10 July 2001. |
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The dye was detected in water discharging from Big Spring 42 days after the injection after traveling 38 miles through the ground-water system. |
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| Historical dye-tracing investigations (Aley,
1975; data on file at the Missouri Department of Natural Resources,
Geological Survey and Resource Assessment Division) have indicated that
the recharge area of Big Spring includes the area of lead-zinc exploration.
The USGS has conducted additional dye-trace investigations to further define
the spring recharge area and more accurately measure ground-water travel
times. Ground-water level measurements made in domestic and public supply
wells in October 1992 (low base flow period) and June 1993 (high base flow
period) were used in conjunction with the dye-trace data to determine ground-water
flow directions in the area between the Prospecting Permit Application Area
(PPAA) and Big Spring and to further identify areas of mature karst development
(Imes and Kleeschulte, 1995).
Successful dye-trace investigations shown as arrows in the above map
indicate a straight-line flow path between the location where dye was injected into the environment and location (spring) where it was
recovered. The injection locations usually are sinkholes or losing stream reaches, and the recovery locations usually are springs, but can
be creeks and rivers as well. The shaded areas shown on the map are approximations of the probable extent of Big Spring and Greer Spring
recharge areas as suggested by the accumulated evidence from the dye-trace experiments. |
Previous Studies
[Ground-Water Levels] [Water and Sediment Quality]
[Geologic Mapping]
[Dye-Trace Studies] [St. Francois confining unit] [Stream Seepage]
[Lead-Mining Home] [Previous Studies] [Current Studies] [Publications] [Links]
For more information contact:
Michael J. Kleeschulte, Hydrologist
U.S. Geological Survey
Missouri Water Science Center
1400 Independence Rd., MS 100
Rolla, MO 65401
Telephone: (573) 308-3675
Fax:(573) 308-3645
U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey
Maintainer: Rita Choate, Webmaster
Updated: August 25, 2003
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